MoneyWise.co.za
SA rates
Repo rate7.75%Prime11.25%Avg home loan11.8%-0.10Avg personal loan24.5%+0.25Inflation (CPI)4.4%-0.20ZAR / USDR18.42+0.08
Back

banking

FNB vs Capitec

Updated May 2026 Reviewed by the MoneyWise editorial teamMethodology

FNB and Capitec sit at opposite ends of South African retail banking. FNB plays the bundled-rewards game with eBucks and Premier tiers; Capitec wins on transparent low fees and the country's highest customer satisfaction score.

The fundamentals

For a salary of R25,000/month with average banking activity:

  • FNB Premier — R249/mo account fee, includes free swipes/withdrawals, eBucks rewards, FNB Connect data.
  • Capitec Global One — R7.50/mo account fee, transactional fees per use (typically R30–R60/month total).

FNB's effective cost is R249/month. Capitec's typical cost is ~R55/month. Capitec is R2,328/year cheaper for a basic user.

Where FNB wins

  • Rewards — eBucks earn up to 40% back on grocery and fuel partners. Diamond tier members can recover R800–R1,500/month.
  • Credit limits — Premier members access higher overdraft and credit-card limits at competitive rates.
  • FNB Connect — bundled mobile data and minutes can save R200/month for moderate users.

Where Capitec wins

  • Raw cost — R2,300+/year saving for non-rewards users.
  • Personal loans — typically 2–4 percentage points cheaper than FNB at the same risk profile.
  • Customer satisfaction — #1 on the SAcsi banking index for 8 consecutive years.
  • Pricing transparency — no tiers, no hidden cross-subsidies.

Frequently asked questions

Does Capitec offer credit cards?

Yes — the Capitec Credit Card has one of the lowest interest rates in SA (currently prime + 1%) with no annual fee.

Are eBucks rewards worth the FNB Premier fee?

For households spending R8k+/month at FNB partners (Shoprite/Checkers, Engen, Clicks), yes. Below that, Capitec is cheaper net of rewards.

Which app is better?

Both rank in the top 3 of SA banking apps. FNB has more features; Capitec has cleaner UX.