Stadtsparkasse München = evil twunts

Away you go. Yeah I have my story to tell laters innit.

Sorry I don't have any stories about the bastard Sparkasse. I've had good luck with mine. The cute guy behind the counter even used to add little winky smilies to my bank statements.

*waits* Come on, MT!

Dunno, they've always been more than accommodating, even in times of financial duresse, and I've been with them for nigh on to 14 years now. Don't tell me they've *gasp* stopped giving away free ashtrays!

I never liked them. When I was shopping for a new bank several years ago the stadtsparkasse was the only one that wouldn't answer investment questions without my "man" around (I was single at the time). Really pissed me off. And this was at more than one branch.

Wow, that's amazing! I for one, honestly can't see a single advantage to Sparkasse. I'm currently using them, but only because they are easiest to open an account for someone new. I even asked an employee once: what is the advantage of this bank, and couldn't get an answer.

Does anyone know? They have a lot of ATMS, but none of the branchs will work together for anything else.

Presumably that was one advantage to you.

Pissed me about a lot just recently, potentially to the tune of a couple of hundred euros... but since they've been too disorganised to follow up so far, I'm not sure how it will end! Previously had great service from them and find the number of cashpoints everywhere very convenient. Fairly open to negotiation, which I like. Right hand doesn't know what left is doing, which I like less. But none of their staff has ever really been rude to me, which is a minor miracle!

Edit: Though DDBug, now you come to mention it, they do ask me at every meeting whether I'm married and have kids, despite having my details in front of them...!

Do they answer or do things with e mail (like money transfer or information on some fee that shows up in your statement, etc...?) I use Hypo, i am not extremeley happy with the service as well however i can send e mail to the person in my branch and she responds

EDIT: It took ages to open the account though/

Sorry, I meant someone new to Germany without any history or ID other than a passport. I doubt this customer base supports all the branches I see... so I'm curious what the advantage is for everyone else.

I've been with them for about 6 years. Don't recall any problems at all. Staff at the branches I go to have always been friendly and helpful. I mostly use their online banking though which I've also never had a problem with.

Monkstown, would you not have waited until you can type your own story in before starting the thread. Seems a bit odd to me.

I've never had a single problem dealing with them and when I've needed help from them, they were quick and efficient to sort it out.

I only opened an account with them as it was the closest branch to my old flat. Generally I am satisfied, however I disagree with having to pay postage for them to send me my bank statements (unless I've picked them up myself) and I pay ca. €5.90 now I think per month for having a account with them, whereas it's free with the Post. Their online banking system is great, but I have no other German banks to compare it to. Their customer service at the counters is always friendly, however not always -so- helpful. Only once was I really dissatisfied with the SSKM though (when they never sent me my new bank card or informed me to pick it up). Hence I think why I haven't changed to the Postbank; no real complaints, lots of cash machines everywhere and I'm lazy.

I've been with them for about 2.5 years and never had a single problem. Both their on-site service and the online banking have work wonders for me.

@UA
You could pay a lot less per month for your account if you change it to something like Express Konto or sommat. The main difference is that you do most of your stuff online. It ain't a huge lot of money that you'll save, but it would be about half of what you pay now, maybe less. For me it was ok because I almost never go to the bank itself anyway.

I have been with them almost 6 years, and was with them almost 5 years in the 90's (when I lived here before). I have never really had any problems, banks are out to make money, they need to, or they close, every bank has good and bad stories. My landlords were years with DeutschBank and switched to Sparkasse because of the bank charges they were getting at the DB. I did use HvB for a loan a few years ago, and they got really really aggressive with me about switching all my accounts to them, for a 1000 euro loan. What a crock. If they didn't want people coming in for loans, then they shouldn't send out mailers for intstant 10 000 Euro credits.

For every person that has a postive story about a bank, there is another 3 with bad experiences.

Their online banking and staff are very friendly. But they follow strict banking rules and getting a private credit is often difficult.

Sven pints,empty stomach. Sorry.

Funnilly enough i had assumed on TT more people would really hate em than seem to.

So what's your story, huh? Huh?

I closed my account with Stadtsparkasse München after 3 months. Took over 90 minutes to open an account (10 minutes with Postbank), and I couldn't sleep at night knowing that I was paying someone for the privilege of looking after my money. Oh, and the service I got was not what I consider to be acceptable (I was new-ish to Germany... so maybe I was just naive). I think Postbank rocks.

I went in to sign some papers and they got a VERY attractive woman who blatantly flirted with me to try and get me to sign up for a gold credit card with them.
They really should get to learn their customer base, gold credit cards don't attract me and HELLO! Müllerstrasse Branch!

Anyway, I told her I was looking to buy a flat in 80469, put it in the computer and if anything comes up, call me.
Heard nothing for 18 months.

Then by chance I saw a house in the UK and made an offer and rang the Sparkasse to get an appointment for a mortgage.
I told them I wanted to see someone who could speak English so they could read the doccuments pertaining to the house and was told they would not lend money for a house in the UK.

