First National Bank

Corporate brand

First National Bank, commonly known as FNB, is a major South African commercial banking brand and a principal division of FirstRand. A long-established South African banking brand providing personal, family, business and investment-related financial services.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

First National Bank, usually abbreviated to FNB, is a South African commercial banking brand with roots extending to the Eastern Province Bank, established in Grahamstown in 1838. The original institution financed the wool-export economy of the Eastern Cape and gradually developed a branch network serving other regional centers. FNB therefore presents one of the longest continuously developing banking histories in South Africa, although the modern brand is the product of numerous mergers, reorganizations, and changes in ownership. The bank's nineteenth-century development was shaped by economic cycles and the expansion of commercial activity associated with agriculture, mining, and colonial trade. The Eastern Province Bank had four branches by 1874, but a recession led to its acquisition by the Oriental Bank Corporation. When the Oriental Bank Corporation withdrew from South Africa after experiencing difficulties elsewhere, the Bank of Africa was formed in 1879 to assume its South African business. Separately, the National Bank of the South African Republic was established in Pretoria in 1891 under a government concession. It initially supported agricultural development and operated in an environment transformed by gold discoveries in the Transvaal. The National Bank expanded through acquisitions, taking over the National Bank of the Orange River Colony in 1910 and the Bank of Africa in 1912. It also absorbed the Natal Bank in 1914. Financial stress and bad debts in the 1920s contributed to a 1925 merger with the Anglo-Egyptian Bank and Colonial Bank, producing Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas). The South African operation was later known as Barclays National Bank. During the apartheid era, international pressure and disinvestment campaigns affected Barclays' ownership. Barclays reduced its shareholding in 1986, after which the institution became wholly South African-owned and controlled by Anglo-American Corporation. On 30 September 1987, it adopted the name First National Bank of Southern Africa Limited. This period established the FNB identity that later became the principal retail and commercial banking brand within FirstRand. FirstRand was formed in 1998 by combining banking interests associated with Anglo American. First National Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, and Momentum's insurance and asset-management operations were brought under the new group. Within that structure, FNB focuses principally on retail, commercial, and business banking, while Rand Merchant Bank serves corporate and investment banking clients and WesBank provides vehicle and asset finance. FNB's operating footprint has also extended beyond South Africa through subsidiaries and associated banking operations in several African markets, as well as selected international locations. Today, FNB provides transaction banking, deposits, lending, payments, cards, digital banking, foreign-exchange services, and banking solutions for individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Its positioning emphasizes broad access, technology-enabled banking, and customer self-service through digital channels, while retaining branches, ATMs, and business-banking infrastructure. The brand remains part of FirstRand rather than a separately listed banking group.

History

First National Bank's history begins with the Eastern Province Bank, founded in Grahamstown in 1838 to support the wool trade and associated commercial activity. By 1874 it had branches in Grahamstown, Middelburg, Cradock, and Queenstown. A recession then led to its acquisition by the Oriental Bank Corporation. When that institution withdrew from South Africa, the Bank of Africa was created in 1879 to take over its local business. A separate lineage began with the National Bank of the South African Republic, registered in Pretoria in 1891 under a government concession. The bank was created partly to support agricultural development and commercial growth following gold discoveries in the Transvaal. After the South African War, it became the National Bank of South Africa. It expanded by acquiring the National Bank of the Orange River Colony in 1910, the Bank of Africa in 1912, and the Natal Bank in 1914. These transactions made it one of the country's largest banks. The National Bank later encountered bad debts and losses. In 1925 it merged with the Anglo-Egyptian Bank and Colonial Bank, forming Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas). Barclays reorganized its South African activities in 1971, creating Barclays National Bank. International disinvestment pressure connected with apartheid caused Barclays to sell its South African shareholding in 1986. The bank was renamed First National Bank of Southern Africa Limited on 30 September 1987 and became South African-owned under Anglo-American Corporation. In 1998, FirstRand was created by combining major Anglo American banking interests. First National Bank became the group's retail and commercial banking division, alongside Rand Merchant Bank and Momentum-related businesses; WesBank subsequently represented the group's vehicle and asset-finance activities. FNB's later development has involved the expansion of banking subsidiaries and operations across southern and sub-Saharan Africa, together with investment in electronic, mobile, and self-service channels. The modern FNB brand serves individuals, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises, commercial customers, and selected institutional clients. Its activities include deposits, payments, cards, lending, mortgages, digital banking, foreign exchange, and business finance. The brand is owned by and operated within FirstRand, whose broader structure separates retail and commercial banking from investment banking and asset finance. FNB is active today and remains one of South Africa's major commercial banking brands.

