Business and Commercial for Graduate Careers

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals, to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in Africa. Bringing true, meaningful value to our clients and the communities we serve and creating a real sense of purpose for you.

Our graduate programme aims to attract talent that not only displays sound technical knowledge and skills, but who can be groomed into thought leaders and trusted partners. We blend theoretical learning of hard and soft skills with practical experience. Your learning journey will be supported through several rotations, where you will be exposed the end to end financial management of the business, including Interest rate and fee Pricing, Credit Risk Management, Treasury and Capital Management.

Main accountabilities:

• Business Risk Management: First line management of compliance, reputational, strategic, legal and operational risks implement measures for the identification, measurement and prioritization of risks and controls.
• Governance: First line management and implementation of a Regulatory and Compliance framework within business that is aligned to Standard Bank's Regulatory and Compliance Framework.
• Assurance: To provide independent, objective & professional assurance insights to the relevant products and processes cutting across all non-financial risks across the portfolio of support

Application dates: 1 April 2025 - 30 June 2025

Minimum Requirements

Undergraduate / Postgraduate Qualification in:

• BCom Accounting
• BCom Risk Management
• BTech or Diploma (Financial Management, Management Account, Internal Auditing etc.)
• Compliance and Risk Management degrees
• South African Citizen
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 24 months 
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies
• Undergraduate qualification to be completed by 31 December 2024.

Are you ready to embark on an exciting career journey in Credit Risk withing Business and Commercial Banking? Our Graduate Program offers you the opportunity to gain hands on experience in a dynamic and fast paced industry. 

Through a series of rotations, you will gain extensive experience in a wide range of analytical areas across South Africa and the African Continent. 

• Credit Risk Modelling – Learn to develop and refine models that assess risk, guiding critical lending decisions. 
• Digital Lending Strategies – Discover advanced techniques in credit scoring and automated lending strategies to improve lending outcomes. 
• Lending Portfolio Management – Gain insights into managing diverse lending portfolios and optimising performance. 
• Data Management and Visualisation – Master the skills to manage large datasets and create compelling visualizations that drive business insights. 

Why join Standard Bank? 

• Comprehensive Training – Receive in depth training from industry experts to build a solid foundation in credit risk. 
• Professional Development – Access mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to support your growth. 
• Real-World Projects – Work on projects that have a tangible impact, helping you apply your knowledge and skills. 
• Career Pathways – Our program opens doors to a rewarding career at Standard Bank. 

Take the next step in your career journey with us and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. 

During this 18-month program, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Understand the Credit Risk Lifecycle: Gain comprehensive insights into each stage of the credit risk process and its impact on business operations. 
• Enhance Coding Skills: Develop and refine your expertise in SAS, SQL, and Python to analyse data and create innovative solutions. 
• Contribute to Digital Risk Modernization: Play a key role in updating and streamlining digital risk solutions and strategies. 
• Develop and Maintain Credit Risk Models: Assist in creating, deploying, maintaining, and monitoring models that evaluate risk and guide critical lending decisions. 
• Create Insightful Dashboards: Use tools like Power BI and Qlik Sense to craft data-driven dashboards that provide valuable insights and key performance indicators (KPIs) for stakeholders. 
• Optimize Credit Limit Setting Strategies: Support the design, maintenance, and improvement of strategies for digital and automated lending processes. 
• Monitor Credit Portfolios: Contribute to the comprehensive oversight of credit portfolios and support the creation of reports for effective portfolio management. 
• Perform Quantitative Analytics: Analyse data to evaluate current credit strategies and develop innovative challenger strategies to enhance Business and Commercial Banking portfolios. 

Application dates: 1 April 2025 - 30 June 2025  

Minimum Requirements  

Masters or Honours in: 

BSc / BCom 

• Business Mathematics and Informatics (BMI) 
• Mathematics 
• Statistics 
• Data Science 
• Actuarial Science 
• Computer Science 
• Engineering (Financial, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical & Chemical) 
• Operations / Operational Research 
• Risk Analysis / Analytics 

Criteria 

• South African Citizen 
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 18 months  
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies 
• Honours qualification to be completed by 31 December 2025 

At Standard Bank we’re passionate about creating growth in the agricultural value chain in Africa. We’re committed to providing farmers with a full banking suite that includes everything from working capital to crop insurance. Because when a farmer wins, we all win.
We’re looking for talented individuals to join our Agriculture division as Graduate Trainees.

The aim of our 18-month Graduate Programme is to equip you with skills and experiences deemed necessary to set you up for becoming a skilled Risk Practitioner within the Business and Commercial Banking segment of Standard Bank, with guidance and support from Senior executives & managers who run the risk management portfolios.

