Standard bank premier banking

Question 1

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 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 does pod mean on a bank account?

Answer

POD means Payable on a Death bank account. POD function on an account is to make sure that you have a certain recipient who will get the money after your death. It is a quite useful tool in our modern lives since it makes the process of dividing the inheritance much faster and less painful. It also helps to pay any of your still existing debts, as someone will have an access to your account for such purposes. However, the POD signature on your account while the person is still alive doesn’t give the beneficiary the right to use it. An option of adding multiple recipients is also present.

Question 4

How to find bank accounts in your name?

Answer

Nowadays, this is a frequent case when a person has several accounts ascribed to one name - different accounts might serve different purposes, and this is a smart and convenient solution. However, this situation might lead to the fraudsters trying to create accounts in your name or getting access to your already existing accounts. That is why it is useful to know how many and of which type you do have accounts in the banks. To find it out, you should pay attention to your credit report. A credit report is a sort of summary of the account-related information connected with a certain name. Thus, if you are interested in finding out which accounts are attached to your name, a credit report is the first thing you have to check.

Question 5

What is a bank account statement?

Answer

A bank statement is the list of all the transactions that the owner did for the previous month. It includes all operations made and also your balance at the beginning of the month and at its end. You can access your statement online on the website of your bank. Log in, find the page with electronic statements, choose the period and look at it on any of your devices, or download it as a PDF file.

Question 6

How to close a bank account?

Answer

You can do it even without leaving your house. Often this can be done online or by calling the bank; only in some cases, your personal presence at the branch is required. Nevertheless, be sure to prepare your account for closure. Create a new one and connect all automatic payments to it. Move the remaining funds to a new account or take cash. It is also worth remembering that the bank will not close an account that has even the slightest debt.

Question 7

How to get old bank statements from a closed account?

Answer

If you have to refer to the list of transactions from your closed bank account for any reason, you may rest assured that it is possible even after a significant amount of time has passed. However, keep in mind that most banks keep your statements for five years and are not required to hold on to them for a longer period of time. We recommend requesting statements from an account closed within the last five years. Otherwise, you may face a more time-consuming procedure and exorbitant fees. The most convenient way to receive your statements is to access them online. You can view and print them right away without being charged a fee. If your closed account is too old to access it via the app or the website, you can contact your bank over the phone or visit the office in person. The bank staff may ask you to prove your identity and provide the required information about your bank account.

Question 8

How to open a bank account for a minor?

Answer

As a rule, banks do not allow minors to create a bank account without an adult’s involvement. In most cases, a joint owner is represented by the child’s parent or guardian. Once you have decided to develop the kid’s financial habits, specify the exact procedure you need to go through. Some banks will require visiting a local branch in person; others (modern ones) will ask you to install their app and fill out an online application form. You will have to prepare a documentation package including your SSN, driver’s license (or passport), your child’s birth certificate, or school ID (contact a bank representative over the phone for more precise information). In most cases, after you complete the application process, you have to deposit a certain amount of money into the new account. If it is not a custodial account and the kid has access to it, the bank will issue a card that the child can use to make purchases and manage funds at an ATM.

Question 9

How to transfer money from an unemployment card to a bank account?

Answer

An employment card works the same way as any other debit card. The only difference is that it is provided by the state Unemployment Office, which sends you payments if you don't have a job every month to support you. As with any other debit card, you can transfer these payments to your bank account using a direct deposit transfer to make the management of this money more convenient. This is an indispensable option, especially if you need to pay bills and other debts. For receiving such a card, you need to make sure that you fit the category of people who can get it, then claim for it and wait for a couple of weeks until you can receive it.

Question 10

How to add a beneficiary to a bank account?

Answer

You can add a beneficiary to your account. This can be useful in many situations, such as simplifying and speeding up the probate process. To do this, you require to visit your bank branch and provide them with the necessary documents and an application. The most reliable option would be to clarify the list of documents in the support service. Usually, the package of documents involves your ID, information about the beneficiary, or their document. And of course, you must know your account details. The process itself is pretty fast. You can check with your bank, and perhaps they also allow you to do this through the application. In this case, the process will be even easier and faster.

Question 11

How to remove a hold on a bank account?

Answer

Holds on bank accounts appear for different reasons, and that is why you have to figure out the reason before taking some actions for their removal. For instance, the bank sometimes freezes your money to check the reliability of transactions and safety of your funds, and if it happens on weekdays, you will not be able to make this process faster. Another reason for holding your money is depositing it to car rentals or hotels. In this case, you should contact the company you deposited money to and ask them to remove the hold as soon as possible. If you are not sure about the reason for the hold, contact your bank manager and ask if it is possible to make money available to use faster.

Question 12

What is an offshore bank account?

Answer

Most people associate offshore with the mafia and something illegal. In fact, there is nothing illegal here. They are simply accounts set up with banks in another country. And everything is legal as long as the owner of the accounts pays taxes on them. Many create such accounts because they often have to send money abroad or because they own real estate or other property in that country. In this case, the presence of such an account greatly facilitates the processes and reduces the time of operations. Illegal offshore companies are only if they are created to reduce taxes. Remember, you still have to pay taxes on time.