Originally Posted by Saltaire
I believe HSBC have bought down the requirements for a status account, which reduces fees and comes with a personnal rep to which you can call. I just changed over recently and it's worth a look. The on line banking is reasonable, but I know they have big problems with the call centers in India. I haven't had to drive to Deira for years and that's the only reason I haven't switched. The less direct interface with a bank the better.
I hear NBAD is pretty good, with lower fees and a soild on line banking option as well. The problem is that the entire ME is weak when it comes to banking options. What to do...
I have a premiere account with HSBC and have never had too much trouble with them.. But I do agree with your comment regarding the call centers based in India. They are difficult to deal with and are very inflexible - basically reading off a QA sheet like a computer....
NBAD in my own experience however, is a very bad lot. We were forced to take a mortgage with them (no other banks were financing our project at the time) and we are stuck with them. Their representative who dealt with us was wholly unprofessional and their staff in the branches are not much better. Luckily, I have a direct line to one of the very senior managers who steps in only when I desperately need issues resolved. But that is a poor way to do banking...
I too wish to find a bank in the ME who really do understand what people want when it comes to good customer service... Sadly, that concept is lost on most of the banks here....