I got an appointment anyway and they repeated this claim.
I pointed out that i had a Bauspar with them that specificly said that they could thenlend money for a house anywhere in the EU.

"The UK is not in the EU"

Yes it is.

"The UK is not REALLY in the EU".

Yes it is.

"The EU has changed the rules so that if we lend money for a house in another EU country we can't foreclose if the mortgage isn't paid"

So I got a mortgage elsewhere.

Then, when I wanted a loan for carpets etc they refused me a loan becasue it was to furnish a house outside of Germany.
Despite me being a customer with them for 15 years, salary every month, savings plans, deposit account and had saved up tens of thousands of Euros with them.

I'd move but the other banks are hardly better.

Yes, its true, SSkM must be the slowest bank account openers around. I had my first account in Munich there and it was unbelieveable how long it took. I opened a new account with Commerzbank the other day. Account was open in 10 mins and I only needed my passport - awe inspiring for someone, who was used to carrying around whole files of paperwork and taking half-days from work to deal with belgian banks - and there are no monthly charges. Even get 50 squid for the pleasure. Lets see how the service aspect develops...

@MonksTown
I had a very similar experience. No matter how long you have been banking with them, it is a totally different story when you want a loan/credit. I have moved to another bank since then.

So, by your standards, does that mean she looked like a bloke?

I find them to be fine, been banking with them since 1992, in my branch they know my name, come out from behind the counter to shake my hand and treat me like a human being. Postbank had no personal service, all automated, transaction turnaround time woefully low, impossible to access savings without the Sparcard and when I did eventually get to talk to someone by telephone, I spent an hour while they played pass the parcel with me while I tried to get information. I'll take the charges with someone to talk to, over automation anyday.

I know what an attractive woman looks like and she was VERY attractive.
If I played for the other team I'd have been gagging to leave a deposit. etc etc

Dunno about that but less than two weeks ago I made an appointment with HypoVereinsBank for 9 am, went there only armed with my passport. Lo and behold, before 10 am I had my current account and online access with PIN and TAN numbers set up, a week later EC card turned up in the post and yesterday received my EC PIN. Did I mention, I know about 3 words in German? All this was done in english. So far, I am happy with them as you can expect.

I'm with Hypo and they're basically shitbags - someone reccomend a good online bank willya?

Bunchacunts the Hypo Parnell.
I remember them admitting back in the old days that they had a policy of trying to avoid offering account to Ausländers.

@ MT
Oh I kinda got them bucked... when I first took out the account - 5 years ago now , they promised me ZERO charges as long as I had above xxx yo yos to my name (I always had thank God)...

lo and behold they were takin shit out of the account - my German wasnt up to much so I never really actively looked up other banks until a mate of mine sorted me out...

last week met up with Hypo where they tried to sell a bunchabullshit pensions/insurance to me - hey fucksticks - I work in the sector - I complained ROYALLY about the costs - had the manager apologisin down the fone to me yesterday and soon as they give me back MY money it'll be aufwiedersehen nie from this punter.

C'mon Monkstown, admit it, THAT is the real reason you hate them, because they make money.

Gotta ask, why on earth do you want a house in horrible, "supermarkets everywhere and no small local shops" England? You are not planning to buy a house and then rent it out are you? Careful, thats almost capitalist...

I get ripped to shreds for it all the time Don mate.
But as you know, I've a sense of humour and I can take it.

Citibank seems ok these days (a decade ago I wouldn't have said that).

I use their online service with no problem and it seems very secure (uses one-time passwords). They were quick at opening the account too. And the staff even speak to me in English when I get that glazed look. Generally quite friendly ("German banks" and "friendly" in the same sentence? My medication is probably working too well).

Don't, however, in the name of God, go below your minimum current account level or, in the name of God's father, go overdrawn.

what i found unbelievable with Sparkasse was that each branch is a separate entity - i couldnt lodge cash or cheques anywhere except my exact branch - they couldnt help me with ANYthing, except in my branch. they once charged me for a customer service phone call. they called me asking how i felt about their customer service...and then CHARGED ME FOR IT.

absolutely unflexible and useless in my opinion. left to go to postbank and have been delighted with them so far. only thing i dont like about PB is that especially in the smaller branches, the clerks seem to be on comission for PBs life insurance/savings accounts/telephones etc, and they will try and sell you crap. i expect courteous efficient service from a bank clerk - not some 2 bit sales pitch about why i need to think about my future. never happens in the hauptbahnhof branch, because they dont have time thank god

AND PB is open on saturdays.

lovely.

I contacted SSK from the States before moving to Munich and starting my business here. A woman promptly answered my email and made it clear that SSK would help me in any way it could. In the ensuing two years, this woman has remained my contact and has expedited all my bank-related tasks and goals. The branch I use is across town from her office but I've never experienced any problems there. And the online banking system is great. Other than the few euros per month they charge me for my accounts, they've never made any real money off me and they still treat me like an important customer.

