Coffee, concierge, and comfort at the bank
We all know that queuing up at the bank can be painful.
But what if the teller offered you a cappuccino, a comfy chair and a spin on the jukebox? It seems financial institutions have finally cottoned on to just how boring branch banking can be and are now offering a range of sweeteners to get you in the door.
And when it comes to a cup of coffee, you don't even have to be a customer at that bank to grab a freebie.
"We often have people pop in for a chat and a coffee,"says Community First Credit Union CEO John Tancevski. "n fact, we pride ourselves on being part time baristas. We set out to break down that traditional bank feel and to be different and we've found both our members and the general public have really embraced that."
Community First also offers a concierge service, chat booths, plasma TVs, in-branch internet banking and a jukebox. "it's a new style of banking - closer to sitting in a cafe,"says Tancevski. It's not just the credit unions either, even the big banks are getting in on the act. So what else is on offer?
Seated waiting areas
ANZ have a ticketing system where you take a number and wait in a comfy seated area until your teller is free. Plus, many credit unions and building societies have "open plan" layouts complete with sofas and lounge spaces.
Self-service coin counters
Commonwealth Bank and NAB both have free coin counters. Commonwealth Bank claims they can count 40 coins per second which, unless you are Rain Man, is probably faster than you. Pour in the coins, get a receipt and take it to the teller to process. Small business owners might find pre-rolled "business change" dispensers handy too.
Branch concierge
Many financial institutions offer services to assist customers on arrival and make sure you're not in the wrong line. Typically you'll find these in busy city branches - especially at peak periods like lunch. Some even offer help for non-English speakers like the Commonwealth in Sydney's Chinatown. Many credit unions and building societies have them, along with ANZ, Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac.
Children's play areas
Look for banks with designated play areas to keep the little ones distracted. Bankwest have drawers full of kids' toys for all ages and screens showing cartoons. Just don't substitute for childcare - you will need to pick up your rugrats when you're done.
Books
Bankwest has a range of financial self-help books to help you get your affairs in order while you wait. These range from savings to super to investment titles. Swat up.
Internet surfing
More institutions are providing on-site internet banking to cut down on queues. But keep your eyes peeled for ones that also let you surf about. For instance, at the Commonwealth Bank branch at Sydney University you'll find Apple iPad facilities with Wi-Fi spots for free access.
But are these little treats likely to convince you to switch institutions? 'Maybe if a bank offered you a complementary Thai foot massage while you waited in line," says CHOICE media spokesperson, Christopher Zinn. But a cold cup of coffee might not cut the mustard."
According to Zinn, such perks are only beneficial from a customer service perspective so long as a financial institution has its priorities in place and all parts of its service are covered.
"You certainly wouldn't want to see them using the price of free coffee as an excuse to put up interest rates," he says.
But overall, anything to speed up your time in a bank is a good thing. Plus, now it's getting chilly, there's really nothing stopping you from popping into your local branch for a free cuppa on the way to work.
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