DECEMBER 02, 2012
Muscat: HSBC Bank Oman customers are facing a tough time in withdrawing cash or getting their salaries credited to their savings bank accounts, following the ongoing systems integration after the recent merger.
Scores of bank customers in the capital area complained that they have been running from one automated teller machine (ATM) to the other for withdrawing cash, but to little avail. "I have tried to withdraw cash from three ATMs in Ruwi and adjoining areas -- one near the post office, other near Pizza Hut in MBD area and another one at HSBC head office -- last night. All these machines were showing 'out of order' message on its screen," said Zafar Aslam, a customer who has an account with HSBC Bank Oman's Ruwi branch.
Rahul, another customer who opened his account with HSBC Bank Oman only in November, has a different story to tell. "I have been waiting for the salary to be credited in my account for the past five days and it was credited only today evening, while all my colleagues got their salary on Tuesday. All these days, I have been trying to approach the branch and call centre officials and they said the delay is due to system integration. The bank was also closed for some days due to National Day holidays," he added.
Inconvenience regretted
When contacted, HSBC Bank Oman said the bank has experienced a short delay in processing salary payments for less than one per cent of its retail and corporate banking customers. "HSBC is working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible, and expects all outstanding payments to be credited into customer accounts by close of business on December 2, 2012," added the statement.
"HSBC understands the inconvenience this may have caused and thanks customers for their patience and understanding."
The bank, in its website, said that the business Internet banking service will be discontinued for its business banking customers on December 4.
HSBC Bank Oman recently changed the account numbers of erstwhile Oman International Bank (OIB) customers into HSBC accounts by giving them a welcome pack. For integrating the systems of both banks, the bank's services, including withdrawing cash from ATM machine, transfer of money and use of credit or debit cards at point of sales were not be available for the erstwhile OIB customers between November 22 and 24.
HSBC Bank Oman has a network of 143 machines and the bank is in the process of replacing 107 ATMs with state-of the-art machines.
The bank also has approximately 400,000 retail customers and another 10,000 commercial customers, with a branch network of 88 branches.
© Times of Oman 2012
