Strategic Reorganization and Execution
Completed a major Group restructure (effective July 1) creating Personal & Private Banking and Business & Commercial Banking to drive client focus and efficiency; restructuring impacted >16,000 colleagues and showed improving H2 momentum and several early proof points across clusters.
Acquisitions and M&A Activity
Completed integration of Eqstra into the Group (first full year) and acquired iKhokha (Dec) to boost payments and SME merchant capabilities (iKhokha processes >ZAR 20 billion annually and has >54,000 POS devices); announced intention to acquire ~66% of NCBA (deal valued ~ZAR 13.9 billion; exemption from Kenyan CMA received).
Capital Strength and Shareholder Returns
Ended year with CET1 ratio of 12.9% (above revised board target range of 11%–12.5%); completed ZAR 2.4 billion share buyback at ~ZAR 229/share and declared total dividend of ZAR 21.32 per share (final dividend ZAR 11.4), implying an attractive dividend yield of ~7%.
Client and Digital Growth
Total Group clients increased 7% to 8.0 million (PPB clients +9% to 7.5 million; NAR clients +9% to >430,000); digital adoption strong—73% of PPB sales via digital channels, Nedbank Business Hub adoption 76% in BCB and 50% in CIB, average app logins 24.5/month, double-digit growth in digital activity.
Strong Payments and New Revenue Streams
PayShap revenues grew 183%; strong growth in contactless, value‑added services, e-commerce and ‘money app’ payments; cash withdrawals declined 6%; aims to scale insurance (MyCover) and payments as new revenue vectors (target >50% growth in premiums and product penetration rise from 19% to >30% medium term).
Asset and Deposit Growth
Gross banking advances grew 6% year‑on‑year; private sector loans and advances growth 7.8%; home loans and vehicle finance growth 6% and 9% respectively; deposit balances grew strongly by 11% (franchise call & term deposits +10%, other deposits +23%).
Improved Impairments and Asset Quality Trends
Group credit loss ratio improved to 68 basis points (an 18% improvement in the impairment charge); Stage 1 loans +10% while Stage 2 and Stage 3 loans reduced by 5% and 2% respectively; recoveries and collections drove lower impairment outcomes across several clusters.
Cluster Earnings Momentum
Personal & Private Banking headline earnings increased 9% with ROE 15.6%; Corporate & Investment Banking delivered HE growth of 2% with ROE 21.4%; Nedbank Africa SADC operations delivered a 15% increase in headline earnings (despite low ROE in SADC).
Brand and Employer Recognition
Brand value increased 24% to ZAR 20 billion; maintained Level 1 B-BBEE status and achieved #2 SA company on Forbes World's Best Employers list (top 50 globally).
Identified Productivity Opportunities
Identified new productivity initiatives exceeding ZAR 1.5 billion expected to be realized over the next ~3 years, with plans to leverage AI/automation to improve colleague productivity and cost efficiency.