1998
FirstRand Group formed
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
FNB became a core division of FirstRand alongside Rand Merchant Bank and other financial-services businesses.
1987
First National Bank name adopted
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
The bank was renamed First National Bank of Southern Africa Limited after Barclays' ownership exit and South African control of the institution.
1971
South African operation becomes Barclays National Bank
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
Barclays reorganized its South African operation under the Barclays National Bank name.
1925
Merger creates Barclays Bank in South Africa
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
The National Bank merged with the Anglo-Egyptian Bank and Colonial Bank, placing its lineage within the Barclays group.
1912
Bank of Africa acquired
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
The National Bank acquired the Bank of Africa during a period of consolidation in South African banking.
1891
National Bank of the South African Republic begins operations
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
A concession-backed bank was registered in Pretoria and opened for business on 5 April, supporting agricultural and commercial development.
1879
Bank of Africa formed
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
The Bank of Africa assumed the South African business of the departing Oriental Bank Corporation.
1838
Eastern Province Bank established
[1]First National Bank (South Africa)en.wikipedia.org
The institution that forms the earliest documented origin of FNB was established in Grahamstown to finance the regional wool-export economy.
1838
Institutional origins
First National Bank traces its history to 1838, one of the earliest dates associated with the South African banking institution behind the modern brand.

Products and positioning

A digitally oriented, mass-market and business banking brand combining the scale of a major South African bank with a broad branch and electronic-services network. FNB is positioned around convenience, financial access, self-service technology, and integrated banking for individuals, entrepreneurs, and companies. A broad-service banking brand focused on convenient personal, family and business banking, with a strong emphasis on digital and electronic access.

Retail banking
Personal banking
FNB's personal banking range covers everyday transaction accounts, savings, cards, payments, personal credit, and access to digital banking channels. These services are designed for routine household money management, including receiving income, making payments, transferring funds, and monitoring accounts through electronic and branch-based channels. FNB's personal-banking proposition is aimed at individual customers and includes everyday account and transaction services, payments, savings and investment options, and related digital access. The exact products and terms depend on the customer's needs and the current offering.
Lending
Home loans and property finance
The bank provides residential property finance and home-loan services as part of its broader lending business. The offering supports property purchases and related borrowing needs for qualifying personal customers, with account management and payment facilities connected to the customer's wider banking relationship.
Digital banking
Digital and mobile banking
FNB's digital banking proposition enables customers to manage accounts, make payments, transfer money, use cards, and access selected financial services electronically. Digital channels are central to the brand's convenience and self-service positioning and complement its branches and automated banking infrastructure.
Business banking
Business and commercial banking
FNB serves entrepreneurs, small businesses, and larger commercial customers with transaction accounts, payments, lending, cash-management capabilities, and other banking services. The business proposition extends the consumer franchise into enterprise banking while remaining distinct from FirstRand's investment-banking division, Rand Merchant Bank. FNB's business-banking services are intended for enterprises and business owners. The stated scope includes business accounts and banking services for transactions, savings, investment and other operating requirements. Specific facilities and eligibility criteria vary by business type and product.
Payments
Cards and payments
FNB issues payment cards and provides associated payment and money-transfer functionality for personal and business customers. These services support day-to-day purchases, electronic transfers, account access, and broader transaction-banking relationships.
Retail banking
Family banking
Family banking is presented as a customer segment supporting household financial management. It sits alongside individual and business banking in FNB's public proposition, although the available reference does not specify a separate product range or launch date.
Digital banking
Digital and electronic banking
Digital and electronic banking channels allow customers to access accounts and conduct banking activities without relying exclusively on physical branches. FNB presents electronic access as part of its personal and business banking proposition, but the available material does not identify individual platform launch dates.
Savings and investment
Savings and investment
FNB offers savings and investment-related services within its wider banking proposition. These services address customers seeking to hold funds, build savings or pursue investment objectives. Product structures, returns and eligibility are not specified in the supplied reference.