Through a series of rotations, you will learn how risk is managed in the bank and gain extensive experience in a wide range of areas within the Business & Commercial Banking business unit across South Africa and our other African markets.

You will build an understanding of the credit lifecycle on this Graduate Programme:

• Gain comprehensive insights into each stage of the credit risk process and its impact on business operations.
• Supports business partners and ecosystem methodology in understanding and meeting client lending needs, ultimately supporting the Universal Financial Services Organisation aspiration.
• Perform Quantitative Analytics: Analyse data to evaluate current strategies and develop innovative challenger strategies to enhance Business and Commercial Banking portfolios.

These insights will inform decision making and customer centric strategies.

Take the next step in your career journey with us and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. 

During this 18-month programme you can look forward to:

• Understand the Credit evaluations process: Ensures that credit evaluation processes and good quality of decisions are executed effectively in the credit team, within the parameters of the relevant individual product policies and/or multiple product policy. Partner to develops relevant lending strategies to proactively manage the bank's credit risk.
• Understand the Credit Risk Lifecycle: Collaborate with the Credit Risk Management team and assist them to effectively prepare agreements, manage fulfilment of pre-conditions for drawdown of loans, release limits and manage post and ongoing conditions of sanctions.
• Operations processes: Review that there are detailed standard operating procedures and service level agreements in place, which align to compliance with credit policies / legislation.
• Project management: Participates in projects and any ad-hoc functions, including training of staff and support of Customer Journeys.
• Stakeholder management: Networks and builds strong mutual relationships within the BCB Lending Credit Team and with business partners and stakeholders.
• Client Engagement: Supports business to understand clients and whether lending opportunities fall within risk appetite.

Application dates: 1 April 2025 - 30 June 2025

Minimum Requirements

Honours or Masters in BSc/BCom:

• Agric Economics
• Economics / Agricultural Economics
• South African Citizen
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 18 months 
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies
• Honours qualification to be completed by 31 December 2024.

Our graduate programme aims to attract talent that not only displays sound technical knowledge and skills, but who can be groomed into thought leaders and trusted partners. We blend theoretical learning of hard and soft skills with practical experience. Your learning journey will be supported through several rotations, where you will be exposed to the end-to-end life lifecycle of the Business Lending business. This includes, learning about application and technology architecture processes through the disciplines of analysis, design, development, testing and deployment, as well as being exposed to the operations, maintenance, and support processes of live production environments.

Upon completion of the graduate programme, you will have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to kick-start your career and to find a home in Business and Commercial Banking, where you can thrive and contribute to the broader success of the Standard Bank Group.

• Provide input into the customer and product life cycles of clients.
• Develop and redesign end-to-end target state client journeys.
• Develops business cases relating to the customer desirability, feasibility and bank viability.
• Considers existing policies and procedures when designing and testing different approaches during concept stage, in order not to incur additional operational, credit and market risk.
• Provides input into specifications for systems functions, information flows, data loads, and implementation strategy.
• Responsible for current business services and processes (end to end value chain) specific to allocated journey.

Application dates: 1 April 2025 - 30 June 2025

Undergraduate (preferably with Honours or Masters):

• BCom
• Informatics
• Accounting
• Finance
• Statistics
• Economics
• BSc
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics
• Financial Risk Management
• Undergraduate qualification to be completed by 31 December 2024.

Minimum Requirements

• South African Citizen
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 24 months 
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies

We’re looking for talented individuals to join our Structured Lending division as Graduate Trainees. 

The aim of our 18-month graduate programme is to equip you with skills and experiences deemed necessary to set you up for becoming a skilled Risk Practitioner within the Business & Commercial Banking segment of Standard Bank, with guidance and support from Senior Executives & Managers who run the Risk Management portfolios. 

Through a series of rotations, you will learn how risk is managed in the bank and gain extensive experience in a wide range of Lending areas within the Business & Commercial Banking business unit across South Africa and the African Continent. These areas include: - 

• Lending portfolios 
  • Commercial Asset Finance, 
  • Business Lending, 
  • Centralised Lending, 
  • Collections,
  • Fleet & Wholesale Finance
  • Collateral 

On this Grad program we will build an understanding of the Structured Lending Lifecycle: 

• Gain comprehensive insights into each stage of the credit risk process and its impact on business operations. 
• Develop an understanding of the credit evaluation team in support of the Commercial Segment’s (“the Segments”) asset growth targets. 
• Supports business partners and ecosystem methodology in understanding and meeting client lending needs, ultimately supporting the Universal Financial Services Organisation aspiration. 
• Perform Quantitative Analytics: Analyse data to evaluate current strategies and develop innovative challenger strategies to enhance Business and Commercial Banking portfolios. 
   

