I have had a week of bad experiences with First Caribbean which resulted in me cutting both credit cards I have with them.

They seem determined to make that bank the worse bank in the region, if not the world.

I had a Barclaycard and I had a card from CIBC. They were both good banks. They merged to form First Caribbean International - which is clearly not a good bank. Bad service is their hallmark.

I buy a lot of things on the internet - especially Amazon.com. I normally use my credit card from Royal Bank. I did not have problems using Royal Bank's card. All my transactions were smooth. I switched to Barclaycard earlier in the week. I ordered about 50 items from Amazon.com and all I got was - DECLINE! DECLINE! DECLINE! DECLINE! DECLINE!

I knew better so I called First Caribbean. They told me there was a limit on the number of transactions I could put through in one day and then the security features on their system kicks in and stops any further transactions. This was not part of our agreement. They never informed me that they were limiting the NUMBER of transactions I could make.

Well blow me down! They are going to protect me from fraud by not allowing me to use the card for the purposes which I got the card for in the first place. A 5th grade student has better sense than this.

Scotia Bank has a triggering system as well but they do not damage your credit and embarass you. They call you and ask you if you made the purchase, if you were responsible for the transaction. They provide reasonable, sensible protection. When I mentioned this to the First Caribbean employee here in the Bahamas she told me they have too many customers to provide that kind of service. So without me they can provide a little better service to the remaining sufferers (customers).

I asked the person from First Caribbean - who happened to be in Barbados (this time), and who happened not to be able to answer any of my questions, and who happened not to be able to contact anyone who could answer any of my questions what would have been my situation if I was in New York, Miami, or London on a shopping spree? What would have happened if after I exceeded my LIMIT on number of transactions, I had gone to rent a car or a hotel room? I would have been up the creek without a paddle or a canoe. There would be no one to call that could provide assistance.

So without the convenience and security, what would be the point of having the card? I cannot see the point so I cut the cards. I am finished with First Caribbean. It was clearly a mistake to take two good banks - Barclays and CIBC, and make one lousy bank - First Caribbean. Their service is the pits!

The employees of First Caribbean should look for new jobs. If the leadership of the bank does not see sense, the bank will continue to lose one customer at a time until they are out of business. I am happy in a way because they are providing more opportunities for good service institutions like Commonwealth Bank to gain market share.

When Commonwealth Bank puts a product on the market, you can be assured it works. If we can only produce a few more like Commonwealth Bank the service issues in the Bahamas would be resolved. And be assured their service is not free! But that is what people pay for - good service! First Caribbean want you to pay and much as possibel while they provide as little service as possible.

For the sake of the employees I hope First Caribbean gets new leadership (or some leadership) in time to salvage their jobs. The merger was an error and it shows.

Bahamians need to walk away from bad service. If the service is not to your expectations - just say no! Do without it or get it from somewhere else!

Catherine Kelly wrote an informative article in The Punch about a month ago that spoke about a crackdown by credit card companies to eliminate Caribbean-based fraud. Many internet shoppers in the islands over the past couple of months have found their transactions being declined at these stores, despite the card being “active” and under the spending limit. Supposedly the high rate of non-payment of bills, large number of “false” transactions and the use of Caribbean-based cards for tax evasion have caused some headaches for the banks, which obviously pass the inconvenience on to their customers.

In the article it was recommended that the issuing bank be alerted in advance to the kind of transactions (as well as the volume) that will be charged on the card to reduce the possibility of denial. Still some US-based companies avoid credit cards from Caribbean banks like the plague – too much risk. The only solution seems to be a direct application to the US-based credit card institutions and most of the time the application will be redirected to a local bank, unless you have a social security number or some other means of validating your income to them.

There are some measures that local banks can do to avoid their customers from being frustrated with these inconveniences, but obviously they haven’t been implemented across our banking system as yet. Consumers will have to stand together on this one for anything to get done.

The Royal Bank of Canada is in the Bahamas and their card does not experience what First Caribbean is going through. Scotiabank is in the Bahamas - there service is not bad. Commonwealth Bank is here, their service is really good.

All these institutions exist in the same environment. Why is First Caribbean's service so poor and than the others are not? It boils bank to the quality of management.

Tell me - what sense does it make to have a credit card which has a limit of 8 transactions, irrespective of size. It makes no sense. One large transaction can do the damage. By the time they got to the 8th transaction, the damage would have been done. The end result is customers are frustrated without security being enhanced.

I am learning that the centralization of decision-making has much to do with the poor service being provided by First Caribbean. I am told that the decision-making authority of managers have been downgraded to childish levels leading to many experienced managers leaving. They are now operating theoretical banking. Decisions are being made too far from the customers so the customers are not being viewed as real people. Hence, poor decisions are being made.

