I left Berliner Sparkasse after a failure in the process of transferring money to Spain as down payment for a flat. The bank did not like my signature..this could not be done on line but had to be carried out at the branch..so it mailed me a refusal, which I did not receive until after the deposit was due. (I did get the flat, but it was touch and go). I called the bank after receiving a warning from the Realtor and was told what had happened, but that nothing could be done by phone (I transfer much larger amounts from the US to Germany by phone) and I would have to wait to receive the rejection letter and then go to my old branch. I went immediately instead, but was told the matter could only be addressed by the agent who had initiated the transfer, who, unfortunately was on vacation and would return in a week.
I instead immediately transferred my account to Bank of Berlin/German Bank across the street, which effected the transfer to Spain within an hour of our handshake.
Berliner Sparkasse is a regional savings and loan with lovely people, but it is not remotely adequately set up for any international dealings. You need to be there and go to your branch..usually something I like..for any larger issues.
I now need to file tax statements showing the highest balance from the Sparkasse account in the us. As I am not a customer ordered back statements at EU5 each, no problem. The bank representative handling the case was lovely, but when the statements arrived only two of the five requested records were in the envelope. I returned and ordered the rest, which came. That took over a week, as everything is done by mail. I reordered the statements in person and received them in about two weeks. On arriving back in the US, however, I realized I needed another statement. On chat with the agent I was told I could not order it on line or per phone but would have to put my order in writing. This would mean one week plus the two week processing time. It could not be emailed to me but could be sent to the US, which means another week. That means for me a minimum of four weeks to get my work together for my accountant, and I leave in seven. If there is a hitch, I will not get them while I am in country.
The bank offers no end of year summary and there is no account listed in the online banking history. The statements sent to customers are stacks of quarter sheets rather than A5 statements.
These standards for a bank in 2016 are inadequate for any non local needs. It is impossible for me to work with such an antiquated system. While the bank employees are extremely nice and helpful, the bank's communication structure is from the eighties. It is a pity. read more
