The Bank… AGAIN.

If I haven’t said it enough, I’ll say it again… I really REALLY hate the banking ‘system’ here.

Let me start from the beginning…

On Monday, my loving father decided to help me out and wire money to my Israeli bank account (so I could pay my tuition in Shekel at a locked in rate of 3.6, Bar Ilan didn’t seem to think that the exchange rate would go up to 3.9.. so I decided to save some money.) In any case… my money arrived this morning and I received a phone call from my favorite banker, unfortunately I was unable to answer my phone and there was no return number (a bit odd I thought).

So I decided to be proactive and call my bank myself. I looked up the information and called my branch. To my confusion, I was immediately routed to the main call center for Bank Leumi. Where I was informed that banks do not have local numbers, all calls are routed to the main call center. This makes absolutely no sense. Don’t forget your security PIN number because without it you throw the representatives off and you will then spend the next 5 minutes verifying your identity, while explaining that you do not need a new PIN, you just happened to have left yours safely on your desk at home (not that I would know any of this from experience….)

I then tried to explain my situation to the representative on the phone who brilliantly remarks: “Oh, I can’t see this wire transfer, it’s only at your local bank!”

Me: “Yes, I am aware. Can you please transfer me to Zvi in the Kikar Rabin branch? He is expecting my phone call.”

Representative: “No, I’m sorry. They don’t have a phone number and can’t be reached” (seriously, this actually happened”

Me: “Well what am I supposed to do?”

Representative: “You need to go to your branch and speak to him in person” (EVERYTHING is done like this. NOTHING can be done over the phone. Imagine how much more complicated your life would be if you had to change your address or simple information and each time you had to walk into your bank).

* At this point, I just lost it.*

Me: “You know, I have to tell you. This country has the DUMBEST banking system I have ever experienced. I work everyday and have class at night. I can’t go into my bank, let alone my BRANCH, at the drop of a hat. No other country works like this. Are you aware of this?!” (I did say this entire rant in Hebrew!!)

Representative: “Calm down…”

Me: “Don’t tell me to calm down! I just want to spend my money!! WHY must you make this situation more complicated than it needs to be?!”

Representative: “Ok, would you like me to put in a message for him to call you?!”

As I sat there in silence, shock, amazement, I could not understand why this woman had not initially offered me this option…. No matter, I gave her my details and hoped for the best.

Zvi did get my message and, god bless his soul, he called me and we sorted out my wire transfer.