If Commonwealth Bank can provide good service, First Caribbean should simply copy, borrow or buy what Commonwealth Bank is doing. They do not have to reinvent the wheel.

Royal Bank and Scotia are Canadian-based which accounts for their greater efficiency in these areas, no doubt.

As for the local (Caribbean-based) banks I dont have any experience with Commonwealth Bank credit cards, but I guess that in this case they can be applauded for their better than average service.

As with anything based upon a consumer market, competition does drive up the quality of services provided - granted that the market is selective enough to switch from inferior providers.

I agree, they suck!

I cash checks from clients for CIBC, and that means going to First Caribean. Unlike other banks such as Commonwealth, when I cash a check at say East Bay, and the clients account is say Shirley Street (Friday Afternoon traffic dont want to spend an extra hour driving down there), I have to wait an extra 1/2 hour because the systems are not linked up.

Not to mention, they have no parking, closed 1/2 the time for renovations, and by the way, their security system (cameras) is way outdated!

Bahamians need to walk away from bad service. If the service is not to your expectations - just say no! Do without it or get it from somewhere else!

I have already done that with several businesses in Nassau, most recent being Burger King, ill go anywhere else or starve before I go back to a local Burger King, they screwed me too many times with left over microwaved food!

Check this out. They're getting a good rep in Barbados though. Is it just us? Must be something in the water... ;)

Bank named ‘Best Bank in Barbados’

FirstCaribbean International Bank has been named one of the best emerging market banks for 2004 in Latin America by Global Finance Magazine...

http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=18681

Hi ebo, I can identify with what you are saying. CIBC has been my bank for about 25 years. And as you have said, the service has gotten pretty poor after they merged with Barclays.

I still find the receptionist at the East Bay Branch very helpful. One day recently I told her how they were not treating me too well. She said to give them a break 'cause the merger was causing some confusion.

Recently, I asked the checking account manager for what I regarded as a small favour for such a long-standing customer. She told me to bring in my passport and a letter from National Insurance. I asked her if she thought I was a terrorist or something! Out of disgust, I did not follow up with the request any further.

On another occasion, I tried to get them to increase my credit card limit by a small amount -- now that was a hassle! After doing what they asked me to do, they still would not increase it. Well, I sent an email to the bank's manager. And let me tell you, that email was so strongly worded, it seemed that it must have frightened her! The next day, she sent an email to the card office, CC to me, ordering the gentleman in charge to grant me my increase NOW!

I don't know why, but since the merger, there really does not seem to be that good treatment of customers which use to be the case previously.

ebo, I don't know if you have tried it yet, but don't you think that if you were to advise the bank's top manager about the treatment you were given, the matter would be resolved to your satisfaction?

Sometimes the person at the top does not know what on earth is taking place with the departments and persons who report to him or her!

Check this out. They're getting a good rep in Barbados though. Is it just us? Must be something in the water... ;)

Bank named ‘Best Bank in Barbados’

FirstCaribbean International Bank has been named one of the best emerging market banks for 2004 in Latin America by Global Finance Magazine...

http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=18681

Best Bank in Latin America / Barbados, doesnt say that much, they are both/all still 3rd world.

Commonwealth Bank is actually one of the best I have found so far, to any standards, great service, can cash checks from any location, no long long lines, fast service, drive throughs, etc. Thats all I really care about, havent had a chance to use them for credit cards yet..

well i dont have any accounts with either bank. Thank God.
after this information. i don't intend to either

seems like they cant handle the mass workload

well i dont have any accounts with either bank. Thank God.
after this information. i don't intend to either

seems like they cant handle the mass workload

I will not say which bank I use but I have had an account with them since my father opened it for me fifty years ago! It started out as a savings account then moved on to a checking account when I got old enought. They still treat me like I just open an account with them! It seems they dont know me! Or could care less!

I have accounts in other banks but the service is not much better. I have long given up on service at local banks. I look on banks now as just a place to keep my over-draft. ;)

Is it also true that after you get US (Dollars) from one branch, they stamp your passbook, so that you can't get any more US from them that day at any other branch?

I would like to send a friend of mine who lives in Nassau some money but she does not have a bank account. Does anyone know the best way to do this. We have what we call Currency Exchanges here in the states where you can send someone money by money gram. All they have to do is go in and show identification and pick up the cash. What means are available to you there?

Western Union probably, but I'm not sure how that works.

I live here in the Bahamas and use Western Union on a regular basis. Pretty simple and you get your money right away. Oh and pertaining to the topic, I don't have a Fisrt Caribbean account and probably never will now :s