Isihlangu Financial Services’ Post

Today we continue with our #POPIA compliance assessments with the major financial service institutions. We are on day 1 of the 2 day assessment at Standard Bank. In the past few weeks we paid a visit to other financial services institutions such as the Development Bank of South Africa and Investec #Dataprotection #Dataprivacy #Right2Privacy

POPIA Compliance Assessments are a legal reality that the regulator is bringing to many organisations. It's good to see our regulator being proactive. This is nothing short of what I expected when I wrote this article: https://lnkd.in/dkDpqEmR

The adoption of digitization, automation, and cloud services has caused the proliferation of personal information across multiple systems, repositories, and third parties. Creating a compliance complexity that cannot be solved by traditional checklists and spreadsheets. Data Privacy Management needs to be a continuous process that can scale and adapt to business demands while minimizing the time and resources needed to comply with regulations and best practices. This why we partnered with Primeur, to provide our clients with a combined 35+ years of data privacy expertise and an industry-leading Data Privacy Management platform. Speak to us to find out how we can assist in streamlining your POPIA compliance program.

🌍 Capitec Bank Aims for Global Expansion 🌍 In a significant development, South Africa’s Capitec Bank has announced its plans to become a global player within the next decade. This ambitious move comes after its recent acquisition of Avafin, a Cyprus-based online lender with operations across Europe and Latin America, including countries like Poland, Latvia, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Mexico. Capitec Bank, established in 2001, made a name for itself as the first South African bank to extend credit to low-income South Africans without requiring collateral. Today, it boasts of 22 million active customers, making it the largest bank in South Africa in terms of client numbers. The acquisition of Avafin is a significant milestone for Capitec Bank. With this move, Capitec’s client base now matches the combined customer numbers of major competitors such as Standard Bank, Absa, and Discovery Bank. As Capitec Bank sets its sights on the global market, it continues its mission to provide accessible and affordable banking services. This marks an exciting new chapter in the bank’s journey towards growth and innovation. #CapitecBank #BankingNews #FinancialEducation

The Prime Legacy of Global Powerhouses | Hon. Stephen Jones, Heidi Snell, ANZ, Australian Banking Association (ABA), Westpac, Customer Owned Banking Association, Australian Financial Crimes Exchange, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Commonwealth Treasury, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Banking Associations, Ministry of Home Affairs Singapore, Singapore Police Force and ACCC—Strengthening Global Anti-Scam Efforts: Insights from the National Anti-Scam Centre Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones led a high-level international delegation, including Heidi Snell from the National Anti-Scam Centre, in Singapore to strengthen global efforts against scams through a collaborative exchange of insights and best practices among Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The visit aimed to enhance the effectiveness of anti-scam initiatives by sharing successful strategies and gaining fresh perspectives. The engagement with international partners by the National Anti-Scam Centre signifies a concerted effort to fortify scam prevention and disruption measures at a local level, recognizing the pervasive threat posed by scams that transcends national borders. Collaboration and knowledge exchange on the global stage are fostered, positioning the Centre to accelerate its impact in safeguarding individuals and businesses from fraudulent activities. The convergence of expertise and resources from key stakeholders highlights a unified commitment to combatting scams through a multifaceted approach. Emphasizing information sharing, innovation, and coordinated action as essential elements in the fight against scams, the National Anti-Scam Centre is well-equipped to address the evolving landscape of scam prevention and response by drawing on the collective wisdom and experiences of influential entities. Information sharing enables stakeholders to exchange insights and best practices, staying informed about emerging threats and developing effective countermeasures. Innovation is crucial for developing new technologies and strategies to detect and prevent scams efficiently, fostering adaptability to changing scam tactics. Coordinated action among stakeholders optimizes resource use for swift, effective scam responses, while leveraging collective wisdom refines approaches and strengthens anti-scam measures. This proactive strategy positions the National Anti-Scam Centre as a leader in combating scams, staying ahead of trends and collaborating with key stakeholders for effective scam prevention and response in a dynamic environment. Drawing on international collaboration for valuable insights, the National Anti-Scam Centre persists in refining its strategies to protect consumers, businesses, and the broader community from fraudulent schemes. With collective action and a shared dedication to combatting scams, the Centre leads efforts to safeguard individuals and businesses from the ever-changing landscape of fraudulent activities. #Apac #scams

The Singapore model is certainly where most jurisdictions need to head towards. Having education intervention disruption and investigation under the same command. It prevents duplicitous reporting and effective use of finite resource. Lots that can be learnt from this jurisdiction.

I dunno how to feel about Ameriabank CJSC acquisition From one side, I am aware that it was the aim all along the way From another side, I feel the valuation is too low for a bank with such widespread across #Armenia, leading loans’ market share with 19.6% and second leading deposits market share of 17.3 % behind Ardshinbank CJSC with 17.7% it almost feels like really bad utilization of the market yet I don’t have all the data to judge It feels that the entire banking market in #Armenia is either undervalued or some missing data points that we are not aware of On other hand, I see opportunity in Bank of Georgia backed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. M&G plc bringing more options to #Armenia regardless of the deposits limitation We will have to wait and see

The Finnovex South African two day Conference (22 - 23 July 2024) Key topics: Digital Transformation versus Digital Disruptions - The story of Thyme Bank Partnerships - how do financial institutions form partnerships with Fintechs to help drive their digital strategies. Digital Banks versus Neo Banks - I found this topic particularly interesting. How traditional banks can become more digital. The concept of Neo Banks which is started by Fintechs and is completely digital from the onset. SME Growth and Empowerment - How can financial institutions ensure inclusivity through digital solutions for SME'S that is relevant to their businesses. It is estimated that there are 250 million SME's in Africa, accounting for 90% of businesses in Africa, contributing to 60% of employment on the continent. Lastly we ended the two-day conference with an award ceremony, where Absa scooped three awards in the Regional Categories, Best CEO, Best CIO and Best Payments.  #Proud To Be Part Of The Absa Family

Earlier this year we won the #MostInnovativeRegTechSolutionProvider and #BestRegTechSolutionProvider at the Digital Banker Africa awards, showcasing the role GVG continues to play in the #RegTech ecosystem. We are extremely proud of our journey and what is yet to come. #Africa #innovation #digitaltransformation https://t.ly/m83Z0

Sale to Switzerland’s UBP include SG Kleinwort UK & SocGen PB Suisse; SG to sell 70% of Madagascar subsidiary to BPCE’s BRED Banque Populaire; undisclosed amount. SocGen said the UK and Swiss deals would increase its equity tier 1 capital ratio by around 10 basis points, while the sale of the Madagascar unit is expected to add 2 basis points. It added it would continue developing its private banking businesses in France, Luxembourg and Monaco. Sales are part of SocGen CEO Slawomir Krupa’s strategy to improve profits and capital by cutting costs and shedding less profitable businesses. The deals are expected to complete, subject to regulatory approvals, by the end of the first quarter of 2025...