Controversies

2015
Safety-deposit box break-ins
Three FNB branches were reported to have suffered break-ins during 2015, with customer safety-deposit boxes stolen at the affected locations. Later reports described customers pursuing compensation claims against the bank.
Source
1999
CIEX report and historical Reserve Bank support allegations
The CIEX investigation and subsequent controversy concerned historical financial support involving Bankorp and the South African Reserve Bank. FNB was among the banks discussed in public allegations that state assistance had been improperly disguised or distributed. A later Public Protector report was set aside by the High Court, and the Constitutional Court confirmed that outcome. The court proceedings did not establish the allegations as valid against FNB.
Source

1998
Join the FirstRand financial-services groupM&A
Background
Anglo American's banking interests were consolidated into a broader financial-services group spanning retail banking, investment banking, insurance, asset management, and vehicle finance.
Action taken
First National Bank became the principal retail and commercial banking division of FirstRand, alongside Rand Merchant Bank and other group businesses.
Aftermath
FNB gained the scale and shared corporate structure of FirstRand while retaining its own customer-facing brand.
Source
1987
Adopt the First National Bank identityStrategy
Background
Barclays' withdrawal from South African ownership amid international disinvestment pressure created the conditions for a new locally controlled identity.
Action taken
The bank was renamed First National Bank of Southern Africa Limited on 30 September 1987.
Aftermath
The First National Bank name became the foundation of the modern South African banking brand.
Source

Recent events

2021-09-29
FNB wins Bank Customer Experience Award[4]FNB获银行客户体验奖prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-09-29
FNB was named the winner in the best mobile experience category at the 2021 Bank Customer Experience Awards for its Clicks-to-Bricks strategy.
2021-07-01
First National Bank and Homestead Bank complete merger[5]First National Bank与Homestead Bank完成合并newschannelnebraska.com
Reported: 2021-07-02
First National Bank completed a merger with its affiliate bank, Homestead Bank.
2021-06-11
FNB and Snapplify partner to enable e-textbook purchases with eBucks[6]FNB与Snapplify合作，支持使用eBucks购买电子教材iol.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-11
FNB and Snapplify collaborated to let FNB customers use eBucks to buy e-textbooks through Snapplify, providing access to e-learning resources.
2021-06-08
FNB announces refreshed bank-card designs[7]FNB宣布更新银行卡设计iol.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-08
FNB said it had refreshed the designs across its personal banking card range; the redesigned cards would be available to customers at no additional cost.
2021-06-08
FNB launches #TheChangeables campaign[7]FNB宣布更新银行卡设计iol.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-08
FNB launched the #TheChangeables brand communication campaign, which it said was intended to boost its image and client base.
2021-06-08
FNB announces FNB Aspire account[7]FNB宣布更新银行卡设计iol.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-08
FNB announced its new FNB Aspire account for customers earning between R180,000 and R450,000 a year, which would replace the Gold account.
2021-06-07
FNB launches #TheChangeables campaign[8]FNB推出#TheChangeables品牌活动cbn.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-07
FNB launched the #TheChangeables brand communication campaign to celebrate South Africans who embrace change and turn challenges into opportunities.
2021-06-07
FNB announces refreshed bank card designs[8]FNB推出#TheChangeables品牌活动cbn.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-07
FNB announced refreshed designs across its bank card range, to be offered to personal banking customers from July 2021 at no additional cost.
2021-06-01
FNB announces Aspire account to replace Gold[9]FNB宣布推出Aspire账户以取代Gold账户iol.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-01
FNB announced a new Aspire bank account for middle-income customers to replace FNB Gold, with the change effective 1 July 2021.
2021-06-01
FNB reduces Aspire monthly account fee[9]FNB宣布推出Aspire账户以取代Gold账户iol.co.za
Reported: 2021-06-01
FNB announced that the monthly account fee for customers earning between R180,000 and R450,000 per annum would be reduced from R109 to R99 as part of the annual review effective 1 July 2021.

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