HSBC - Lazy Saturdays

likaleica

Anyone else annoyed that HSBC do not offer a counter service for customers on Saturdays, unlike many other banks/building societies ? I am a First Direct customer who frequently has to transact business on a Saturday because I work on weekdays.
When I raised the issue with First Direct (who use their parent group HSBC naturally to provide counter services) they said it was nothing to do with them and referred it to HSBC. They in turn grandly pronounced there was "low demand" for Saturday counter services which they had withdrawn 10 years ago and they had no plans to change that etc etc.
Low demand, eh ? Many banks ceased counter services on Saturdays and have re-instated them. Indeed, virtually all banks/building societies in my area are very busy on Saturday mornings with queues of customers.

grumbler

What services do open branches provide on Saturdays then?
For my local branch Saturday opening hours are 10:00 - 15:00

innovate

If you need a bank with [Saturday] counter services, don't select the one and only bank that only does Internet and telephone banking!

On the other hand, the mind boggles why neither FD nor HSBC told you about the Post Office http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/banking/2012/09/hsbc-and-first-direct-customers-to-get-post-office-banking

shop-to-drop

What services exactly do you want them to provide on a saturday? Our local branch in our small town is closed on Saturday but we have a branch open half an hour away. The counters are closed but we have always been able to do everything we needed to on the self service machines. The staff are always on hand and really friendly and helpful I prefer it to queueing in the week and then having to talk to the staff through a screen. You can also make appointments on Saturdays with advisors we did so a few weeks ago to arrange a mortgage. We are very happy with the Saturday service at HSBC.

WestonDave

Its hard to see what you actually need to use a counter for (as opposed to preferring to use one for). Probably the only thing you can only get via the counter is cash withdrawal in coinage. HSBC has coin, note and cheque paying in machines, and cash withdrawal machines. Everything else you can do on the phone to First Direct. HSBC (and First Direct) clearly don't see the need within their business model for Saturday counter service and so aren't going to load costs just for one or two random people who would be better served using one of the banks who do cater for that market.

custardy

likaleica wrote: »

Anyone else annoyed that HSBC do not offer a counter service for customers on Saturdays, unlike many other banks/building societies ? I am a First Direct customer who frequently has to transact business on a Saturday because I work on weekdays.
When I raised the issue with First Direct (who use their parent group HSBC naturally to provide counter services) they said it was nothing to do with them and referred it to HSBC. They in turn grandly pronounced there was "low demand" for Saturday counter services which they had withdrawn 10 years ago and they had no plans to change that etc etc.
Low demand, eh ? Many banks ceased counter services on Saturdays and have re-instated them. Indeed, virtually all banks/building societies in my area are very busy on Saturday mornings with queues of customers.

Then move your business to a bank that fits your needs?

KxMx

shop-to-drop wrote: »

What services exactly do you want them to provide on a saturday? Our local branch in our small town is closed on Saturday but we have a branch open half an hour away. The counters are closed but we have always been able to do everything we needed to on the self service machines. The staff are always on hand and really friendly and helpful I prefer it to queueing in the week and then having to talk to the staff through a screen. You can also make appointments on Saturdays with advisors we did so a few weeks ago to arrange a mortgage. We are very happy with the Saturday service at HSBC.

:rotfl:

We have two cheque deposit machines and one cash deposit (notes only no coins) and I assure you last Saturday the queue's were bigger than they get at the counters during the week!

In addition 75% did not know how to use the machines and had to be walked through by a staff member which took ages.

I hate not having counter service on a Saturday, it's a poor business that uses a decision 10 years ago in a different financial world as justification. Every other bank has it so why not HSBC?

But hope is at hand because HSBC customers will be able to use the Post Office for transactions in the spring. Finally I can pay-in coins on a Saturday!! I am not sure if this applies to First Direct customers.

innovate

KxMx wrote: »

:rotfl:

I hate not having counter service on a Saturday, it's a poor business that uses a decision 10 years ago in a different financial world as justification. Every other bank has it so why not HSBC?

Because HSBC is HSBC and not 'every other bank'. I am pretty sure they have sound reasons for doing what they are doing.

If they don't offer what you want, but every other bank does, why not just move your business?

KxMx

innovate wrote: »

Because HSBC is HSBC and not 'every other bank'. I am pretty sure they have sound reasons for doing what they are doing.

If they don't offer what you want, but every other bank does, why not just move your business?

I don't have a business so you must mean the OP.

As a personal, everyday customer it is a long standing gripe that there is no Saturday counter service, 10 years is a long time in the financial world and it sounds like "no plans to change" mean the decision is not even reviewed or reassessed.

I am allowed a gripe with the service without moving aren't I lol.

But I am happy from the Spring I will be able to bank on a Saturday via the Post Office Pay in coins then at last. Had to wait so much longer than the other banks but hey progress is progress!

scott_lithgows

How dare their workers get Saturday off!

rb10

innovate wrote: »

I am pretty sure they have sound reasons for doing what they are doing.

I am pretty sure that the reason is that machines are cheaper than people.

Profits before customer service.