Press release -
Discovery Bank grows to one million clients two years ahead of plan
Johannesburg, 26 August 2024 – Discovery Bank, today, announced that is has reached the milestone of acquiring its first one million clients. This follows the Bank’s announcement earlier this year that it had over two million active accounts.
Hylton Kallner, CEO of Discovery Bank, says, “This milestone of our first million clients is a special one. While it’s only the beginning for us, we are incredibly proud because it reflects the impact of our unique shared-value model that creates value as clients manage their money well and engage with our products and rewards, the ease of use and scalability of our digital banking app and platforms, and ultimately the trust that people are placing in the Bank. This milestone also comes ahead of our plan, which is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of everyone at Discovery Bank to deliver excellence as we work towards our vision to build the best bank in South Africa.”
The Bank started its official operations in 2019 after receiving its banking licence in 2017, building its systems and moving clients with credit cards (part of Discovery’s initial partnership with First Rand Bank) to the Discovery Bank platform. Since then, continued product innovation and a unique shared-value banking model has fuelled the Bank’s client and deposit growth, which was up 31% to R16.67 billion in the first half of 2024, with advances increasing by 20% to R5.75 billion. Through the shared-value approach, the Bank’s clients have also accumulated more than R90 million in interest rate boosts and discounts.
Over the past year, the Bank introduced, among other things, a new-generation Revolving Credit Facility, and an innovative Home Loan offering that cuts up to 1% off interest rate repayments. With these additions, the Bank has, in under five years, grown to a completely digital, comprehensive retail bank offering that is attracting over 1,000 new clients a day.
Discovery Bank was recently also ranked the top retail bank in South Africa for brand connection and emotional satisfaction in the new 2024 Ask Africa Banking Brand Index©. Kallner says that this, and other recognitions, reaffirm clients’ high satisfaction levels with Discovery Bank’s full service offering which is designed to combine market-leading digital technology with 24/7 service channels and banker support.
He adds, “When we started building Discovery Bank, we envisioned a financial institution that would revolutionise banking by applying the shared-value model we pioneered in insurance and healthcare, and placing a digital bank branch in every client’s hands. Our goal is to drive financial inclusion by democratising private banking services to provide all our clients, irrespective of their product type or income, with personalised, excellent digital service and access to dedicated bankers.
Our one million clients span every age and income group across South Africa and their high engagement levels, the industry recognition for our service, and the additional value we offer as a Bank contribute to fast-paced client and account growth. Ultimately, it shows that what we are doing as a Bank is setting a new direction for the sector and we are extremely excited to see more people join and experience the future of banking, now.”
ENDS
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About Discovery Bank
Discovery Bank is part of Discovery Limited, a financial services organisation that operates in healthcare, life assurance, short-term insurance, investments, banking, and wellness industries, in over 40 markets globally. Built on a shared-value model, Discovery Bank is fundamentally designed to create unique shared value for clients, differentiating the Bank from traditional banking models. Clients are encouraged to manage their money well, monetising healthy financial behaviours that lower their financial risk and realises long-term default and risk savings for the Bank. Discovery Bank shares this value with clients in the form of better interest rates, deep discounts and significant rewards from an exclusive retail, lifestyle and wellness partner network. The model has an overall positive impact on clients, society and Discovery Bank - clients experience greater financial wellbeing, the risk of defaults for Discovery Bank is lowered making the business more sustainable; while improved financial behaviours such as increased savings, higher retirement savings and lower debt levels, benefit society as a whole. Behaviour change and rewards are enabled through Vitality Money, an AI-powered programme on the Discovery Bank app that gives clients an understanding of the behaviours that influence their financial wellbeing, while giving them the tools to improve their financial behaviours. The more clients improve their financial behaviour, the higher their Vitality Money status and the greater the value they receive.
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