Based on recent customer reviews, Standard Bank shows widespread dissatisfaction across nearly every service area. Customers describe systemic failures in ***** investigations, blocked accounts with no communication, unresponsive private bankers, and unresolved queries that drag on for months. While isolated staff members earn praise for going beyond expectations, these moments are overshadowed by deep frustration with call centres, branch service, and digital platforms.
TrustIndex
3.4
Ranking
#3
in Banking
NPS Score
-60
Recommended: Unlikely
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Based on recent customer reviews, Standard Bank shows widespread dissatisfaction across nearly every service area. Customers describe systemic failures in ***** investigations, blocked accounts with no communication, unresponsive private bankers, and unresolved queries that drag on for months. While isolated staff members earn praise for going beyond expectations, these moments are overshadowed by deep frustration with call centres, branch service, and digital platforms.
The most common complaint about Standard Bank, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Customer Service & Communication. Customer Service & Communication (1.1) is the most damaging theme. Customers report hours on hold, dropped calls, ignored emails, unresponsive private bankers, and being shuffled between departments without resolution. Complaints stretch over weeks and months, with HelloPeter often the only channel that triggers any response.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
The customer liaison officer Jabu , busy chatting with lady instead of helping clients , when we approached him , he was extremely arrogant and unhelpful.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
The customer liaison officer Jabu , busy chatting with lady instead of helping clients , when we approached him , he was extremely arrogant and unhelpful.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Case - 79045 ***** service centre is absolutely useless! I was promised a statement 3 weeks ago and im still waiting. Continuous promises every few days of "It will reflect in a the next 2/3 working days" .. its more than 3 weeks and still nothing. I will be taking this to the newspapers and news now.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Case - 79045 ***** service centre is absolutely useless! I was promised a statement 3 weeks ago and im still waiting. Continuous promises every few days of "It will reflect in a the next 2/3 working days" .. its more than 3 weeks and still nothing. I will be taking this to the newspapers and news now.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I have experienced worse terrible service from standard bank, I called them to request them to reactivate my debit order for my grandma, they kept me holding for more than 30 minutes, I tried again still kept me holding for more than 30 minutes without any help. Then on Monday I went to Westgate mall Standard branch to ask them to help me because I can't get help via telephone. They also failed to help me, they referred back to the telephone call. Then I told that I came to the branch because the customer care can't help me. I left without getting help, this is very bad, my grandma funeral policy will lapse just because of the *********** and ******** employees of Standard bank. Who can help me if the branch also can't help me. If my policy can lapse, they must pay me back all my money that I paid since I started joining because there's no one to help me to reactivate the debit order. I rate Standard bank Zero.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I have experienced worse terrible service from standard bank, I called them to request them to reactivate my debit order for my grandma, they kept me holding for more than 30 minutes, I tried again still kept me holding for more than 30 minutes without any help. Then on Monday I went to Westgate mall Standard branch to ask them to help me because I can't get help via telephone. They also failed to help me, they referred back to the telephone call. Then I told that I came to the branch because the customer care can't help me. I left without getting help, this is very bad, my grandma funeral policy will lapse just because of the *********** and ******** employees of Standard bank. Who can help me if the branch also can't help me. If my policy can lapse, they must pay me back all my money that I paid since I started joining because there's no one to help me to reactivate the debit order. I rate Standard bank Zero.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I want to report ***** in my account, you guys are ****mers, On the 30th of March I deposited 600 into my account successfully. Today at 10h00, 600 was taken out of my account stating ATM DEPOSIT REVERSAL. How, why was 600.taken out of my account. I have been gearing complaint about you guys ****ming people, I can not belive that I am a victim. Please resolve this issue Kind regards Scele 0687468693 [email protected]
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I want to report ***** in my account, you guys are ****mers, On the 30th of March I deposited 600 into my account successfully. Today at 10h00, 600 was taken out of my account stating ATM DEPOSIT REVERSAL. How, why was 600.taken out of my account. I have been gearing complaint about you guys ****ming people, I can not belive that I am a victim. Please resolve this issue Kind regards Scele 0687468693 [email protected]
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I have banked with Standard since 1982 where I opened my first account in Plettenberg Bay. I think the bank only has my records from 1993? The bank has grown the biggest in SA, and I would like to compliment them on the ongoing improvements they are making with their rise to the biggest bank in SA. Keep up the good work, Standard Bank and keep the improvements coming!!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I have banked with Standard since 1982 where I opened my first account in Plettenberg Bay. I think the bank only has my records from 1993? The bank has grown the biggest in SA, and I would like to compliment them on the ongoing improvements they are making with their rise to the biggest bank in SA. Keep up the good work, Standard Bank and keep the improvements coming!!