I know it cannot be possible, but, HDFC Bank should keep itself out from Private Banking and put itself on the stack of Public Banks.
I've an account (salary savings) with this bank from May'05 (Mumbai). That was my first account, so that time I did not realize what's bad with the banking services. But time goes and I got other Bank account (ICICI Bank), I realized what pathetic services this bank is giving.
To summarize I find these issues:
## Most of the time, Bank ATMs are in non-working condition. Specially the Andheri (E), near to station. I've many n many times seen longgg lines on this ATM. Since Andheri E is hub for professionals, they get salaries on 1st week of month. Guess what? BOTH ATMs are not in working condition.
## For many banking features you NEED TO FILL THE FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO NEAREST BRANCH. Well, there are features that can be enabled from HDFC Netbanking solution (after Login). Netbanking services like Funds Transfer needs to FILL THE PHYSICAL FORM!, to get it activated.
## Due to rains in Mumbai on 26-July, I lost ATM card anyhow. Now to apply, I need to VISIT NEAREST BRANCH TO APPLY. I cannot apply through Internet (FYI, it is possible on ICICI Infinity). Well, I applied. I got card after 15 days! ATM PIN? I need to re-apply for the same. It took ONE month. Now I needed money. How to get? Only direct debit payment was possible. I cannot transfer money to ICICI using NetBanking. I cannot visit branch with cheque due to conflict office timings. I had to have visit Mahim on Sunday which (luckily) opens on Sunday. Sighhh! I got money and I deposited it on ICICI Account.
(Thanks to VISA money transfer facility which is now universal and HDFC also follows it. Using it I TRANSFER 50 %- 75% of my salary to ICICI on the day I get salary.
# Phone Banking... Totally weird timing. From 9.30 to 6.30 (I guess). Off on all sundays and other holidays and half day on Saturday. Then why HDFC do one-more better thing: Change the timings this way for ATM access and Internet banking also. Anyone would be in need to assistance anytime yaar!
# There are charges for withdrawing money from non-HDFC ATMs (Other than 55/-), for VISA money transfer, IR Ticket booking (Other than 10/-).
# Email/SMS notification sleeps for a while and then goes their way. I get these after some time. Time also vary from 1 hour to 2 days! But never on time.
I do NOT recommend opening any account in this bank if you are going for a Private Banking. Either go for Public bank or any other Private bank like ICICI, Citibank, HSBC, SCB, BOB and others.