Whenever you want to send money to someone a business or a person, even inside the same city or within the same banking institution, you have to get the beneficiary approved by making a zillion calls and what not. Yesterday, I had to send money to a travel agent, I created the beneficiary online, and then going thru all the procedures, was asked to call sambaphone.

I called the number I was given and I was taken into the system when I entered my ATM card number. Instead of verifying the card, the auto attendant said, I have to call another number, which was the same number I had called. I have been trying for the last 2 days and No one in the bank has noticed that there system is going in circles...

Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000. Sorry, please call Samba Gold at 800 124 5000.

Banking in Saudi Arabia can get to your nerves. Refrain from dealing with Saudi banks as much as possible.

If my iqama [residency visa] expires and is not renewed for some reason, or if i do not visit the bank to show my face, every year, even if my visa is renewed, my bank account will be frozen. Once my bank account is frozen, no money can be taken from it, even if your kids are dying of hunger or your pregnant wife needs medicine.. Your driver's license will also be frozen, credit cards as well, your phone number may also be disconnected. It is my hard earned money but because of the laws based on the principles of slavery, your money is not yours if the masters decide to do so.

Nowhere in this world will this happen. Actually most countries want you to deposit your money in their banks and try to give you a sense of security, so you keep the money invested with them.

Dear Customer, Your account has been frozen.

Try your best not to save any significant money in Saudi banks. If your money is stuck in a bank or if your company is not paying salaries on time, which is normal in most Islamic countries, there will be no way to get your rights back, and ultimately your visa will expire, and why would a company not paying your salary renew your visa, and the Saudi religion and the society will be happy to throw you out of the country without giving you any of your rights.

Adding a beneficiary to a samba bank account can make you hit your head against a wall, drown yourself and hang yourself by your hair at the same time. The bank account portal/ website asks you to enter a host of information, verify requests via SMS messages, send texts to certain numbers, wait and receive for acknowledgements and then says, "Please call SAMBAPHONE". SAMABAPHONE got to be the most annoying banking auto-attendant one has even called. Today I called, went through the security checks, and found that there is no option to verify a beneficiary. I chose to talk to the customer service. The customer service asked me to call again, go through the security checks, SMS verification and then press 1-1-4-9. I did it and the phone went blank and after a few seconds gave me the busy tone. I called again and went through the same procedure and picked options 1-1-4-9 and managed to receive a live voice. The person said something in Arabic, even though I had chosen to communicate in English, put me on hold and vanished. After a few minutes I heard the busy tone again. This happened almost 6 times. I could not authenticate the beneficiary.

Busy dial tone

Pray samba bank gets acquired by some Nigerian spam emailer

Samba Gold boasts access to a world of superior banking services including a private environment to perform your transactions. A dedicated SambaPhone 24-hour toll-free number (800 124 5000), and a number (+966-11 479-7500) to call from overseas, just for Sambagold customers.50% discount on fees for most banking services (including money transfers, cheque books, and safety deposit box), international cash withdrawals from ATMs abroad, and money transfers through SpeedCash. Preferential exchange rates on foreign currencies. Special offers and discounts at a wide selection of shops and brands, BLA BLA BLA. NONE of these HAPPEN. There are no dedicated officers. Samba Gold counters are not manned. Phone calls have long wait times. There are no preferential rates.

Samba Gold kiosks/ counters are never manned.

Buyer beware. Take your account somewhere else, where you get a better value for your money

One fine morning, SAMBA bank on its own decided to upgrade my status to Gold. They did it without asking me or consulting with me. And because they chose to upgrade me, they also chose to cancel my credit card and my ATM card, leaving me without money for the whole weekend. I had to take time off from work, go to the branch next week and withdraw cash for daily expenses. It took the bank almost three weeks to issue me a new ATM card for Gold membership. Furthermore, almost 3 months have passed and the bank has not been able to re-issue a credit card, which is always in the mail when I ask.

Sambaphone service says go to branch. The branch says call sambaphone

Avoid Banking in saudi Arabia

My credit card is frozen and I have a credit balance on it. I am trying to transfer the credit balance to my account, which is not allowed, but if I transfer money to my card it happily receives it. A system that helps the bank to take money from customers but denies the customers their own money back.

We regret to inform you that your request number CAS-XXXX-XXXXX can not be executed. Have a nice day

Find an expatriate friendly bank elsewhere