FNB and PEP have renewed one of South Africa’s most impactful back-to-school support initiatives, bringing back their 99c school shoes campaign to help families manage the rising cost of education essentials. The initiative forms part of the 2026 Back-to-School campaign and is designed to reduce financial pressure on households while ensuring children start the school year with dignity and confidence.
The campaign will run at PEP clothing stores nationwide from 4 January to 14 February 2026, or while stocks last. By combining First National Bank’s financial wellness and rewards ecosystem with PEP’s low-cost retail model, the partnership aims to make school uniforms more accessible to families most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
A proven model with real impact
The initiative builds on the success of previous campaigns, which saw close to 90 000 school shoe vouchers sold at just 99c each. This translated into savings of more than R12 million for South African households and ensured thousands of children had access to affordable, quality school shoes.
“This marks another meaningful step in supporting our customers and their families,” said Pieter Woodhatch, CEO of FNB eBucks Rewards. “Our partnership with PEP is about making a real difference — helping families stretch their rands further and easing the financial pressure that often comes at the start of the year. Small initiatives can make a big difference, especially in challenging economic times.”
How the offer works
The campaign is limited to the first 120 000 qualifying customers and is available to FNB Easy and Aspire debit, credit or Fusion account holders. Customers who spend R300 or more in a single transaction at a PEP clothing store (excluding the shoes) can purchase Student Prince synthetic school shoes for 99c, or receive R139 off any other school shoe.
To redeem the offer, customers must pay using an eligible FNB card and scan a PEP +more digital rewards card at checkout. The offer is limited to one pair per customer and applies only at PEP clothing stores nationwide.
Dignity beyond affordability
For PEP, the initiative goes beyond pricing. “We understand the vital role school uniforms play in building confidence, dignity and a sense of belonging for children,” said Beyers van der Merwe, Chief Marketing Officer at PEP. “Through our partnership with FNB, we’re able to extend even greater value to families and help ensure every child starts the school year with pride and the opportunity to succeed.”
Supporting families where it matters most
With rising living costs placing entry-level households under increasing strain, school uniforms remain a significant expense for many families. The FNB-PEP partnership addresses this pressure directly, offering practical, targeted support at a critical time in the school calendar.
“Beyond affordability, this initiative is about dignity and opportunity,” Woodhatch added. “It ensures children walk into the classroom feeling prepared and empowered, and reflects our commitment to partnerships that deliver meaningful impact.”
Families are encouraged to visit their nearest PEP clothing store during the campaign period to benefit from the offer while stock is available — a reminder that collaboration between financial institutions and retailers can deliver tangible, life-changing outcomes for communities across South Africa.
