(18 December 2008 – Australia) East & Partners’ November 2008 Business Banking Customer Satisfaction Monitor (BBCSM) shows a continuing decline in customer satisfaction regarding Business Banks’ pricing.Since February 2008, the customer satisfaction rating for pricing has
significantly fallen from 5.31 to the latest level of 4.91 (using a scale where
0 is ‘very dissatisfied and 10 is ‘very satisfied’).
The significance of this slide is highlighted by the fact that of the nine
factors monitored in the BBCSM, Pricing now achieves the second poorest rating
only behind Convenience.
Interestingly, customer satisfaction ratings concerning pricing significantly
differ according to turnover segment with those businesses in the $5 – 150
million turnover range reporting markedly worse ratings than those businesses
with a $150 – 500 million turnover.
Overall, National Australia Bank comes out on top regarding pricing achieving a
relatively respectable rating of 6.14 compared to the worst performing bank
which manages a rating of just 3.71.
East’s BBCSM is based on interviews with 850 business customers every month
(10,200 annually) turning over between A$5 and 500 million per annum.
“The poor rating and continued fall in satisfaction regarding business bank’s
pricing is arguably being fuelled by the fact that business customers do not
perceive their banks to be fully passing on the unprecedented rate cuts that the
Reserve Bank of Australia have implemented” East & Partners’ head of market
analysis, Robert Morgan said.
“What is also interesting to note is the fact that businesses in the lower
turnover segments appear to be more disgruntled about their bank’s pricing
compared to those businesses with a higher annual turnover.” Mr Morgan said.
About the East & Partners’ Business Banking Customer Satisfaction Monitor
The Business Banking Customer Satisfaction Monitor is based on interviews
conducted each month Australia-wide with a structured sample of 850 companies
turning over A$5-500 million per annum, some 10,200 direct interviews with
business banking customers annually.
For more information please contact:
Robert Morgan
Head of Market Analysis
East & Partners
t: 02-9004 7848
m: 0404 150939
e: robert.m@eastandpartners.com