BY: TANA MALINGA
In a country where inequality continues to shape the economic landscape, businesses operate under constant pressure to survive today while building for tomorrow. In this reality, practical support matters more than promises.
FNB Business has reaffirmed its commitment to meeting businesses where they are, focusing on real operational needs and creating solutions that strengthen daily trading activity.
“Business owners are building the future while managing a resource-constrained present,” says Ghana Msibi. “Our responsibility is to support them in the present, and use that foundation to unlock sustainable growth.”
PAYMENTS THAT WORK FOR REAL BUSINESS CONDITIONS
As consumer payment behaviour evolves, the way businesses receive money has become central to competitiveness and inclusion. Through continued investment in merchant services and alternative payment methods, including eWallet, FNB has remained active in shaping a more accessible payments ecosystem.
Yet running a business is about more than accepting payments. Owners manage customers, staff, stock and cashflow, often while dealing with fragmented systems and administrative pressure. Reducing this friction, particularly around cashflow, is where FNB is sharpening its focus.
SPEEDPOINT REPOSITIONED AROUND CERTAINTY AND SIMPLICITY
FNB has introduced a refreshed approach to Speedpoint, aligning it more closely with everyday business realities, certainty of settlement, transparent pricing, operational visibility, and tools that improve efficiency.
“Merchants are not looking for complex value propositions,” says John Mlangeni. “They want practical solutions to real challenges.”
CLEAR PRICING ALIGNED TO HOW BUSINESSES TRADE
The updated Speedpoint® pricing structure is designed for transparency and predictability. Beyond transaction rates, it considers system reliability, settlement certainty and reduced administrative burden.
Businesses can select devices based on their trading model, with flexible purchase or rental options:
Speedpoint Go: Buy R699 | Rent R230 per month
Speedpoint Pro: Buy R1 499 | Rent R320 per month
Speedpoint Tablet: Buy R4 999 | Rent R500 per month
Speedpoint Counter: Buy R7 499 | Rent R920 per month
From 4 March 2026, all existing Speedpoint merchants will automatically transition to the new pricing structure, benefiting from lower commission rates and immediate savings.
The commission model is structured to reward growth, as transaction volumes increase, commission costs decrease, allowing businesses to retain more of their earnings.
“SMEs need certainty,” adds Msibi. “Pricing must be clear, settlement predictable, and tools must help businesses operate better.”
“Cashflow is king,” Mlangeni emphasises. “Our role is to help merchants keep more of what they earn.”
BEYOND PAYMENT ACCEPTANCE: A BROADER BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM
Speedpoint extends beyond card acceptance. It offers tools that support operational control and additional income opportunities, including:
Prepaid products, vouchers and ticket sales
Real-time sales and stock visibility
Online selling capabilities
Access to working capital through FNB Cash Advance
Access to funding remains one of the biggest barriers for small businesses. Since launch, 65% of Cash Advance payouts have been under R100 000, with 31% supporting businesses generating less than R1 million annually. Repayments are structured as a portion of daily sales processed through Speedpoint, aligning funding with trading performance.
SUPPORTING BUSINESSES FROM DAY ONE
To reduce entry barriers, FNB Business offers First Business Zero, an entry-level account with no monthly account fee, enabling sole proprietors and start-ups to begin trading digitally without upfront banking costs.
As businesses grow, Business Gold Aspire, priced at R49 per month, provides expanded tools and services suited to township and micro-enterprise needs.
A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO MERCHANT GROWTH
As a long-standing participant in South Africa’s merchant payments market, FNB recognises its responsibility to expand access, reduce friction, and lower the real cost of doing business.
“Our focus goes beyond fees,” concludes Msibi. “It is about helping merchants retain more of their income and grow sustainably.”
In an economy where every rand counts, certainty, simplicity and reliable cashflow are not luxuries, they are essentials.
Through the strengthened Speedpoint offering, FNB Business positions itself not just as a payment provider, but as a practical partner in growth.
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