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Morning again. I am now even more disgruntled you. As unfortunately Standard Bank is only the name and the 4 walls that hold up the Building, it is the Staff that are letting your reputation fall through the floor. In got a phone call from Standard Bank last Friday, the 22nd, giving me some vital information, I was told that the call was recorded as we all know they are. I sent an email on Monday the 25th asking for this recording as I want to use it as evidence. I got a response email, stating that you have a 24 hour turn around. I sent you another email yesterday the 27th, but no response this time. This looks like the ONLY PLATFORM I WILL GET A RESPONSE ON! Please action my request so I can do what I need to.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Morning again. I am now even more disgruntled you. As unfortunately Standard Bank is only the name and the 4 walls that hold up the Building, it is the Staff that are letting your reputation fall through the floor. In got a phone call from Standard Bank last Friday, the 22nd, giving me some vital information, I was told that the call was recorded as we all know they are. I sent an email on Monday the 25th asking for this recording as I want to use it as evidence. I got a response email, stating that you have a 24 hour turn around. I sent you another email yesterday the 27th, but no response this time. This looks like the ONLY PLATFORM I WILL GET A RESPONSE ON! Please action my request so I can do what I need to.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I am honestly beyond frustrated and exhausted with Standard Bank at this point. My account was suddenly put on hold over “suspected *****,” even though there is clear proof of where the money came from. The money was from my sister selling her car to WeBuyCars, a well-known and legitimate company in South Africa. This is not some random suspicious transaction. There is proof of the sale, proof of payment, and everything can easily be verified, yet Standard Bank still decided to lock my account and withhold the funds. After selling her car, my sister transferred some of the money to me so I could help her keep it safe until she needed it. Now that she actually needs her own money, I cannot even send it back to her because Standard Bank has frozen my account “until further notice.” What kind of nonsense is this? What makes me even angrier is that my sister is a feeding mother with children depending on her. She needs this money urgently for food, groceries, and basic necessities for her kids, but Standard Bank seems completely blind to the damage they are causing. While they sit comfortably “investigating,” innocent children are being affected because their mother cannot access money that legally belongs to her. I have been banking with Standard Bank for over 6 years, and this is honestly one of the worst experiences I have ever had with any company. Customer service has been absolutely useless — no urgency, no empathy, no proper communication, just scripted responses and empty promises while people suffer. It feels like the bank is more interested in making customers miserable than actually helping them. ***** checks are understandable, but there is a huge difference between protecting customers and treating innocent people like ********s without listening to them or reviewing the proof provided. Holding someone’s money indefinitely, especially money needed to feed children, is cruel, stressful, and completely unacceptable. At this point I am tired of the excuses, tired of being ignored, and tired of Standard Bank’s terrible treatment. If this issue is not resolved immediately, I will continue exposing this experience publicly because people deserve to know how badly Standard Bank handles customers during urgent situations.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I am honestly beyond frustrated and exhausted with Standard Bank at this point. My account was suddenly put on hold over “suspected *****,” even though there is clear proof of where the money came from. The money was from my sister selling her car to WeBuyCars, a well-known and legitimate company in South Africa. This is not some random suspicious transaction. There is proof of the sale, proof of payment, and everything can easily be verified, yet Standard Bank still decided to lock my account and withhold the funds. After selling her car, my sister transferred some of the money to me so I could help her keep it safe until she needed it. Now that she actually needs her own money, I cannot even send it back to her because Standard Bank has frozen my account “until further notice.” What kind of nonsense is this? What makes me even angrier is that my sister is a feeding mother with children depending on her. She needs this money urgently for food, groceries, and basic necessities for her kids, but Standard Bank seems completely blind to the damage they are causing. While they sit comfortably “investigating,” innocent children are being affected because their mother cannot access money that legally belongs to her. I have been banking with Standard Bank for over 6 years, and this is honestly one of the worst experiences I have ever had with any company. Customer service has been absolutely useless — no urgency, no empathy, no proper communication, just scripted responses and empty promises while people suffer. It feels like the bank is more interested in making customers miserable than actually helping them. ***** checks are understandable, but there is a huge difference between protecting customers and treating innocent people like ********s without listening to them or reviewing the proof provided. Holding someone’s money indefinitely, especially money needed to feed children, is cruel, stressful, and completely unacceptable. At this point I am tired of the excuses, tired of being ignored, and tired of Standard Bank’s terrible treatment. If this issue is not resolved immediately, I will continue exposing this experience publicly because people deserve to know how badly Standard Bank handles customers during urgent situations.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
The is a security officer that works by standard bank malelane, 1: you won’t ever find him angry or unable to help or assist he’s always happy very humble man, 2: cleanest baba 3:very kind and respectful.
Standard Bank scores 1.3 out of 5 on Hellopeter's AI analysis of service quality in Banking, compared to the Banking industry average of 1.4. Their strongest theme is Branch Experience (1.5); their weakest is Customer Service (1.1). The top AI-rated Banking business on Hellopeter is GoTyme Bank | Formerly TymeBank (2.6). How is the AI Score calculated? →
Standard Bank has a TrustIndex of 3.4 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 3,585 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked Standard Bank across 52,389 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →