Latest updates

• AARTO and its effect on fleet owners and operators

  For the last 18 years, the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, 1998 (AARTO) points demerit system has been delayed due to various reasons, including a pending feasibility study and assessment of technological requirements.

  Beware the consequences of underinsurance in the current economic climate, warns Standard Bank.

  The recent slide in the value of the rand and the resultant volatile economic climate could have serious consequences for South African businesses that are unaware that the insured values of their imported assets may have dropped substantially below the present replacement or repair costs, warns Standard Bank.

  Can you pay off your bond faster?

  Purchasing property is one of the most significant and costly financial decisions you will ever make, especially if it’s your first home, but applying a few financial tips can allow you to pay  your bond off quickly which will benefit your future financial security and result in a great investment at a reduced end cost.

• Don’t get stuck in a car jam - Car jamming is a common criminal occurrence, but with insurance companies reluctant to cover these types of claims, prevention is better than

  When you park your car and click the remote to lock your doors, you probably don’t give the action a second thought.

  Don’t ignore overdue home loan payments- speaking to your bank could save your home

  A home is the largest, most important asset owned by most families, something people view as a legacy to be passed on to future generations.

  Grey fleet management part of best practice globally

  Imagine a company director being held liable for an accident that happens with a car belonging to a staff member.

• Increasing numbers of ‘digitally wary’ South Africans being drawn into e-shopping

  E-commerce may be taking the world by storm, but South Africans remain wary of shopping online, with only three million making regular use of electronic shopping trollies to meet their daily requirements.

  Life insurance – a must for those starting out

  It’s difficult to understand why you need insurance until you realise that life does change, that you don’t stay young - and may not stay healthy - forever.

  Nampo’s 50th anniversary holds clues for agricultural sustainability

  Innovation, networking, strategy development, and resilience have created the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural event

• Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust to bring state-of-the-art healthcare to the children of Africa

  Our children are our future, and it is with this vision firmly in mind that the development of the R1 billion Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg takes a step closer to completion.

  Portraits in Progress: Standard Bank’s ‘Insta-bition’ makes progress real for emerging artists

  Standard Bank recently hosted the culmination of its Portraits in Progress campaign at the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg Central.

  Seedstars World South Africa announces 10 startups to pitch at pre-selection event in Cape Town

  Global early-stage startups competition has announced the 10 startups that will pitch at its pre-selection event in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday, May 27, with top three startups to head to the national final in Johannesburg.

• Standard Bank Incubator partners with Startup Grind to help local start-ups think like global entrepreneurs

  The Standard Bank Incubator has announced a partnership with Startup Grind, a global start-up community powered by Google for Entrepreneurs. 

  Standard Bank and Vumatel accelerate delivery of high-speed fibre to South African suburbs

  Standard Bank and Vumatel have signed a significant finance deal on 19 April 2016, which will provide Vumatel with the financial resources required to speed-up the delivery of broadband internet services and expand into new markets within South Africa.

  Standard Bank enables global payments via smartphones with latest app updates

  The latest release to Standard Bank’s smartphone app enables customers to make international payments to individual recipients in almost 200 countries, from the convenience of their Apple or Android smartphones.

• Standard Bank Chenin and Blanc Top 10 Challenge once again in search of South Africa’s best Chenin

  Want to showcase your pride? Entries for the third annual Standard Bank/Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge are now open and all South African Chenin Blanc producers are welcome to enter their offerings.

  Stokvels go ‘upmarket’ as economy tightens

  Stokvels, the traditional community-based saving scheme is going upmarket as different income segments embrace the concepts that many have held dear for generations, says Riaan Appelgrein, Senior Manager, Customer Financial Solutions at Standard Bank.

  Succession planning for farmers far more than just life insurance

  Farmers whose estate planning is centred on ensuring that their agricultural legacy is continued by their children should be critically examining the way they are preparing for the future.

• The drought may be impacting local agriculture, but innovative processes are ensuring that local and international obligations are met

  South Africa may be in the grip of a drought, but the business of supplying farmers with “coated seeds” through Africa’s only fully-computerised coating facility is continuing unabated.

  Youth and the economy

  13 June 2016, Johannesburg - South Africa is a country dominated by youth, with 52% of the population under the age of 25.

  Gear up your small business for the festive season

  It’s that time of the year when people across South Africa start thinking about swapping business wear for beachwear or bush gear as they start getting their families prepared for that well- earned festive season break.

• Don’t leave home or travel on SA roads without proper insurance coverage

  December is holiday month across the country. It is a time when thousands of South Africans take to the nation’s roads on the way to visit relatives and friends far from their urban homes.

  A successful holiday ‘boom time’ relies on thorough planning by franchisees

  In a few short weeks, another year will draw to a close and thousands of South Africans will begin setting off for holiday destinations around the country.

  Take care of the one who takes care of you with Standard Bank’s FuneralPlan

  For many families, a domestic worker is often so much more than ‘just’ an employee – a housekeeper, cook, friend and, at times, substitute mother to your children, your domestic worker cares for your family as if is her own for many hours a week, but who is watching out for her dependents?

