Citibank to Axis Transition - Some Communication

[Zacobite]

Finally an RM from Axis called for my citibank account.. saying transition will finish by june 2024 and to expect more communication around the same.more regularly..He didn't have any info on what the plan was for CCs. Said that they are reviewing on case to case and the eligibility limits may be relaxed. I specifically asked for 3L credit. / Magnus etc.. He was non commital.

 

[bainmebain]

Which bank did you move to?

Standard Chartered** in part - because some of us already had accounts there and the branch is nearby
Canara Bank in part - again, because some of us already have accounts with Canara

However, I wouldn't really call it a move as such. All the investments we had with Citi had been accumulated over many years. That we moved over to our investment-wallah.

** Standard Chartered is just as poor as any bharat sarkaar entity when it comes to customer service. So that's not the reason for the move to SCB. It was simply convenience.


********


Kind of related to the above, but the Citi exit I believe was a very big change in the banking scene in India. They were one of the only (and probably the last remaining) service oriented banking companies we had. Now I don't think we have a single one.

Ultimately, in my opinion, the best (or lease bad) bank is one where interaction with their employees can be kept to zero. That means their use of technology. Standard Chartered in my experience has been able to use technology enough that dealing with their staff is almost never needed. But if you ever need actual human help or intervention, good luck!

 

[bainmebain]

HSBC is absolutely the best option for high ticket Citi holders who want a no-nonsense experience with banking and a high rewards credit card (3% flat).

I don't necessarily agree. I can't speak of the credit card side because I decided a year ago not to let any card benefits determine anything.

I think all the banks are now the same. They're all just as bad when it comes to customer service - no matter of it's a PSU bank like SBI, a Private Bank like Kotak, a pretending-to-be-private-and-modern-but-is-actually-worse-than-a-grameen-bank like Axis, or an "International" bank like Standard Chartered.

A big part of the reason, in my experience, is that the people they hire are mostly the same. The number of people who were at BoB yesterday then went to SCB today and will be at PNB tomorrow is hilarious. It's the same sh*t people who move from one to another to another. Then they come full circle, come back to where they started and do the whole thing over and over again.

The best banks for me are the ones where as one doesn't need to deal with the semi-literate humans that all of these banks seem to employ.

 

[cardy]

I don't necessarily agree. I can't speak of the credit card side because I decided a year ago not to let any card benefits determine anything.

I think all the banks are now the same. They're all just as bad when it comes to customer service - no matter of it's a PSU bank like SBI, a Private Bank like Kotak, a pretending-to-be-private-and-modern-but-is-actually-worse-than-a-grameen-bank like Axis, or an "International" bank like Standard Chartered.

A big part of the reason, in my experience, is that the people they hire are mostly the same. The number of people who were at BoB yesterday then went to SCB today and will be at PNB tomorrow is hilarious. It's the same sh*t people who move from one to another to another. Then they come full circle, come back to where they started and do the whole thing over and over again.

The best banks for me are the ones where as one doesn't need to deal with the semi-literate humans that all of these banks seem to employ.

This is the truth now a days in India.

 

[rogerthat]

HSBC has no cap on the 3%. Even govt transactions (especially advance tax and utility bills) will get you the 3%. Unlimited lounge access both domestic and international. Plus, I got the plastic for LTF. Check if they're still giving out plastic LTF. Also don't forget the weekly offers in every category, electronics, travel, gold, dining, movies ..etc. I don't use my HSBC premier because it was given to me without me asking, but I've come to realise the benefits it offers. Still not at par with Infinia and I would completely agree. But, HSBC as a bank is no-nonsense. The RM will not pester you for anything else.

Even my HDFC RM never pesters me for anything. In fact he refuses to pester me even if I demand it. I mean he should atleast first pick my calls right

 

[srikbs8095]

I don't necessarily agree. I can't speak of the credit card side because I decided a year ago not to let any card benefits determine anything.

I think all the banks are now the same. They're all just as bad when it comes to customer service - no matter of it's a PSU bank like SBI, a Private Bank like Kotak, a pretending-to-be-private-and-modern-but-is-actually-worse-than-a-grameen-bank like Axis, or an "International" bank like Standard Chartered.

A big part of the reason, in my experience, is that the people they hire are mostly the same. The number of people who were at BoB yesterday then went to SCB today and will be at PNB tomorrow is hilarious. It's the same sh*t people who move from one to another to another. Then they come full circle, come back to where they started and do the whole thing over and over again.

The best banks for me are the ones where as one doesn't need to deal with the semi-literate humans that all of these banks seem to employ.

Disagree, HSBC is different and I'm saying this by experience.

Even my HDFC RM never pesters me for anything. In fact he refuses to pester me even if I demand it. I mean he should atleast first pick my calls right

Must be a rare case on a national level 😂

 

[Zacobite]

Act

Disagree, HSBC is different and I'm saying this by experience.

Must be a rare case on a national level 😂

Actually the bank is as good as the employee we are interacting with.. if we get lucky with an effective face then the bank benefits as a brand.. with so much focus on selling, banks have forgotten that good service will lead to better sales... hdfc hsbc etc.. there are great expectations.. and some lousy employees.. citi was strict in its hiring and paid a lot more.. never peddled small ticket products.. hence the experience.. lets hope they learn.. else PSUs are actually quite good now.. just that we have to go to the branch for everything.. the landscape may chg sooon

 

[bainmebain]

Act

Actually the bank is as good as the employee we are interacting with.. if we get lucky with an effective face then the bank benefits as a brand.. with so much focus on selling, banks have forgotten that good service will lead to better sales... hdfc hsbc etc.. there are great expectations.. and some lousy employees.. citi was strict in its hiring and paid a lot more.. never peddled small ticket products.. hence the experience.. lets hope they learn.. else PSUs are actually quite good now.. just that we have to go to the branch for everything.. the landscape may chg sooon

Yes, I have to agree with that. The banks themselves have become hopeless when it comes to customer service. And I can't even blame them 100% because the sheer amount of reporting and paperwork and compliance and nonsense they have to deal with based on whatever new dream someone in GoI / RBI / MoCA etc have on a daily basis. But the employee you're dealing with makes all the difference.

I remember my office accounts praising one RM who they said was superb even though the bank he worked at was worse than hopeless. They were all sad when he left and went to Indusind (the accounts wanted to move the whole company accounts to Indusind just because they had finally got one person who they could depend on!).

But I will repeat - the best bank now is the one where you don't have to deal with any human being they employ!

 

[cardy]

Act

Actually the bank is as good as the employee we are interacting with.. if we get lucky with an effective face then the bank benefits as a brand.. with so much focus on selling, banks have forgotten that good service will lead to better sales... hdfc hsbc etc.. there are great expectations.. and some lousy employees.. citi was strict in its hiring and paid a lot more.. never peddled small ticket products.. hence the experience.. lets hope they learn.. else PSUs are actually quite good now.. just that we have to go to the branch for everything.. the landscape may chg sooon

Let's hope so

 

[Zacobite]

Finally an RM from Axis called for my citibank account.. saying transition will finish by june 2024 and to expect more communication around the same.more regularly..He didn't have any info on what the plan was for CCs. Said that they are reviewing on case to case and the eligibility limits may be relaxed. I specifically asked for 3L credit. / Magnus etc.. He was non commital.

If given an option of 1 card from axis with my salary account - which one should i choose - Atlas / Magnus or M4B..I plan to close my axis vistara infinite and i am expecting an infinia coming through this month? Any thoughts are welcome