Standard Bank Group
Sign in

Financial inclusion

Financial inclusion is about enabling individuals, entrepreneurs and small businesses to access affordable financial services by providing inclusive banking solutions. We’re ensuring access to banking platforms and empowering our customers through simpler and more affordable financial products.

Our focus areas
Mobile solutions

Accessible and affordable mobile phone–based solutions

Our mobile phone–based solutions enable our customers to transact efficiently, safely and conveniently.
We have established a variety of services to facilitate secure and accessible money transfers and transacting.

We’re committed to empowering unbanked communities and emerging economies across Africa and enabling money transfer services and accessible transactional banking accounts.

R26 billion
sent via Instant money
112 180 
clients and merchants using Unayo® 
R3.8 billion
combined balance held by MyMo clients 

 

Digital business solutions

Digital solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses

We aim to support the growth of small enterprises and small-scale traders, including those in the

informal sector, with convenient and affordable financial services that suit their needs.

2.7 million active customers
on our Standard Bank mobile app
in South Africa
R32.5 billion 
send transactions via Instant Money,
4.2 million customers and
over 50 000 access points

 

Affordable homes

Engaging with our customers to provide affordable finance for housing

Standard Bank works closely with South Africa’s National Department of Human Settlements, National Housing Finance Corporation and the provincial housing departments to help our customers access the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) offered by the government. The programme targets the ‘gap market’, households earning between R3 500 and R22 000 per month.

We also have multiple channels for customers to request assistance, including the Standard Bank App and internet banking.

98 483 
affordable housing loans currently active on our books
R4.9 billion
lent to 8 047 new affordable housing customers

 

Reduced transaction fees

Taking a range of measures to make it easier and cheaper for our customers to access banking services

In South Africa, we reduced ATM cash withdrawal fees and Saswitch fees and partnered with Pick n Pay to provide in-store bank branches at selected Pick n Pay stores.

We also made business banking more affordable by removing the minimum monthly service fee on our business current account and the fee for inter-account transfers on digital channels.

Insurance products

Insurance products for individuals and business owners

To make insurance more accessible to everyone, we aim to ensure that our offerings are affordable and easy to understand.

Clients can select the level of cover they can afford without worrying about being penalised in the event of a claim. We also offer legal insurance to provide customers with access to legal resources and advice

Our Flexible Funeral Plan allows clients to choose the amount of cover they need and benefits they require.

98 483 
affordable housing customers on our books,
with a loan book of R31.9 billion
One million 
Flexible funeral plan

 

Financial literacy

Consumer education and financial literacy

We have created accessible platforms that educate our customers on financial principles including debt management, budgeting, saving and long-term wealth development.

211 interactive webinars 
with 24 758 participants from
18 countries
Over 5 000 
participants in Leadership Academies
Over 100 million 
reached through WalletWise financial literacy programme

 

Women’s financial inclusion

Improving financial inclusion among women

Standard Bank is committed to advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. One of the ways we do this is through products and services tailored to meet the needs of women business owners. Another is through the African Women Impact Fund, which aims to improve representation of women in the fields of finance and investment.

42 000 women entrepreneurs
accessed information, training and
networking support through our
partnership with Lionesses of Africa
52 000 women 
have DADA bank accounts, designed to make
banking easier for women
entrepreneurs in Kenya, with a
cumulative balance of KES5.84 billion (R805 million)

 

  • Mobile solutions
  • Digital business solutions
  • Affordable homes
  • Reduced transaction fees
  • Insurance products
  • Financial literacy
  • Women’s financial inclusion

Accessible and affordable mobile phone–based solutions

Our mobile phone–based solutions enable our customers to transact efficiently, safely and conveniently.
We have established a variety of services to facilitate secure and accessible money transfers and transacting.

We’re committed to empowering unbanked communities and emerging economies across Africa and enabling money transfer services and accessible transactional banking accounts.

R26 billion
sent via Instant money
112 180 
clients and merchants using Unayo® 
R3.8 billion
combined balance held by MyMo clients 

 

Digital solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses

We aim to support the growth of small enterprises and small-scale traders, including those in the

informal sector, with convenient and affordable financial services that suit their needs.

2.7 million active customers
on our Standard Bank mobile app
in South Africa
R32.5 billion 
send transactions via Instant Money,
4.2 million customers and
over 50 000 access points

 

Engaging with our customers to provide affordable finance for housing

Standard Bank works closely with South Africa’s National Department of Human Settlements, National Housing Finance Corporation and the provincial housing departments to help our customers access the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) offered by the government. The programme targets the ‘gap market’, households earning between R3 500 and R22 000 per month.

We also have multiple channels for customers to request assistance, including the Standard Bank App and internet banking.

98 483 
affordable housing loans currently active on our books
R4.9 billion
lent to 8 047 new affordable housing customers

 

Taking a range of measures to make it easier and cheaper for our customers to access banking services

In South Africa, we reduced ATM cash withdrawal fees and Saswitch fees and partnered with Pick n Pay to provide in-store bank branches at selected Pick n Pay stores.

We also made business banking more affordable by removing the minimum monthly service fee on our business current account and the fee for inter-account transfers on digital channels.

Insurance products for individuals and business owners

To make insurance more accessible to everyone, we aim to ensure that our offerings are affordable and easy to understand.

Clients can select the level of cover they can afford without worrying about being penalised in the event of a claim. We also offer legal insurance to provide customers with access to legal resources and advice

Our Flexible Funeral Plan allows clients to choose the amount of cover they need and benefits they require.

98 483 
affordable housing customers on our books,
with a loan book of R31.9 billion
One million 
Flexible funeral plan

 

Consumer education and financial literacy

We have created accessible platforms that educate our customers on financial principles including debt management, budgeting, saving and long-term wealth development.

211 interactive webinars 
with 24 758 participants from
18 countries
Over 5 000 
participants in Leadership Academies
Over 100 million 
reached through WalletWise financial literacy programme

 

Improving financial inclusion among women

Standard Bank is committed to advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. One of the ways we do this is through products and services tailored to meet the needs of women business owners. Another is through the African Women Impact Fund, which aims to improve representation of women in the fields of finance and investment.

42 000 women entrepreneurs
accessed information, training and
networking support through our
partnership with Lionesses of Africa
52 000 women 
have DADA bank accounts, designed to make
banking easier for women
entrepreneurs in Kenya, with a
cumulative balance of KES5.84 billion (R805 million)

 

Digital business solutions

Digital solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses

 
Mwindwa Siakalima
Mwindwa Siakalima
Chief Executive, Stanbic Bank Zambia

Ordinarily, traders have challenges with accessing simple funding for their businesses as they do not have access to partnerships and lack of valuable information that would help them trade effectively. We have stepped in to provide solutions for this segment by offering simple and cost-effective stock loans in the form of airtime, pay TV and electricity. By partnering with traders and distributors, we have been able to offer appropriate financing in the form of loans for physical FMCG stock and are always on hand to provide traders with knowledge on how to run their businesses more sustainably. We have signed up over 10 000 traders in Zambia. Our aim is to continue to grow our Trader ecosystem by meeting traders’ needs and finding ways to enable their businesses to grow.

Download our documents and reports