These insights will inform decision making and customer centric strategies. 

Why join Standard Bank? 

• Comprehensive Training – Receive in depth training from industry experts to build a solid foundation in credit risk. 
• Professional Development – Access mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to support your growth. 
• Real-World Projects – Work on projects that have a tangible impact, helping you apply your knowledge and skills. 
• Career Pathways – Our program opens doors to a rewarding career at Standard Bank. 

Take the next step in your career journey with us and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. 

During this 18-month programme you can look forward to: 

• Understand the Credit evaluations process: Ensures that credit evaluation processes and good quality of decisions are executed effectively in the credit team, within the parameters of the relevant individual product policies and/or multiple product policy. Partner to develops relevant lending strategies to proactively manage the bank’s credit risk. 
• Understand the Credit Risk Lifecycle: Collaborate with the Credit Risk Management team and assist them to effectively prepare agreements, manage fulfilment of pre-conditions for drawdown of loans, release limits and manage post and ongoing conditions of sanctions. 
• Operations processes: Review that there are detailed standard operating procedures and service level agreements in place, which align to compliance with credit policies / legislation. 
• Project management: Participates in projects and any ad-hoc functions, including training of staff and support of Customer Journeys. 
• Stakeholder management: Networks and builds strong mutual relationships within the BCB Lending Credit Team and with business partners and stakeholders. 
• Client Engagement: Supports business to understand clients and whether lending opportunities fall within risk appetite. 

Application closing date: 1 April 2025 – 30 June 2025 

Minimum Requirements  

Masters or Honours in: 

BCom Accounting or SAICA endorsed Accounting Degree 

Criteria 

• South African Citizen 
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 18 months  
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies 
• Honours qualification to be completed by 31 December 2025

Are you a recent law graduate looking to make a significant impact in the financial sector? We are seeking talented individuals to join our Structured Credit Risk division as Graduate Trainees. 

Our 18-month graduate program is designed to equip you with the skills and experiences necessary to become a skilled Risk Practitioner within the Business & Commercial Banking segment of Standard Bank. You will receive guidance and support from Senior Executives & Managers who oversee the Risk Management portfolios. 

Through a series of rotations, you will learn how risk is managed in the bank and gain extensive experience in various areas of Credit Risk within the Business & Commercial Banking business unit across South Africa. These areas include: 

• Legal and Regulatory Compliance 
  • Understanding the legal frameworks governing credit risk. 
  • Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. 
  • Drafting and reviewing legal documents related to credit risk. 
• Credit Risk Assessment 
  • Conducting thorough risk assessments for potential clients. 
  • Evaluating the legal implications of credit decisions. 
  • Collaborating with the credit evaluation team to support the Commercial Segment’s asset growth targets. 
• Risk Mitigation Strategies 
  • Developing strategies to mitigate legal risks associated with credit. 
  • Advising on the legal aspects of risk management policies. 
  • Supporting business partners in understanding and meeting client lending needs. 
• Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis 
  • Analysing data to evaluate current strategies and develop innovative challenger strategies. 

Providing legal insights to inform decision-making and customer-centric strategies. 

Why join Standard Bank? 

• Comprehensive Training – Receive in depth training from industry experts to build a solid foundation in credit risk. 
• Professional Development – Access mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to support your growth. 
• Real-World Projects – Work on projects that have a tangible impact, helping you apply your knowledge and skills. 
• Career Pathways – Our program opens doors to a rewarding career at Standard Bank. 

Take the next step in your career journey with us and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. 

During this 18-month programme you can look forward to: 

• Legal and Credit Evaluations – Ensure that credit evaluation processes and decisions are executed effectively within the parameters of relevant legal and product policies. 
• Credit Risk Lifecycle – Collaborate with the Credit Risk Management team to prepare agreements, manage pre-conditions for loan drawdowns, release limits, and manage post-sanction conditions. 
• Operations Processes – Review and ensure compliance with detailed standard operating procedures and service level agreements. 
• Project Management – Participate in projects and ad-hoc functions, including training staff and supporting Customer Journeys. 
• Stakeholder Management – Network and build strong mutual relationships across the Business and Commercial banking team. 
• Client Engagement – Support the business in understanding clients and ensuring lending opportunities fall within risk appetite. 

Application closing date: 1 April 2025 – 30 June 2025 

Minimum Requirements  

Masters or Honours in: 

• BCom Law / Bachelor of Laws (LLB) 
• Accounting in final year advantageous. 

