FNB has strengthened its position as one of South Africa’s most influential brands after being ranked among the top three most valuable brands in the 2026 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable South African Brands rankings.
The latest report places FNB among the nation’s elite brands after its brand value climbed 45%, increasing from US$3.1 billion in 2024 to US$4.5 billion in 2026. The achievement reflects years of investment in digital innovation, customer experience and a strategy designed to make banking more intuitive, personalised and relevant.
Adding to the milestone, the bank also received Kantar’s Special Award for the Most Meaningfully Different Brand, recognising its ability to combine trusted banking solutions, innovation and customer-focused experiences in ways that distinguish it from competitors.
A Brand Built on Trust and Meaningful Relationships
In today’s competitive financial landscape, products alone are no longer enough to build lasting customer loyalty. According to Kantar, one of the strongest indicators of sustainable brand growth is Meaningful Difference—a measure of how relevant and distinctive a brand is in consumers’ lives.
The award recognises brands that consistently deliver value while creating genuine emotional connections with customers.
For FNB, this recognition reflects decades of building trust through innovation, accessibility and customer-focused solutions.
Lytania Johnson, CEO of FNB, says the achievement demonstrates the strength of the brand and the relationships it continues to build with customers.
“This recognition underscores the strength of the FNB brand, built over decades through a relentless focus on innovation, accessibility and delivering meaningful value to customers. Being ranked among South Africa’s most valuable brands and recognised as the country’s Most Meaningfully Different Brand is a powerful endorsement of the trust customers place in us and the relevance of our brand in their lives.”
Reimagining Help Continues to Drive Growth
A significant contributor to FNB’s growing brand value has been its Reimagining Help strategy, introduced in 2022.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional banking services, the strategy positions the bank as a partner that helps customers make smarter financial decisions while creating greater opportunities for individuals, families and businesses.
According to Kantar, the successful execution of this strategy strengthened FNB’s relevance, credibility and emotional connection with customers, reinforcing trust across its customer base.
Johnson says the bank has evolved beyond offering banking products to delivering practical guidance that empowers customers.
“Through our Reimagining Help strategy, we have evolved our role beyond banking to focus on helping customers make better financial decisions and unlock greater opportunities for themselves, their families and businesses. This recognition is a reflection of that commitment and of the strong relationships we continue to build with the people and businesses we serve.”
Innovation That Goes Beyond Digital Banking
FNB’s continued investment in digital banking and self-service innovation laid the foundation for its current success.
Building on that legacy, the bank has expanded its focus through enhanced personalisation, ecosystem benefits and an advice-led approach that helps customers navigate increasingly complex financial decisions.
By combining data-driven insights with tailored experiences, FNB has sought to make banking more accessible, intuitive and meaningful while helping customers build greater financial confidence.
The approach has allowed the bank to strengthen both customer satisfaction and long-term brand loyalty.
More Than Banking Products
For Linda Kachingwe-Sisya, Chief Marketing Officer at FNB, the award highlights the success of a long-term strategy centred on creating both practical and emotional value.
She believes customers increasingly expect more than financial transactions from their banking partners.
“Brands create lasting value when they remain relevant in people’s lives and consistently earn their trust. Our brand promise of Help was built on the belief that customers need more than transactions from their bank. They need guidance, advice, insight and support that helps them navigate important financial decisions with confidence.”
She adds that the recognition reflects the everyday experiences customers have with the FNB brand.
“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects how customers experience our brand daily. We have redefined what customers should expect from their bank, moving beyond products and transactions to provide meaningful support, personalised experiences and solutions that help them progress.”
Strong Future Growth Potential
Beyond its current performance, Kantar also highlighted FNB’s long-term growth outlook.
The report identifies the bank as the leader within the banking category on Kantar’s Visionary metric under its VIBE framework. FNB also achieved strong scores for Future Power, Kantar’s measure of future growth potential.
In addition, the bank was recognised in Kantar BrandZ’s Global Banks with Momentum study, which identifies retail banking brands expected to grow market share in the years ahead.
The findings reinforce FNB’s position as one of South Africa’s strongest banking brands, combining innovation, trust and customer relevance to drive sustainable long-term growth.
Continuing to Build a Meaningful Banking Experience
As consumer expectations continue to evolve, FNB says its commitment remains focused on making help more personalised, intuitive and accessible.
For the bank, meaningful growth is built not only on technology but also on earning customer trust every day.
Kachingwe-Sisya believes that commitment will continue shaping the bank’s future.
“Being meaningful to customers is not something a brand achieves overnight; it is something that must be earned every day. Our promise of Help continues to guide how we innovate, engage and create value. As we look ahead, our focus remains on making help more intuitive, more personalised, and more accessible, ensuring FNB remains a brand that customers trust, value and choose to grow with.”
