Dear Editor,
I am a primary account holder at Republic Bank, D’Edward Village Branch, and went there to initiate the process of adding an authorized user. This is my experience.
On my first visit to the bank, I had to wait one and a half hours to get someone to tell me what I needed to do. Following their advice, I gathered all the documents and went back on August 5 for them to review the documents.
By design, this visit is to be followed by a third one where the adjustment will be made to the account.
I was directed to sit in a section with 24 seats. This was not enough for all the customers. Some simply had to stand around. I am suggesting fewer seats, more employees. More seats will manage the problem rather than solving it.
One employee, who was obviously overwhelmed by the workload, was assigned to attend to our needs.
There was no system to indicate who to go next. I was told by a senior employee to just go to the window when someone moved out. This is simply a set-up for a confrontation with another customer. There is no knowing when your turn will come or who to go next. Think about the elderly, sick, pregnant standing not knowing when their turn will come. (There were no obviously sick or pregnant on this day)
The other department had a ticketed system, more employees and seemed to move along
Passing employees deliberately avoided eye contact as if to say this is how we roll here.
After two and a half hours, I left with my business undone. This is gross disrespect for ordinary Guyanese.
Some commonsense managerial flexibility needs to be done to manage the workload, and some serious infusion of sensitivity to people’s needs will go a long way. This Bank must do better in organizing their service in a way that values people. This is an appeal to Republic to make our banking experience an in-and-out easy one. Myself, a senior citizen, dread going back.
I still require someone to check my documents.
Yours faithfully,
C Matadin
