What are your comments on Garanti bank

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
11/07/2009 22:15

Can anyone give me feedback on Garanti bank , service etc ? do they have an English person working there ? what areas are the Garanti banks in ? CHEERS .

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
11/07/2009 22:24

ques longer than a gas man's mac....



i'd try Creditwest....

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
11/07/2009 22:27

As the name suggests, Guaranteed similar to the words of an Advocate!



Richard

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
11/07/2009 22:33

Garanti bank is probably the safest bank out of all on the island. That is if you want safety. If you just want the highest interest rates then follow the rest that are happy to invest in banks that do not have the same history and do some research on the banking collapse that happened in the TRNC about 9-10 years ago. A fool and his money are easily parted.

AJ

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
11/07/2009 22:49

This is what i have done and believe you dont put all of your eggs in one basket , i have researched that it is a good standing Turkish bank , thanks AJ safety is what i am looking for , however i would appreciate some feedback from the forum . Cheers .

suntanman



Joined: 18/04/2007
Posts: 721

Message Posted:
11/07/2009 22:56

I had accounts with Garanti, not any more.

They slapped bank charges on to a savings account. and when I asked to exchange currency in the Girne branch, directed me to a change bureau down the road!

kelly25


Joined: 29/05/2008
Posts: 365

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 00:28

i am forced to bank with Garanti due to my work, and i hate it. I applied for a credit card there and i needed it within 5 weeks. They assured me that that would be plenty of time, i signed the 100 odd pages of crappy contract, paid the money in and waited. A week before i needed the card i rang them to find out where it was, and they had forgotten to order it. They tried to blame it on the fact that they did not have a copy of my passport, even though they took several copies when i applied for the card, and already have copies on file as i have 2 accounts with them.

Also, the bank charges for a normal run of the mill account are outrageous! I have a £ and TL account, and when i opened them they said TL account would be 2ytl a month, without telling me, they upped this rate to 5ytl a month and then charged me as i did not have enough money in the account to pay their stupid monthly charge, which they take every 6 months.

CONT..

kelly25


Joined: 29/05/2008
Posts: 365

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 00:33

The only good thing about them is that they give a better exchange rate from £ into TL than most other banks, but when you try to change up any money, they tell you to go to the exchange place. I said that i can't and that i was in a hurry, and didnt care what he gave me, but he still refused.

Also you can only withdraw money (for free) from a Garanti bank cash machine, and despite the many many times i checked with the bank (and was told the card would definitely work), your debit card will NOT work in the UK as a debit card, as i found out to my extreme annoyance when trying to hire a car in UK.



Sorry to be a moaner, but they really do my head in, if i didnt have to bank with them to avoid waiting a month for my salary, (mind you, i wait an hour every time i go in there just to be served) then i would never ever bank with them.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 01:15

Cheers Kelly , good feedback exactly what i am looking for , do you lnow what the interest rate is on both sterling and ytl and do they have an English rep in any of there banks over there ? thanks again .

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 11:28

mess 7 / 8 - Kelly, don't worry, moaning is good (well i like it)......

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 13:54

Pipie,



We used to bank with Garanti and again for some of the reasons above we moved. We are now with TEB bank which have a branch almost next to Italiano, opposite Starling.



They are a Turkish bank backed by BNP Paribas, and have english speaking staff and their service to date has been grate.

Kitty1


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 683

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 13:56

Sadly I am not a Garanti fan any more. I've been with them for 3 years and initially they were very good (I think way back I recommended them on here) but since they moved to the new branch, the service is terrible.



I did change to Universal bank but had a few issues with them recently - they had a major system glitch, and money got taken out of my account when it shouldn't have been. It happened to a few people, but I have to say that they sorted it very quickly and were most pleasant, polite and helpful throughout.



My employer changed banks to Garanti last month, so I had to use them again. They made a total mess up of mine and my husband's salary transfer and made it even worse in an attempt to sort it out. At least when Universal mess it up they do it with a smile on their face, but Garanti...didn't even get a "sorry" let alone a smile!

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 15:08

crikey , no positives for Garanti bank so far !!!!!

LOvegod


Joined: 22/03/2009
Posts: 161

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 18:59

what about hsbc ?

kelly25


Joined: 29/05/2008
Posts: 365

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 21:24

they do have an english speaking rep in Garanti, her name is Tanya. I'm not sure of the interest rates for £ and TL at Garanti, but i do know that Iktisat bank are offering good rates, i think its 3.75% for sterling and 11.50% for TL on a 1 month deposit.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 21:27

Thanks Kelly25 do you by anychance know where the Garnati banks are in Girne or surrounding areas ? cheers

eager


Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 21:51

Pipie, after more than 2100 post surely you must be familiar with the banks by now.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
12/07/2009 21:57

Never can be to sure where money is concerned eager !!!!

girne


Joined: 14/01/2009
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
13/07/2009 14:49

Come in and have a chat. I work at the Continenetal Bank Karaolanoglu and can advise you on all your requirments.

Tele 05338417388

Land line (0932) 822 4359

gaziali


Joined: 23/03/2009
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
14/07/2009 09:20

Hi all

I am the manager of Universal Bank Catalkoy Branch. Me and my stuff are willing and trying to give the best service. Pop in for a tea or coffee. No need to make an appointment to discuss the issues with me.

Hope to see you here.

Ali GAZİ

Mobile. 0533 838 69 11

Tel: 8245630

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
14/07/2009 09:39

'pop in for a tea or coffee'?! They could make it a little more enticing, 'red or white madam? and sir, hot outside, an iced cold beer? Now that is how to win over potential new customers!



