What if accessing basic banking services did not mean travelling outside your community, spending money on transport or rushing to reach a traditional banking outlet before it closes?
Through AgencyPlus, FNB is bringing banking services closer to where people live, shop and work. The initiative allows customers to access essential services through trusted local businesses, making everyday transactions more convenient while creating opportunities for participating stores.
Since April 2025, AgencyPlus has facilitated transactions worth more than R94 million. The network now processes nearly 15,000 transactions a month, reflecting continued growth in the use of community-based banking services.
eWallet withdrawals remain the most frequently used service, accounting for more than 57% of transactions to date. This highlights the role the network plays in helping customers access their money conveniently and safely.
For customers who would otherwise need to travel to complete a transaction, having a local alternative can make a meaningful difference.
Banking closer to home
Kabelo Motlhala, Points of Presence Business Development and Growth Head at FNB, says AgencyPlus helps customers save both time and money.
“For many customers, withdrawing cash or completing a banking transaction has meant travelling out of their community and paying for transport to get there. 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.”
Since launching in September 2023, AgencyPlus has expanded to more than 300 active agents across South Africa.
The participating businesses include spaza shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores and other small businesses. Many operate beyond traditional banking hours, opening as early as 06:00 and remaining available until 20:00.
For customers, this can mean having more opportunities to complete banking transactions around their daily routines. For local businesses, it creates an additional way to serve their communities and generate income.
Local businesses are part of the bigger picture
AgencyPlus is designed to benefit more than the customers using the service. Participating stores can gain increased foot traffic, additional revenue opportunities and improved cash management.
These partnerships also connect FNB with businesses that are already part of everyday community life.
Since April 2025, community advisers operating through AgencyPlus have helped open more than 11,000 bank accounts, contributing to broader financial inclusion.
The initiative also reflects FNB’s wider approach to the community economy, where households, individuals and businesses are connected through everyday economic activity.
Jose Gomes, Executive Head of FNB Community Economy, explains that these relationships can create opportunities beyond basic transactions.
“We see the community economy as connected local economies, where individuals, households and businesses earn, save, transact, borrow and trade together. AgencyPlus is where these connections become visible, as customers can both deposit and withdraw money through local businesses they already trust. As a bank, we serve both the customers who transact at these stores and the businesses that serve them. AgencyPlus creates a first point of connection. Over time, that relationship enables us to offer businesses a broader range of financial solutions, including the funding they need to grow.”
The model creates a link between customers who need convenient banking services and the businesses that provide them. It also gives FNB an opportunity to build relationships with local enterprises and potentially support their wider financial needs.
Growth beyond the transaction
FNB says the broader community economy is also showing growth.
For the 2026 financial year, revenue in its Community Economy segment increased by 14%, while deposits and advances grew by 8% and 12%, respectively.
Advances to small and medium-sized businesses within the community economy, with annual turnover below R5 million, increased by 31%.
These figures provide a wider picture of the economic activity taking place among the individuals and businesses served by the segment.
Gomes says AgencyPlus outlets can contribute to this activity by creating more opportunities for local participation.
“Every AgencyPlus outlet is a platform for economic participation that contributes to stronger, more resilient communities.”
The figures underline FNB’s stated focus on supporting the community economy through banking access, business relationships and financial solutions for smaller enterprises.
Expanding access across South Africa
As AgencyPlus continues to grow, FNB says its focus is on reaching more communities and enabling more township agent stores to offer banking services.
For participating businesses, becoming an agent can create another way to attract customers and grow their operations. For residents, a nearby outlet can offer a more convenient option for everyday banking needs.
“As the network expands, our focus is on reaching more communities and enabling more township agent stores to offer banking services. Each new agent advances financial inclusion for its customers while giving the business another way to grow,” concludes Motlhala.
With more than R94 million in transactions facilitated since April 2025 and nearly 15,000 transactions taking place each month, AgencyPlus is extending banking access through businesses already embedded in local communities.
Its continued expansion will focus on connecting more customers and businesses to these community-based services.
