More South Africans are accessing essential banking services without travelling to traditional bank branches, as FNB’s AgencyPlus network expands into local shops and businesses across the country.
The community-based banking initiative has facilitated transactions worth more than R94 million since April 2025, with nearly 15,000 transactions now being processed each month.
With more than 300 active agents operating nationwide, AgencyPlus is helping customers withdraw and deposit money, access financial services and open bank accounts at businesses already serving their neighbourhoods.
For residents who previously had to travel outside their communities to complete basic banking transactions, the service offers an opportunity to reduce transport expenses, save time and access money closer to home.
Since its launch in September 2023, AgencyPlus has partnered with spaza shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores and other small businesses to extend banking access beyond conventional branches.
Many participating outlets operate outside traditional banking hours, with some opening as early as 06:00 and remaining available until 20:00.
eWallet withdrawals account for more than 57% of transactions recorded to date, reflecting demand for convenient access to cash within communities.
The initiative is also helping more South Africans enter the formal banking system. Since April 2025, more than 11,000 bank accounts have been opened through AgencyPlus community advisers.
Kabelo Motlhala, Points of Presence Business Development and Growth Head at FNB, said bringing banking services into neighbourhood businesses addresses practical challenges faced by customers.
“For many customers, withdrawing cash or completing a banking transaction has meant travelling out of their community and paying for transport to get there,” said Motlhala.
“AgencyPlus allows them to do it at a store they already visit. That saves time and money, helps them manage their finances more efficiently and gives them more time for the things that matter most.”
Beyond improving access to financial services, the initiative creates additional economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Participating businesses can benefit from increased customer visits, new revenue streams and improved cash management, while offering a service that encourages customers to transact within their own communities.
This approach connects financial inclusion with small-business development, allowing existing neighbourhood businesses to become part of the country’s wider banking infrastructure.
Jose Gomes, Executive Head of FNB Community Economy, said local businesses play an important role in how money circulates within communities.
“We see the community economy as connected local economies, where individuals, households and businesses earn, save, transact, borrow and trade together,” said Gomes.
He explained that AgencyPlus provides an initial connection between customers, local businesses and banking services, creating opportunities for FNB to support participating enterprises with additional financial solutions as their needs develop.
FNB reported that revenue in its Community Economy segment increased by 14% during the 2026 financial year, while deposits and advances grew by 8% and 12% respectively.
Advances to small and medium-sized businesses in the segment with annual turnover below R5 million increased by 31%, reflecting the bank’s broader lending activity among smaller enterprises.
Although these figures represent the wider Community Economy segment rather than AgencyPlus alone, they highlight the bank’s increasing focus on businesses operating within local economies.
Motlhala said the next phase of expansion would focus on reaching more communities and enabling additional township businesses to become banking agents.
“As the network expands, our focus is on reaching more communities and enabling more township agent stores to offer banking services,” he said.
“Each new agent advances financial inclusion for its customers while giving the business another way to grow.”
By combining everyday banking services with existing community businesses, AgencyPlus is demonstrating how financial institutions can use local partnerships to improve access to services while creating opportunities for small enterprises to participate in the formal economy.
