# FNB Banking App (First National Bank)

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fnb-app
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [FNB First National Bank — official](https://www.fnb.co.za/)

## Overview

**First National Bank (FNB)** is **a flagship subsidiary of FirstRand Limited** + **one of South Africa's Big-4 banks** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [South Africa report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ZA)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: **10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets (2024) + FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app** + **FNB App named Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa 4 years in a row**.

**Distinctive FNB positioning** <sup>[3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Flagship FirstRand Limited (JSE: FSR) subsidiary** — distinctive South African banking-group structure
- **10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets** (2024)
- **FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app** — distinctive digital-first banking
- **FNB App globally recognized**: Named **Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa 4 years in a row** — distinctive SA digital banking leadership
- **FNB eWallet** (covered Batch 25) for SA mobile money
- **Pan-African presence**: ZA + BW + NA + SZ + LS + MZ + ZM + ZW + GH + IN + GB (11 countries)
- **FirstRand also operates RMB (Rand Merchant Bank) + WesBank** within group

## History

**1838 — Eastern Province Bank founded** — FNB's oldest predecessor.

**1888 — National Bank of the Orange River Colony founded**.

**1926 — Barclays National Bank formed** via SA bank consolidations.

**1987 — First National Bank (FNB)** rebranded from Barclays National Bank post-Barclays SA withdrawal during apartheid era.

**1998 — FirstRand Limited formed** via merger of First National Bank Holdings + RMB Holdings + Momentum Life Holdings (Anglo American + Remgro Group consortium).

**2011 — FNB Banking App launches**.

**2010s-2025 — FNB App globally recognized**: Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa 4 years in a row <sup>[2][2], [4][4]</sup>.

**2025 — FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app + 10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **First National Bank (FNB)** (FirstRand Limited subsidiary).

**Parent**: **FirstRand Limited** (JSE: FSR) — South African banking group.

**Major shareholders (FirstRand)**: **Remgro Group (Rupert family-controlled SA conglomerate; major shareholder ~34%) + Public Investment Corporation (PIC; SA state pension fund manager) + various South African institutional + JSE public float**.

**Regulators**: **SARB (South African Reserve Bank) + Prudential Authority + FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) + per-country**.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | FNB Banking App (iOS + Android; primary ZA retail-banking mobile channel; 8M+ users; 80% transactions via app) + FNB Online Banking + FNB cards (Visa + Mastercard; eBucks rewards) + FNB branch network + FNB eWallet (covered Batch 25 SA mobile money for unbanked) + FNB Connect (MVNO) |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + email + card number + South African ID |
| **ZA rail** | **[PayShap QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/payshap-qr)** (BankservAfrica PayShap national instant payment + South African instant rails) |
| **License** | Bank (FNB / FirstRand full South African banking license; SA Big-4 bank; R550B assets 2024) |
| **Sub-products** | FNB Account + FNB Cards + FNB Credit + FNB Home Loans + FNB Vehicle Loans (via WesBank sister) + FNB Investments + FNB Insurance + FNB Wealth + FNB for Business + eBucks (FNB loyalty) + FNB eWallet (SA mobile money for unbanked; covered Batch 25) + FNB Connect (MVNO) + RMB (Rand Merchant Bank; FirstRand investment-banking sister) + WesBank (FirstRand vehicle + asset finance sister) |
| **Distinctive 4 years in a row Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in SA** |
| **Distinctive 80% of transactions via FNB App** |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets** (2024)
- **FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app**
- **FNB App named Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa 4 years in a row**
- **South Africa Big-4 bank**
- **Pan-African presence**: 11 countries

## Use cases

South African + Pan-African (FirstRand Africa) retail + corporate + investment + insurance + home loans + vehicle loans (via WesBank) + investment banking (via RMB) via FNB Banking App + FNB Online + cards (with eBucks rewards) + branches + FNB eWallet (Batch 25 SA mobile money for unbanked) + FNB Connect (MVNO); PayShap national instant payment + South African instant rails; RMB (Rand Merchant Bank; FirstRand investment-banking sister) + WesBank (FirstRand vehicle + asset finance sister).

