About Standard Bank Group:
Standard Bank Group is Africa’s largest bank by assets. Standard Bank Group’s headline earnings for the year ended 31 December 2023 were R42.9 billion (USD2.3 billion) and total assets were R3.1 trillion (USD166 billion). The group has on-the-ground representation in 20 African countries, four global financial centers, and two offshore hubs. As at 31 December 2023, Standard Bank Group had over 18.8 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had over 1000 points of representation and 6000 ATMs on the African continent, making it one of the largest banking networks on the continent. Standard Bank is able to offer global connections, backed by deep insights, into the markets where it operates.
About The Program
The Standard Bank Group customizes its financial services to align with the unique nuances of each country while maintaining core offerings for all clients, including solutions to save, transact, invest, insure, and borrow. The Group tailors these services to address the distinctive needs of women, offering a range of solutions to help them build a solid foundation for wealth creation.
Through the Affluent segment, women benefit from the expertise of dedicated financial advisers, empowering them to navigate the investment landscape confidently. Standard Bank’s fixed deposits provide attractive returns and flexible investment periods. For clients seeking broader financial horizons, the Group offers offshore account and investment opportunities.
Understanding the importance women place on financial security for themselves and their families, Standard Bank provides comprehensive insurance products, including education, medical, and business insurance. Recognizing the gender gap and barriers to accessing funding, the Group offers affordable borrowing options with competitive interest rates for both individual and business loans. This is achieved through partnerships with organizations such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA).
The Group prioritizes convenience, acknowledging that many women serve as primary caregivers and homemakers. It ensures seamless transactions through various digital channels and, in some countries, offers zero management fee accounts and discounted or complimentary transactional services. Aware of the widespread adoption of mobile banking among women, Standard Bank drives innovation in this space. For instance, in Uganda, its FlexiPay solution—a Stanbic Bank wallet—enables women to easily transfer funds to any wallet and transact with ease.
At the heart of Standard Bank’s women-focused initiatives is its non-financial solutions offering. The Group recognizes that women thrive in community settings and can be empowered through access to information and insights. Bespoke industry updates, including economic outlooks and market trends, keep women informed and ahead of the curve. Standard Bank ensures its women clients remain updated on regulatory changes, such as tax and registration requirements, and gain access to valuable market information to explore new business opportunities.
A cornerstone of this initiative is financial education, which Standard Bank views as essential for women to build confidence in making sound financial decisions. Through its financial fitness academies, women enhance their financial literacy and acquire critical skills, including effective cash flow and working capital management, understanding financial statements and profitability, and budgeting.
In addition to education, women clients benefit from mentorship by successful women-owned small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) and access advisory services in areas such as legal and tax matters. Recognizing the importance of networking, Standard Bank facilitates engagements that allow women to expand their professional connections. These include access to industry bodies, sector forums, and seminars, as well as ecosystem linkages through the Group’s industry relationships and corporate value chains, fostering business growth and opportunities.
Through these comprehensive financial and non-financial services, the Standard Bank Group reaffirms its commitment to empowering women, enabling them to achieve financial independence and drive sustainable success.