• The Race for Relevance in Financial Services

  Africa is our home. And for the past 153 years we have been helping drive her growth. In the race to remain relevant for the next 153 years, we are looking to partner with innovators and entrepreneurs who help improve lives and fulfil aspirations across the continent, says Paul Steenkamp, Innovation Capability Exec at Standard Bank

  Don’t be a victim of ATM theft this festive season

  Many South Africans will be taking it easy during their well-deserved end-of-year holiday, but one portion of the population that will be working as hard as ever– financial scammers.

  Standard Bank consolidates its East African presence with official opening of Ethiopian representative office

  Addis Ababa, 29 October, 2015 - Standard Bank Group has expanded its already extensive East African footprint with the official opening of a representative office in Ethiopia. This means that Standard Bank, which is Africa’s largest bank by assets, has a continent-wide footprint in 20 African countries.

• Planning for marine insurance risks on the high seas of finance needs to start early - Standard Bank

  Losses from delays, damage, re-routing and business interruption pose significant risks for South African businesses planning to chart new courses in the year ahead, cautions Standard Bank.

  Standard Bank Incubator breaking new grounds for entrepreneurs in South Africa

  The Standard Bank Incubator was launched in order to speed up the growth and success of start-ups and early stage companies. Since its launch, it has also provided a platform for these companies to be mentored, trained and provided with business development support. Standard Bank is also in a position to assist incubated entrepreneurs with access to funding that would be difficult to secure without proven products and services.

  Funeral insurance should be evolving

  If your policy doesn’t offer more than money for the funeral, you’re losing out Consumers are entitled to more value from insurance policies than a simple quid pro quo of a pay-out proportional to their premium. This applies to funeral policies too.

• The implications of debt consolidation

  When times are tough and budgets are stretched, people begin thinking about consolidating debt and stretching out the repayment time.

  Ten common mistakes fleet managers should avoid

  Fleet managers not only have to manage machines, but people, inventory, costs amongst other elements which all affect the overall success of fleet operations.

  A call to all Disruptors

  Standard Bank launches the Pathfinders Challenge, a platform for disruptors, to provide innovative solutions for the customer of the future

• Maintain your financial independence when fighting breast cancer

  Standard Bank’s Cancer Care Plan lets you control your lifestyle and treatment path

  A valid will is vital

  Dying is not a favourite topic of discussion but unless someone invents a cure for death, we need to accept that it’s going to happen at some point. As we go through life we collect possessions and build wealth that will need to be distributed when we are no longer around.

  Common mistakes to avoid when drafting a will

  Preparing a will is often something we avoid. We don’t want to dwell on our mortality, but estate planning is a vital part of a good financial plan.

• Standard Bank’s 2nd Women in Innovation Event inspires attendees to achieve their highest desires

  Recently, Standard Bank hosted its second annual Women in Innovation Event, inviting successful, driven businesswomen and entrepreneurs, academics and artists to celebrate and encourage innovation through inspirational storytelling.

  SME success for tradesmen requires additional financial skills

  With infrastructure spending having been identified as one of the key focus areas of the National Development Plan (NDP), tradesmen will continue to play a critical role in growing the South African economy through their skills.

  Why bankers should think like fleet managers to go above and beyond client expectations

  “Being a leader in this field means listening carefully to the needs of the client and being willing to innovate constantly,” Dr David Molapo, Head of Fleet Management at Standard Bank.

• Effective insurance coverage means carefree holidays

  Part of making sure that holidays don’t get blindsided by events that may occur at home, on the road or at your destination is checking that your insurance coverage is adequate, says Johan van Greuning, Head of Standard Insurance Limited.

  Don’t cancel insurance during tough times

  When times are tough, we automatically try to reduce monthly expenses. Too often, instead of cutting out luxury items, like restaurant meals or holidays, consumers cancel necessities like insurance policies. This may seem like a good idea to cut costs but could have implications in the future.

  Financial readiness maintains independence when fighting breast cancer

  Cancer Care Plan lets you control your lifestyle and treatment path. With one in 29 South African women developing breast cancer and, according to the medical journal Lancet, the number of cases is expected to rise by 78 percent by 2030, it is important to give yourself the financial means to afford treatment.

• Growing trend in car thefts from dealership and panel beaters can be easily defeated

  Theft of cars at vehicle dealerships and panel beaters has recently emerged as a growing trend in the industry. Standard Bank has urged its customers to remain vigilant and to guard against falling victim to this crime.

  Quality advice is vital when insuring a business

  These days insurance cover is just a phone call or website click away, and the temptation to take short-cuts when arranging commercial insurance is always present.

  Travel Insurance

  Don’t leave home without it... Chocolate rabbits and nests full of marshmallow eggs on shop shelves let us know that Easter is just around the corner. This also means school is out with a possible holiday on the horizon.

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  The Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd signs US$560m term loan facility

  The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited signed a US$560-million, 36 months term loan facility in London today.

  

  Standard Bank Group to sponsor IRONMAN South Africa events

  Standard Bank Group and IRONMAN South Africa have entered into a sponsorship agreement that will secure the long-term sustainability of one of the country’s premier endurance events.