Replacing Millennium BCP to another bank due to high fees

Finances
, ,
41

How about using the complaints book? That seems to get action from businesses.

42

Where I can find the complaints book, do you know?

43

I believe there’s at least two complaints books in PT:

3 Likes
44

That’s very helpful info, thanks.

45

I imagine your stress, but your case is maybe better, as I had an unresolved issue for 2 years with Millennium BCP… I had kept approaching the account manager (assigned to me) by phone (from oversea at night), email, whatsapp, skype, and she completely ignored me for 2 years.

The problem was she incorrectly registered my address as well as my name. How could she make such an easy mistake for the customer’s name? It was very important to apply for GV. I was nervous not to reject the visa application due to her mistake…

I included all email addresses I knew into the correspondence. No one in that group ever resolved this easy request just for revising my name and address. Eventually I got a visa, but afterward, I visited an office (not the one the previous account manager works), then my data correctly registered. And they told me “your name is difficult”.

I agree that Millennium BCP charges high fees for this level of services. Please share any alternatives here. :pray:

4 Likes
46

Have you tried Activo bank? The account is in English and Portuguese

47

My first bank account too was from Banco BPI. I am thankful to them for helping me when I was new in PT but biy, paying 7.99 + 0.20 every month is a bit too steep.
If you are employed, it is 4.99 + 0.20 for you. I hear Activo and CTT do not charge anything! Banking fees in PT are ridiculously expensive.

48

I too am fed up with the Prestige Account Management process at Millenium BCP - ignored emails, no pro-active contact & fees at 15.6 pcm. I bleated to my solicitor about terminating them but as Jeff B says, they said “don’t do it” just in case SEF/AIMA wants to “re-confirm” your source of funds for the real estate purchase etc. “Wait until your first card, then do it…”
I had with foresight set up an ActivoBank account (no fees !) at the same time as the BCP thinking that I would slam BCP once I paid 60 for the certificate, and snuck in just before they started requiring a permanent visa to open an account. But coincident to this, Activo must be doing some internal due diligence, & has just in the last two days hit me with a heap of proof documents request and are (get this) astounded that I don’t have a visa yet after my ARI application of late 2021. Be interesting to see if I get terminated by them - then I will be getting my 15 pcm value from BCP…

49

I have had a Millennium BCP Prestige account for a while. The key is to have a good account manager/ banker. If you have this account and find that your banker is unresponsive, ask for a replacement. But don’t get “greedy,” as this is Portugal, son you’re not going to get anyone who’s johnny-on-the-spot.

Might be another thread, but would be super interested in anyone who has compared and contrasted Portuguese Investment banks. Would love to find a good one, low fees, good service, reputable, etc.

50

I’ve requested a change from my account manager in Lisbon to a nice lady in my village. Three times over a year apart…and no response. Even she is mystified. Do they get commission, or something?

51

Terminated Millennium BCP account last week - a good feeling. Now just have the Activo account which is zero fees and fine for my low-level use…

1 Like
52

Activo can hold bpi and imga?

53

I think only BPI offer their own fund… @cj807 correct me if I’m wrong.

54

Yes, you open a BPI account and buy the BPI Portugal fund. It’s all in-house: I don’t think there’s any way of buying it through a third party. The good thing is that you save about 1% per year as a result.

55

This is highly inaccurate. In developed markets, banks secure syndicated loans from international lenders based on their assets under management. Yet in this case, we see the exact opposite: a system that penalizes investors instead of attracting them — and then has the audacity to question why the Portuguese economy remains stagnant and innovation is lacking. If the very institutions meant to fuel economic growth are risk-averse and hostile to capital, stagnation is not a mystery; it’s an inevitability

56

Bison is top notch bank and servlce but 5 year costs around 8400 eur for 500k eur investment, system literally milking us .once you ll apply citizenship then passport ,sell all your funds and bring back to all good usa!

57

I just had to resubmit proof of my ID, income and professional status with Millennium BCP for the 4th time in 12 months. These overzealous compliance checks have been an ongoing issue with them for 5 years. If I could start over again, I’d choose any other bank.

2 Likes
58

I was asked once a year by MillenniumBCP and submission was done via its App - Profile logo - “View Personal Data”. Besides taking photo of 2 same passport pages, I just need to click “confirm”for address, employment, tax id. etc. The most difficult part was photo taking which was rejected twice before final success.

59

You’re lucky. I know some who have had the same treatment I have and others who have no complaints at all. Maybe it’s because I’m a US citizen not living in Portugal, but who knows? I went into a branch last time I was in Lisbon and the manager there confided that the bank’s internal systems are a mess (!) so it’s possible different compliance departments are doubling up. Unfortunately they also moved my Prestige manager to another branch over a year ago and never replaced her. I’m stuck with them for now. I don’t want to change then have AIMA request some document in the future, only for the bank to say it can’t be done because I’m no longer a customer …

60

I recommend you open a second bank account, and keep MBCP just for the AIMA purposes.

1 Like