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Awarded Kantar’s Special Recognition as South Africa’s Most Meaningfully Different Brand, reflecting strong customer trust, innovation and relevance
FNB has been ranked among the top three most valuable brands in South Africa in the 2026 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable South African Brands ranking, with its brand value increasing by 45% from US$ 3.1 billion in 2024 to US$4.5 billion in 2026.
The bank also received Kantar’s Special Award for the Most Meaningfully Different Brand, recognising its ability to combine trusted banking solutions, innovation, and customer-centric experiences in a way that sets it apart in a highly competitive market.
Kantar identifies Meaningful Difference as one of the strongest drivers of long-term brand growth, customer loyalty, and future demand. The award is given to brands that are both highly relevant to consumers and clearly differentiated from their competitors.
Lytania Johnson, CEO of FNB, says the recognition reflects the bank’s enduring focus on delivering value and building meaningful relationships with customers. “This recognition underscores the strength of the FNB brand, built over decades through a relentless focus on innovation, accessibility and delivering meaningful value to customers. Being ranked among South Africa’s most valuable brands and recognised as the country’s Most Meaningfully Different Brand is a powerful endorsement of the trust customers place in us and the relevance of our brand in their lives.”
FNB’s performance has been driven by sustained investment in customer experience, digital innovation, and convenience. The bank’s leadership in digital banking and self-service innovation laid a strong foundation, which was further strengthened through the launch of its Reimagining Help strategy in 2022.
According to Kantar, a key contributor to FNB’s brand growth has been the successful execution of its Reimagining Help strategy, which built on the strong equity the brand had established over many years through innovation, accessibility and convenience. Kantar notes that the strategy strengthened the bank’s relevance, credibility and emotional connection with customers, helping to reinforce trust at scale.
“Through our Reimagining Help strategy, we have evolved our role beyond banking to focus on helping customers make better financial decisions and unlock greater opportunities for themselves, their families and businesses. This recognition is a reflection of that commitment and of the strong relationships we continue to build with the people and businesses we serve,” adds Johnson.
Through enhanced personalisation, expanded ecosystem benefits, continuous innovation and a stronger advice-led approach, FNB has focused on helping customers navigate their financial journeys with greater confidence. By combining data-driven insights, tailored experiences and practical solutions, the strategy was designed to make banking more intuitive, relevant and meaningful, while empowering customers to make better financial decisions and unlock greater opportunities.
Linda Kachingwe-Sisya, Chief Marketing Officer at FNB, says the award reflects the success of a long-term strategy focused on building a brand that delivers both rational and emotional value. “Brands create lasting value when they remain relevant in people’s lives and consistently earn their trust. Our brand promise of Help was built on the belief that customers need more than transactions from their bank. They need guidance, advice, insight and support that helps them navigate important financial decisions with confidence.”
“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects how customers experience our brand daily. We have redefined what customers should expect from their bank, moving beyond products and transactions to provide meaningful support, personalised experiences and solutions that help them progress,” she says.
Kantar’s findings also point to the growing importance of trust in building long-term brand value. FNB was rated higher than its competitors for providing helpful advice, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted financial partner.
The report further highlights FNB’s future growth prospects. The bank leads the banking category on Kantar’s Visionary metric within its VIBE framework and was recognised for its strong Future Power, Kantar’s measure of future growth potential. FNB was also included in Kantar BrandZ’s global Banks with Momentum study, which identifies the retail banking brands most likely to grow market share.
“Being meaningful to customers is not something a brand achieves overnight; it is something that must be earned every day. Our promise of Help continues to guide how we innovate, engage and create value. As we look ahead, our focus remains on making help more intuitive, more personalised, and more accessible, ensuring FNB remains a brand that customers trust, value and choose to grow with,” concludes Kachingwe-Sisya.
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