FNB’s continued focus on innovation and customer-centric digital experiences has been recognised by Global Finance, which named the bank Africa’s Best Consumer Digital Bank for 2026. The award highlights FNB’s ability to deliver simple, secure and useful banking solutions that help customers navigate their financial lives with ease.
The regional title was announced as part of Global Finance’s 27th annual World’s Best Digital Bank Awards. FNB was selected as the Best Consumer Digital Bank in Africa, alongside regional winners from Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
Giuseppe Virgillito, FNB’s Digital Interfaces Head, says the recognition reflects the bank’s continued focus on bringing every element of digital banking together around the evolving needs of customers.
“Being named Africa’s Best Consumer Digital Bank is a significant recognition because customers don’t experience technology, design, security and service as separate parts of a bank. They experience one relationship with FNB.”
“Our focus is to make that relationship as simple, intuitive and valuable as possible, ensuring customers can manage their money, access solutions and engage with us seamlessly across channels. At the same time, we remain committed to providing the security, reliability and trust that customers expect from their bank. This award reflects our ongoing investment in creating digital experiences that solve real customer needs and help people progress financially with confidence.”
The award follows a two-stage judging process. According to Global Finance, winners are selected based on criteria including the strength of banks’ strategies for attracting and servicing digital customers, customer adoption of digital offerings, growth of online customer bases, breadth of products, tangible benefits delivered through digital initiatives, and website design and functionality. The judging panel comprised representatives from Infosys, with Global Finance’s editors making the final selections.
For FNB, the recognition reflects a broader approach to digital banking that goes beyond enabling customers to transact online. The Bank’s earlier recognition across mobile banking, user experience, transformation and security demonstrates the interconnected capabilities that underpin the overall digital experience.
“Digital innovation only matters if it delivers meaningful help and value to customers,” says Virgillito. “Today, people compare their banking experience not only with other banks, but with the best digital experiences they encounter in their daily lives. That raises the bar for all of us. Our role is to continually listen to customers, remove friction, simplify everyday tasks and create more intuitive ways for them to manage their money. By combining technology, data and human-centered design, we’re focused on delivering digital experiences that are not only seamless and secure, but genuinely helpful in helping customers navigate their financial lives with confidence.”
The recognition builds on FNB’s strong performance in the first round of the 2026 awards, where the Bank was named Best Consumer Digital Bank in South Africa and received four Africa-level awards for Best Mobile Banking App, Best User Experience Design, Best in Transformation, and Best Information Security & Fraud Management.
The recognition also comes at a time when digital banking is evolving rapidly. Global Finance says banks are expanding their use of AI, automation, and advanced data analytics, while customers’ expectations for speed, personalisation and seamless digital experiences continue to increase. At the same time, banks must strengthen security, resilience, and regulatory compliance.
Virgillito says maintaining trust remains fundamental as banking becomes increasingly digital.
“As a bank, we recognise that convenience and innovation only have value when they are built on a foundation of trust. Our responsibility is to make banking simpler, more intuitive and more relevant to the lives of our customers, while continuously strengthening the security and resilience that support every interaction.
“The real measure of digital progress is whether customers feel empowered to do more, achieve more, and manage their finances with greater confidence. That’s why we remain focused on creating experiences that are not only seamless and secure, but genuinely helpful in helping customers navigate their financial lives and make progress every day.”
Global Finance announced the 2026 global and regional winners at its World’s Best Digital Banks and AI in Finance Awards Ceremony at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on 13 October 2026. The publication named DBS Bank the overall World’s Best Digital Bank, while Bank of Georgia was named the global Best Consumer Digital Bank.