Richard

tanyagaranti


Joined: 12/05/2010
Posts: 2

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 00:08

Hi garanti bank is near deniz plaza in girne. If you would like more information and correct information please come and see at the branch

daffodils


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 184

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 05:12

We are with Garanti almost 3 years now and have found them really helpful and Gaye speaks perfect english and their service does remind us of how the UK used to be. You can ring her mobile when you want, email, or just walk up the stairs and see her. It does get busy downstairs when you withdraw money, but that is only because it is a popular bank, the staff are always polite. We have never asked to borrow any money etc; so everything is straightforward but debit car is a nuisance in the fact it doesn't just work everywhere. Also, have found they do give advice on best accounts and when the best time to draw out is etc; The bank is next to Deniz Plaza and there is a cash machine in Astro car park

nostradamus


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 07:41

Horrible bank! Was involved with them for business accounts and they told more lies than enough about the facilities on offer - none of which turned out to be true or available to us apparently. Very expensive charges - they even charged us for moving money, on line, from one account to another. Lost a large amount of money - in their Istanbul centre - that was en route from UK. No apologies and it caused a great deal of aggravation and additional charges to get this re-sent. Needless to say, I closed the accounts.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 07:50

I have been banking with Creditwest for the past 18 months and cannot recommend them highly enough. English speaking staff at the Karakum branch (Deniz and Nesrin) are extremely helpful and super efficient. Withdrawing or paying in money takes a couple of minutes rather than the 45 minutes to an hour that it used to take at Turk Bankasi.

Try them, you won't be disappointed.



Paul

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 09:45

hi.....does anyone know if the garanti bank offer a decent internet service..ie access accounts on line, make payments online? if so, is it straight forward to set up?

Lacem


Joined: 11/05/2010
Posts: 12

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 10:22

We have been using Garanti for the past 5-6 or more years and never had any problems with them. In the new branch, Gaye and Tanya upstairs are very helpfull and both speak English. You don't have to sign 100 pages anymore as they have printed some binded copies, so opening an account is easy.



With regards to the exchange rates, it is always more profitable to exchange money online, as thats where you get good rates (even higher than most of the exchange officess). And their system has been choosen as number one safest online banking system, I think in Europe, but not sure, this was on their website.

You can perform many online transactions, like: send money, exchange, open accounts, apply for credit cards and many more, also you can pay for the girne municipality water bills, kıbTek, Turkcell and Telsim phones, etc. online. They also have Western Union, but I think they are overcharging for that. Except of that I think they provide very good service and safe banking.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 11:20

In the process of transfering a large block of money, have finally lost patience with HSBC. Nothing major, just lots of stupid things, this applies to HSBC International as well who I have always praised in the past. Not any more!



Interest rates on line are as good as most 9.75% for 3 months deposit.



Like all banks it is busy at BUSY TIMES. Avoid them, if you are not working it is easy to fit your visits around quiet times.



Also with, what appears so far, a good internet banking service there should only be odd occasions when most need to visit the branch.



As for f/x you should never use a bank anyway, they are always lower rates then bureau services except if you change through I-banking

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 11:39

Hi is online banking with them quite straight forward, quick and easy?

eager


Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 11:44

cyprushome, If i need to transfer some TL from my bank in NC, and sent to my UK bank as sterling, what is the best way to do it if i am not there ? re..exchange rates and charges.

flutterby


Joined: 11/01/2008
Posts: 214

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 11:46

We switched to Garanti bank. Tanya has been most helpful to us at all times. Their interest is a little bit lower than some of the banks, but it is a mainland Turkish Bank and we feel our money to be safe there. We have never had any problems. Being an Account Holder, if we wish to do transactions at the desk, we simply insert our Bank Card and this privileges us with not having ever had to wait too long for service.

There is an internet service, but I cannot comment on it at the moment, my fault, as I have forgotten my passcodes!!!

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 12:02

hi..does anyone have Tanya's contact details?

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 13:12

Eager,



No idea on best way to get it to UK do not do it!!



Stewart,



Tanya can be contacted on - 0392 815 8592.

Marvo


Joined: 30/04/2007
Posts: 194

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 15:50

I used Garanti on the recommendations of someone on this forum and it was the worst banking experience of my life.



It took 12 WEEKS to clear a cheque, countless visits to the bank and telephone charges back home into the £100's and no one in the bank gave the slightest impression of giving a toss.



We are now with Turkbank in Alsancak and the difference is night and day. Maybe we just caught Gananti on a 12 week Buyram.

astonhilbilly


Joined: 05/05/2009
Posts: 162

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 19:53

Stewart, the details you wanted are: Tanya Andiz - email: tanyaa@garanti.com.tr

measey


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 1037

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 20:01

Use several bank and spread the risk would be my advise.

eager


Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
13/05/2010 21:48

Stewart msg 33....why do you say do not do it ?

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
14/05/2010 12:59

I have used Garanti for 5 years with no problems except their rates are always a little lower than the other two I use, Iktisat and Creditwest.

Iktisat are the slowest replying to e-mails.

All have English speaking staff.

I use Garanti for current accounts, direct debit for Kibtec and credit cards.Not had any charges as I also have deposits with them.

If you put the creditcard into the slot when picking up your queue number it gives you preferntila service as does a visit to Gaye upstairs so you don't queue as long.

Garanti credit cards also give you access to their lounge at Istanbul Ataturk.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
14/05/2010 13:11

Eager,



Missed out the "I" as in I do not do it. Live here and money is here.

lobylud


Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 242

Message Posted:
15/05/2010 13:55

Just as a matter of interest I tried to e-mail Tanya from the e-mail address on message 35 and it failed.

To save people trying different combinations her actual e-mail address is tanyaa@garanti.com.tr

She is out of the office until 24th May.