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **First National Bank (FNB)** (FirstRand Limited subsidiary; FirstRand: JSE: FSR).

**Major shareholders (FirstRand)**: **Remgro Group (Rupert family-controlled SA conglomerate; major shareholder ~34%) + Public Investment Corporation (PIC; SA state pension fund manager) + South African institutional + JSE public float**.

**FirstRand sister entities**: **First National Bank (FNB) + RMB (Rand Merchant Bank; investment-banking) + WesBank (vehicle + asset finance) + Aldermore Bank (UK challenger bank acquired Mar 2018) + DirectAxis (consumer credit) + Ashburton Investments**.

**Major South African + Pan-African banking competitors**:
- **[Standard Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/standard-bank)** (Batch 31 covered; Standard Bank Group; SA's largest bank by assets; Pan-African Banking presence)
- **[Absa Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/absa)** (Absa Group; SA Big-4; Absa Banking App 5M+ users + 4.8/5 rating; Pan-African 12+ countries)
- **[Nedbank (Nedbank Money app)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/nedbank)** (Nedbank; SA Big-4; Nedbank Money 3M+ users; 8M+ total clients; R2.6B tech investment)
- **[Capitec Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/capitec)** (Batch 31 covered; SA challenger bank by customer count leader)
- **[Discovery Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/discovery-bank)** (Batch 31 covered; Discovery Group SA digital bank)
- **TymeBank** + **African Bank** + **Investec** + **HBZ Bank** + **Bidvest Bank** (SA banking competitors)
- **[SnapScan](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/snapscan)** (Batch 25 covered; Standard Bank SA QR payments)
- **[FNB eWallet](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fnb-ewallet)** (Batch 25 covered; FNB eWallet SA mobile money; same operator)
- **[Yoco](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/yoco)** (Batch 21 covered; SA SME card-payments fintech)

**Regulators**: **SARB + Prudential Authority + FSCA + per-country**.

## Fun facts

- **Flagship FirstRand Limited (JSE: FSR) subsidiary** — distinctive South African banking-group structure.
- **10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets** (2024).
- **FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app**.
- **FNB App named Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa 4 years in a row** — distinctive SA digital banking leadership.
- **1838 founding as Eastern Province Bank** — FNB's oldest predecessor.
- **1987 First National Bank (FNB) rebranded** from Barclays National Bank post-Barclays SA withdrawal during apartheid era.
- **1998 FirstRand Limited formed** via FNB Holdings + RMB Holdings + Momentum Life Holdings merger (Anglo American + Remgro Group consortium).
- **eBucks** FNB loyalty program.
- **FNB Connect** MVNO.
- **FNB eWallet** SA mobile money for unbanked (covered Batch 25).
- **RMB + WesBank** FirstRand investment-banking + vehicle finance sister entities.
- **Pan-African presence**: 11 countries.

