A decade ago, FNB introduced nav» with a simple mission: help customers better understand and manage their finances. Ten years later, the platform has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem supporting millions of South Africans as they navigate everything from budgeting and homeownership to vehicle management, charitable giving and business growth.
As nav» celebrates its 10th anniversary, FNB is commemorating the milestone by launching nav» Youth and nav» Payroll—two new solutions designed to meet the changing financial realities of young South Africans and small businesses.
The announcement comes as the bank reveals that more than six million customers have used nav» Money, reflecting a growing demand for practical financial tools that extend far beyond traditional banking.
A Decade of Helping South Africans Make Better Financial Decisions
Behind the platform’s growth are millions of individual financial journeys.
Over the past ten years, nav» Money has helped customers create more than R1.75 billion in savings goals, providing financial buffers against unexpected expenses. Customer engagement with the platform has increased 7.5 times since its launch, highlighting how more South Africans are actively taking control of their finances.
The broader nav» ecosystem has also expanded significantly.
nav» Home has supported more than R76 billion in home loans, helping thousands of families move closer to homeownership.
For motorists, nav» Car has simplified vehicle ownership by creating a virtual garage for 1.34 million vehicles while enabling 728,000 digital licence renewals, a figure that has grown by more than 40% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, nav» Care has made charitable giving easier, facilitating more than R10.5 million in donations to verified charities and community organisations.
According to Clair Brenner, CEO of nav», the platform’s evolution has always been guided by changing customer needs.
“The last decade has taught us that being better off means something different for everyone. For some people it’s having enough savings to navigate an unexpected setback. For others it’s buying a first home, starting a business or creating an additional income stream. What matters is that we continue to listen, understand what’s changing in people’s lives and build solutions that genuinely help.”
She adds that every customer interaction helps the platform better understand how to provide meaningful support when it matters most.
Financial Planning Is Becoming Part of Everyday Life
FNB says customer behaviour has shifted considerably over the past decade.
Rather than simply checking balances or monitoring spending, many users are actively budgeting, saving and planning ahead to prevent financial challenges before they arise.
Today, 74% of active nav» Money users engage with the platform at a deeper level, while FNB says customers who use the service are measurably better off financially than those who do not.
Introducing nav» Youth
Recognising that younger South Africans face unique financial challenges, FNB has launched nav» Youth, a solution designed around financial independence, entrepreneurship, changing career paths and multiple income streams.
The platform includes several new features aimed at equipping young people with practical financial knowledge.
Among them is a refreshed Learning Hub, offering educational content covering credit, budgeting and building a side hustle.
Users will also have access to Life’s Keys, a collection of tools designed around life’s major firsts, as well as the Career Compass podcast, which offers guidance as young professionals navigate their careers.
Early customer response has already been encouraging.
During the first half of the financial year, nav» Youth generated more than 450,000 interactions, helping 94,000 young customers access tools designed to support their financial journeys.
Stability Is Becoming the Starting Point for Bigger Goals
Insights gathered over ten years suggest South Africans are redefining what financial success looks like.
Rather than viewing stability as the ultimate destination, customers increasingly see it as the foundation for achieving larger ambitions.
Managing monthly finances, monitoring credit health and building savings are becoming stepping stones towards buying a home, launching a business, creating additional income streams or pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities.
Reflecting this trend, nav» Home has helped 61,000 customers find homes while expanding into a broader homeownership ecosystem.
At the same time, nav» Marketplace has connected customers with trusted service providers, generating R4.7 million in revenue for small businesses while making 9,500 service providers searchable through the platform.
nav» Payroll Simplifies Payroll for Small Businesses
FNB has also introduced nav» Payroll, an integrated payroll solution aimed at helping businesses manage employee payments more efficiently.
Designed to be simple, compliant and affordable, the solution includes five free payslips every month, with additional payslips available at R25 each.
The platform automates SARS-aligned reporting while generating professional payslips that serve as formal proof of income, helping employees access credit, housing and other financial services.
According to FNB, 132 businesses have already organically discovered and adopted the platform as a way to simplify payroll administration.
Brenner says the changing nature of work made the launch a natural progression.
“The traditional financial journey is becoming less common. Customers are adapting to a world that’s changing faster than ever before. They’re building multiple income streams, exploring new opportunities and looking for greater financial certainty. We understand those realities and help create a stable foundation to enable their ambitions. That’s exactly why we’re launching nav» Youth and nav» Payroll to meet customers and small employers where they actually are.”
Building Connected Financial Experiences
For Jolandé Duvenage, CEO of Value Ecosystems & Customer Experience at FNB, customers increasingly expect financial services to work together seamlessly rather than exist as isolated products.
“Whether customers are managing money, buying a home, building a business, improving household resilience or supporting a cause, they don’t see these as separate journeys. Our role is to connect these experiences in ways that remove friction and help customers make progress.”
That philosophy continues to shape newer services such as nav» Earth, which supports energy, solar and sustainability decisions, alongside nav» Care, which has already facilitated millions of rand in charitable donations.
Celebrating 10 Years with Customers
To mark the anniversary, FNB has launched the nav» 10-Year Birthday Campaign, a six-month celebration available through the FNB App and RMB Private Bank App.
Customers can participate in three gamified missions, with prizes including:
- The Ultimate Rugby Experience in 2027
- MacBook Air laptops
- Nintendo Switch 2 consoles
- Nando’s vouchers
- Pick n Pay groceries for a year
- eBucks fuel rewards
Looking ahead, Duvenage believes connected digital ecosystems will play an increasingly important role in customers’ financial lives.
“As we enter the next decade, connected ecosystems will become critical. Our focus is on helping customers navigate change, unlock opportunity and build stronger futures.”
After ten years of innovation, FNB’s nav» ecosystem is no longer simply helping customers manage their money. It is evolving into a platform designed to support every stage of their financial journey.