The only problem I had was kind of funny. One day this past winter, I went into the secure ATM area next to my branch to get my monthly Auszug from the machine. It was cold and sunny so I was wearing shades and had my hood up. The machine ate my bankcard. I went into the branch to report it. This blow-dried woman immediately came up to me and told me to remove my hood so the camera could video me. I'd been coming into this branch twice a week for nearly two years, often with my hood up. I suddenly realized that some security lackey had seen me on his monitor and had instructed the machine to keep my card and now this lady was making sure I wasn't a robber. So I told her I'd pull my hood down if they first gave me back my card. She refused. So I refused. It was a standoff. Then I waved hello to one of the tellers who addressed me by name. I asked for my card back again. Nope. Not until I pulled my hood down. I saw it had degenerated into a dick thing so I relented. Nobody has a bigger dick problem than a crossed German banklady.

you were in a bank and wouldnt take your hood down?

i dont know who has the dick problem there...

zzzzz

No, not directly but LifeIsaBuffet or other financially literate TT'ers can give you the chapter and the verse on how they sell/lend your money to the other banks/punters etc using some exotic financial products or as plain loans and make a mint from your money.

Erm, why? She was just doing her job... how is she supposed to know who you are?

*???*
Ok, I have been with SSK for 14 years, could have something to do with it. Go to a branch and demand cash, one account number and one passport later there you go. Check? Sure, just fill in the form, credited the next day. You can't make it across town to Berg am Laim where your EC card is waiting for you? We'll expedite it to the SSK closest to your office. Charge? Ummm - why? Of course no charge. Again, account number, passport, there you go, have a nice day. Oh, those credit forms we discussed last week - they're at the branch closest to work for you to sign, thank you for your patience, sorry they weren't ready last week.
The above summarizes my experience with SSK in the last four months.

Your dreaming there sarabyrd. I have had the same problem with Sparkasse. I had been a customer for two and a half years and decided that I wanted an extra EC card so I could send it to my parents so they could withdraw funds in the US for the credit card charges that I incur on my US based CC. They told me only one EC card per account name. I asked if I could add my Dad to my account, they responded that I could. However he must come in the bank in person so that they know he exists. My parents were visiting Passau a few weeks later and I tried to see if they would be able to have him sign any papers in the Passau branch to prove that he exists. After two hours of phone calls and trying to organise this "complex" process every thing was a greenlit. I went into the Passau bank with my father and they told me that they are not affliated with any other branch and what I am requesting is impossible. I tried to explain the situation that everything was set up already and if they didn't understand they could contact the person on the Sparkasse business card that I had with me from my branch. They refused. I went home and changed to Deutsche Bank.

Banks use the savings accounts to loan and generate money from lending, not from charging small fees for the people who are letting the banks use their money.

That is because. deliberately, the Sparkasse bannk in Germany is a LOCAL bank made up of 300 odd legal entities.
When the City of Munich build a new U-Bahn station where do you think the money comes from?

Despite the attempts of the CDU/CSU and Deutsche Bank, it's a good system.

Definitely wide awake. The guys ain't called Stadtsparkasse München for nothing. As MT says, strictly local.

i have my regular account at SSKM and i chose that bank deliberately as i didn't want to support the big banks ie DB, dresdner etc. so far, i have been very happy with their service.

Because she continued to insist even after the teller identified me as a Stamkunde. And, frankly, I didn't like her officious attitude. At the point she approached me, all I knew was that the machine had eaten my card. She approached me and immediately started issuing orders like an impatient traffic cop, as lower echelon flunkies are wont to do. Had she simply smiled and said something like: "Would you mind pulling down your hood for the camera. It's only a formality." I would have been happy to cooperate. You're right, she was just doing her job...badly.

Does anyone know the hoops and loops to opening a bank account with only an American Passport? I will have a registered address and hopefully by then a study visa (only for a Deutschsprachkurs tho) when I get to Munich. But is this in the realm of possibilities? I've been trying to look up this information on various German Banking sites...but they seem to kindly omit an English translation of the fine print, or much print at all for that matter. Mein deutsch ist schlecht auch Thanks for any help/411!

The Sparkasse is the ONLY bank in Germany that will offer an account to ANYONE.
Banks don't actually want to have customers that only have a current account. (Checking account for those of your from the far west colonies)

Awesome! I don't mind slugging it out as a pion until I get into a 'better' bank. Just as long as I don't have to hand over $5 to my American bank each time I withdraw ANY amount of Euro. Thanks for the info.

The "better" banks are commercial companies that really only want you if you make extra profit for them by buying their other products.

In that case, a "better bank" should offer me a well paying job. Then we can share in the mutual benifit of giving each other money. That'd made a hell of a cover letter proposal.

Kreissparkasse are even worse.