## Comparison

| Feature | FNB | [Standard Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/standard-bank) (Batch 31; SA Big-4 + SA's largest by assets) | [Absa Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/absa) (SA Big-4 + Pan-African 12+ countries + Apr 2026 MVNO launch) | [Nedbank (Nedbank Money app)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/nedbank) (SA Big-4 + Nedbank Money 3M+ users + 8M+ total clients + R2.6B tech investment) | [Capitec Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/capitec) (Batch 31; SA challenger bank by customer count leader) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **First National Bank (FNB) (FirstRand Limited subsidiary; FirstRand: JSE: FSR; Remgro Group Rupert family-controlled SA conglomerate ~34% + PIC SA state pension fund manager + SA institutional + JSE public float)** | Standard Bank Group Limited (JSE: SBK) | Absa Group Limited (JSE: ABG; PIC + SA institutional + JSE float) | Nedbank Group Limited (JSE: NED; PIC + Old Mutual ~19.9% legacy stake + SA institutional + JSE float) | Capitec Bank Holdings Limited (JSE: CPI) |
| Type | **SA Big-4 + FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app + Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in SA 4 years in a row + FirstRand subsidiary + 10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets (2024) + FNB eWallet + FNB Connect MVNO** | SA Big-4 + SA's largest by assets + Pan-African Banking presence | SA Big-4 + Pan-African 12+ African countries + Apr 2026 Absa Mobile Network MVNO launch + Absa Banking App 5M+ users + 4.8/5 rating | SA Big-4 + Nedbank Money 3M+ users (+14% YoY) + 8M+ total clients (group first time) + R2.6B tech investment + Pan-African Nedbank Africa Regions | SA challenger bank by customer count leader |
| Country | ZA + 10+ African countries | ZA + multi-African + global | ZA + 11+ African countries | ZA + 14+ African countries | ZA primary |
| Users | **10M+ FNB clients; FNB App 8M+ users; 80% transactions via app; R550B assets 2024** | SA's largest by assets | Absa Banking App 5M+ users + 4.8/5 rating | Nedbank Money 3M+ active users (+14% YoY); 8M+ total clients group first time | SA's largest bank by customer count |
| Distinctive | **1838 founding as Eastern Province Bank; 1987 FNB rebranded from Barclays National Bank post-Barclays SA withdrawal during apartheid era; 1998 FirstRand Limited formed via FNB Holdings + RMB Holdings + Momentum Life Holdings merger (Anglo American + Remgro Group consortium); FNB App named Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in SA 4 years in a row (distinctive SA digital banking leadership); 80% transactions via FNB App; eBucks FNB loyalty; FNB Connect MVNO; FNB eWallet SA mobile money for unbanked; RMB + WesBank FirstRand investment-banking + vehicle finance sister entities** | SA Big-4 + SA's largest by assets; Pan-African Banking presence | 1991 Absa formation via Allied + United + Volkskas + Trust Bank merger; 2005 Barclays acquires majority for $5.5B; 2017-2018 Barclays full divestment; Apr 2026 Absa Mobile Network MVNO launch | 1888 founding as Nederlandsche Bank en Credietvereeniging voor Zuid-Afrika by Dutch settlers; 1992 Old Mutual acquires Nedbank; 2018 Nedbank Group unbundled from Old Mutual; R2.6B tech investment | SA's largest bank by customer count |

## Status

**Active, flagship FirstRand Limited subsidiary + one of South Africa's Big-4 banks** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>:
- **First National Bank (FNB)** (FirstRand Limited subsidiary; FirstRand: JSE: FSR) since 1838 (Eastern Province Bank founding); 1987 FNB rebranded from Barclays National Bank; 1998 FirstRand Limited formed.
- **10M+ FNB clients + R550B FNB assets (2024) + FNB App 8M+ users + 80% transactions via app**.
- **FNB App named Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App in South Africa 4 years in a row** distinctive SA digital banking leadership.
- **FirstRand sister entities**: RMB (investment-banking) + WesBank (vehicle + asset finance) + Aldermore Bank (UK challenger).
- **FNB eWallet** SA mobile money for unbanked (covered Batch 25) + **FNB Connect** MVNO.
- **Remgro Group (Rupert family-controlled SA conglomerate) ~34% major shareholder** (via FirstRand).
- **SARB + Prudential Authority + FSCA + per-country regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.rateweb.co.za/banking/first-nation-bank-ltd-review/ "First National Bank Ltd Review 2025: A Comprehensive Analysis of South Africa's Banking Leader — Rateweb"
[2]: https://www.fnb.co.za/ "FNB Easy & Efficient Personal, Family and Business Banking — official"
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_National_Bank_(South_Africa) "First National Bank (South Africa) — Wikipedia"
[4]: https://www.fnb.co.za/about-fnb/about-us.html "About FNB — FNB"
[za-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ZA

- [1] [First National Bank Ltd Review 2025 — Rateweb][1]
- [2] [FNB Easy & Efficient Personal, Family and Business Banking — official][2]
- [3] [First National Bank (South Africa) — Wikipedia][3]
- [4] [About FNB — FNB][4]
- <sup>[South Africa report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ZA)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/ZA-south-africa.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [fnb-app.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/fnb-app). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.