FNB has restored 80% of its branches that were destroyed by looters during the KZN and Gauteng unrest in July and also 70% of its ATMs.

FNB CEO, Jacques Celliers, said: ”The better-than-expected momentum of our rebuilding efforts is due to strong collaboration between local communities, industry, landlords, vendors, and our teams on the ground.”

“In keeping with our holistic approach to helping the society, we also allocated R21.5 million to support social relief programmes and humanitarian organisations to provide essential care and support to people, businesses, schools, and greater communities in the affected areas,” Celliers said.

“Furthermore, we commend efforts by the public sector and other civil society partners who continue to play their part in alleviating hardship in the affected communities,” he said.

FNB Points of Presence CEO, Lee-Anne van Zyl, said that the bank would keep its temporary mobile branches and ATMs that had been deployed to the worst hit areas, as an interim measure to enable access to essential financial services. 

She said FNB had also redeployed staff from closed branches to the closest operating branches to service customer needs and increased volumes.

“In some areas, we rely on the reconstruction of malls or shopping complexes before restoring our bricks-and-mortar branches. We are, however, working closely with all stakeholders where this may be the case,” van Zyl said.

“Currently, we have temporary mobile branches at KwaMashu (Bridge City), Dalton, Edendale, Umzinto, Esikhawini and Esikhaleni Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal as well as Orange Farm (Eyethu) in Gauteng. Our aim is to ensure that communities can still access our in-branch services as we continue rebuilding some of the infrastructure,” van Zyl said.

“While our customers can always access most of our services via our digital channels such as the FNB App, Online and Cellphone banking, our branches and ATMs play a very important role in our relationships with local communities. We are delighted to have restored most of the affected infrastructure ahead of the festive season to improve access to financial services in communities,” van Zyl added.