Criteria 

• South African Citizen 
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 18 months  
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies 
• Honours qualification to be completed by 31 December 2025.

Why join Standard Bank? 

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the Agric sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in the agricultural value chain in Africa. We’re committed to provide farmers with a full banking suite that includes everything from working capital to crop insurance. Because when a farmer wins, we all win. 

We’re looking for talented individuals to join our Agriculture division as Graduate Trainees. 

The aim of our 18-month graduate programme is to equip you with skills and experiences deemed necessary to set you up for becoming a skilled Risk Practitioner within the Business & Commercial Banking segment of Standard Bank, with guidance and support from Senior Executives & Managers who run the Risk Management portfolios. 

Through a series of rotations, you will learn how risk is managed in the bank and gain extensive experience in a wide range of areas within the Business & Commercial Banking business unit across South Africa and the African Continent. 

On this Grad program we will build an understanding of the Credit Lifecycle: 

• Gain comprehensive insights into each stage of the credit risk process and its impact on business operations. 
• Supports business partners and ecosystem methodology in understanding and meeting client lending needs, ultimately supporting the Universal Financial Services Organisation aspiration. 
• Perform Quantitative Analytics: Analyse data to evaluate current strategies and develop innovative challenger strategies to enhance Business and Commercial Banking portfolios. 

These insights will inform decision making and customer centric strategies. 

Take the next step in your career journey with us and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. 

During this 18-month programme you can look forward to: 

• Understand the Credit evaluations process: Ensures that credit evaluation processes and good quality of decisions are executed effectively in the credit team, within the parameters of the relevant individual product policies and/or multiple product policy. Partner to develops relevant lending strategies to proactively manage the bank’s credit risk. 
• Understand the Credit Risk Lifecycle: Collaborate with the Credit Risk Management team and assist them to effectively prepare agreements, manage fulfilment of pre-conditions for drawdown of loans, release limits and manage post and ongoing conditions of sanctions. 
• Operations processes: Review that there are detailed standard operating procedures and service level agreements in place, which align to compliance with credit policies / legislation. 
• Project management: Participates in projects and any ad-hoc functions, including training of staff and support of Customer Journeys. 
• Stakeholder management: Networks and builds strong mutual relationships within the BCB Lending Credit Team and with business partners and stakeholders. 
• Client Engagement: Supports business to understand clients and whether lending opportunities fall within risk appetite. 

Application closing date: 1 April 2025 – 30 June 2025 

Minimum Requirements

Masters or Honours in: 

BSc / BCom 

• Agricultural Economics 
• Agricultural Management 

Criteria 

• South African Citizen 
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 18 months  
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies 
• Honours qualification to be completed by 31 December 2025. 

Our Business Banking Coverage segment provides broad-based client solutions to a wide spectrum of small, medium and large enterprises. Our support extends across the 14 sectors in which we operate; providing our clients with deep sector knowledge and solutioning expertise. We have partnered with businesses for over 160 years, and it is our approach to client relationships that truly distinguishes us, encapsulated by the phrase 'partnering for growth'.

Our Business Banking Coverage SA Graduate Programme seeks to foster the minds and passions of young South Africans in driving the growth of our businesses thereby making a significant contribution to our country’s economy.  Through this programme, you will be exposed to our various sectors and industries, client relationship principles and using analytical capabilities to better partner with our clients for their growth.

To grow and retain a portfolio of high-value Premium & Growth Segment relationships through partnering for growth using an ecosystem mindset to proactively provide a high-end differentiated service with premium solutions that add value.

To support the Relationship Manager with the day-to-day administrative functions, portfolio management, entrenchment, and operational functions for an allocated portfolio. To ensure that all compliance requirements within the portfolio are met and act as a central contact point for the client, providing sales and service fulfilment aligned to segment targets.

These programmes are available in the following provinces: 

• Bloemfontein 
• Eastern Cape 
• Gauteng 
• KwaZulu-Natal 
• Limpopo 
• Mpumalanga 
• North-West 
• Western Cape 

Application date: 1 April 2025 - 30 June 2025

Minimum Requirements

FAIS accredited Undergraduate or Honours qualification in:

• BCom Accounting / Finance / Statistics / Economics
• BSc Statistics / Financial Risk Management
• BSc / BCom Agriculture
• South African Citizen
• Should you have work experience, it should not exceed 12 months 
• Full academic transcripts to be submitted with application for undergraduate and postgraduate studies
• Undergraduate qualification to be completed by 31 December 2024.