African bank accounts department

Question 1

How to get money from a closed bank account?

Answer

Typically, when closing your account, a bank expects to see no funds available for withdrawing. However, there are several scenarios in which you might need to get your money back from a closed account. One of the possible scenarios occurs when you have failed or forgotten to inform your friends, family members, or employers about the closure. One of the uninformed individuals transfers a huge sum of money to your account. Don’t worry � the funds don’t disappear. They just bounce back to the account from which they have been sent. If it is the bank that decides to block your account (for suspicious activity or unpaid fees), the money left in the account will be returned to you. Usually, you are delivered a check for the remaining balance. As a rule, it takes 7-10 days for the funds to be returned. If the money’s arrival is delayed, call the bank ASAP. You need to be persistent and cooperative.

Question 2

How much are bank accounts insured for?

Answer

Usually, the insurance is paid to the clients of the bank when it is getting closed or can no longer provide previous services to its depositors. The standard insurance of a bank account is 250 thousand dollars. There are different categories of bank accounts for which the insurance amount may change. 250.000 is only the starting price of the coverage. In joint accounts, for example, the cost of the insurance is 250 thousand dollars for each of the owners.

Question 3

What is a beneficiary on a bank account?

Answer

The beneficiary is the person on Payable on a Death or POD bank account. This means that when the owner passes away, his/her heir has a right to use his assets, but only after that. The recipient’s right become as if s/he is an owner, which means that all the transactions, such as deposits, withdrawals, and so on, are now available to him/her. It can also be very convenient if the person that died had any unpaid debts. In such cases, the beneficiary can pay them off with the bank account of the passed away one.

Question 4

How do i add someone to my bank account?

Answer

This additional person is called a "secondary signer." Unlike with the joint accounts, this type of deal is not equitable. In the first case, there are two owners of a card, and they are both responsible for it. In the second case, an added person can do everything as the owner, but he’s not legally accountable. If the cardholder wants to withdraw the second user from his card, he can do it without any permission or reason. In any way, there are situations when you might need a secondary signer. The best choice would be to add a relative, a spouse, or the closest friend. After choosing a person, you both would need to go to the bank and sign some forms. And, of course, your personal documents will be needed. Look for this information on the website of the bank or call them up.

Question 5

How many banks can you have accounts with?

Answer

There is no existing limit for you in the number of banks, as well as in the number of bank accounts. You can have as many as you wish or need. Another thing is that after a certain amount, banks can charge you a fee for having so many. That is why you need to put some thought into deciding how many is enough. The general number would be 4, where one pair is for general spendings, such as bills and everyday purchases, and another one is for savings. You’ll need a separate account for emergency conservations and for other means, such as investing or college funds.

Question 6

How to open a student bank account?

Answer

Opening a student bank account is not a complicated task. It requires just a few documents. Here’s what you need: any form of photo ID (either a passport or a driver’s license), any proof of address (bring your last utility bill or a monthly bank statement), a document proving that you are a student (any official correspondence from a particular university, student ID, etc.). Mind that most banks will ask you to submit original copies rather than photocopies. Visit a bank located near your house and ask the bank’s staff for assistance. Do not forget to give your new account details to your university.

Question 7

What is an escrow account in banking?

Answer

An escrow account is a comprehensive tool for those who own real property and who are constantly making payments on it. This is an easy means to manage insurance fees and estate taxes for your house. You do not have to save for them separately. The process is as follows: you carry the total set monthly fee, and part of it goes into your escrow account to pay homeowners insurance, taxes, and other expenses related to owning a house. Another part is going toward your title to pay your interest and principal. When the time comes, the bank will use the money to pay your bills. The main advantage of this method is the regularly saving of money. That is, you do not require to try to find the entire amount at a time, but there is time to prepare for payments.

Question 8

How to unfreeze a bank account?

Answer

Your first step is to find out why the bank froze your account and what is your following plan of action. If you have an unpaid debt, the credit company can withdraw the money from your account or take the remaining funds. If you are in such a situation, file for bankruptcy as soon as possible. However, if you can pay this debt, it is better to pay the required amount to handle the problem. In both cases, your bank account will be unfrozen again after you pay all the money you owe. If suspicious frauds are committed using your card, and the bank has decided to freeze it, you should contact find out what the problem is. Most often, it is enough just to confirm your card is safe.

Question 9

How much money do i have in my bank account?

Answer

This process is now very easy. You don't even have to go to the bank branch to do this. Although, of course, you can do that. But the fastest way is to use a banking app. With its help, you can not only check your account but also transfer money at any time. There are also other options: Online banking is almost the same as the application, only every time you need to log in and enter your username and password. ATM - insert the card and select the required service Set up online alerts about your account status Call the bank, answer security questions and find out the necessary information

Question 10

How many bank accounts should i have?

Answer

It always depends on your goals and preferences, but four would be enough for an average person. The first one would be for paying taxes and other bills, the second - for your usual spendings of money, the last two are for saving up the money. One for "black" days or emergencies, and another for any other reason. This could be your kids’ education or buying a new house. You never know what would happen tomorrow, and some basic savings together with good financial literacy can rescue you from an unpredictable situation.

Question 11

What does it mean to freeze assets and bank accounts?

Answer

It means that your bank account and all the money on it have been frozen by the bank. This happens when some shady activity has been discovered on your account. For example, if you made any fake checks or have a great deal of unpaid taxes. You typically cannot do any operations with this account. Depending on your case, restrictions can be held from 10 to 30 and more days. Not only can the bank freeze your account, but you can also do it by yourself. In cases when con men received access to your account, you can call your bank and ask to freeze it.

Question 12

How to transfer a gift card balance to bank account?

Answer

Unfortunately, it is not possible to withdraw or cash out the gift card. The purpose of a gift card is to allow people to choose and buy products from the shop. Of course, there are ways to cash out gift cards; first of all, you can sell them, but you have to take a small discount on the price, not sell them at face value, to interest the buyer. Gift cards can also be exchanged. Let's say you were gifted a card to a cosmetics shop and you need a tracksuit. Now a lot of online sites where you can make a sale or exchange. So feel free to try different options.