With a guiding purpose which states: Africa is our home, we drive her growth, Standard Bank views itself as more than just a bank and has embraced this notion as it explores the development of innovative solutions to some of South Africa’s key social challenges. One of these very critically being education.

After witnessing the #FeesMustFall student protest against high university fees and the plight of the missing middle, Standard Bank’s reaction was immediate and simple: “What can we do to make a difference?” That spirit and altruism gave rise to a crowdfunding platform that connected funders with students through the principles of network and collaboration – delivering a scalable solution for thousands of young South Africans like Aqeela and Atang, to complete their studies and start contributing to the growth of SA Africa’s economy.

Property and home ownership is another distinguishing South African theme with access to safe and affordable housing for the majority of our citizens, a key national priority. Here, Standard Bank, in partnership with Calgro M3 and the City of Joburg have created an integrated housing development, building safe communities and social cohesion for young professionals and elderly RDP beneficiaries alike.