The Swazi folk painter Lucas Mlambo (1959- ) whose work, View of Sidwashini, is held in the Standard Bank Collection, is never at a loss for subject matter. He delights in telling the simple stories of how people live and what they do in town and country.

He does so in bright flat colour, in incorrect perspective and with awkwardly drawn figures in paintings like Washing Day – Manzini and Nhlangano Town, Mshengu Street, but it’s this untrained and unrestrained way of seeing that makes these paintings so thoroughly charming. Read more »

Up until now you may have thought that debating was for the socially awkward kids in school, the ones that were often the brunt of playground jokes. But let me tell you, debaters know about cool, and they know how to explain it to you too! They work hard, they play hard and they’re super smart too. Read more »

Get up at the crack of dawn (or earlier). Get yourself and the kids ready for school. Drop the kids off. Arrive at work and run straight into a meeting. Skip lunch because you have to pop past the dry cleaners to pick up your hubby’s suit. Work late as you chase that deadline. Leave to fetch the kids from school. Run into the shops to get something for dinner. Get home and start dinner. Help the kids with their art projects. Wash the dishes and put a load of washing on. Climb into bed and get ready to do it all again in six hours. Read more »

Computers and development around information technology are taken for granted nowadays. Back when everything was recorded in handwriting, the introduction of the typewriter was probably met with as much excitement (and trepidation) as was the personal computer in more recent history.

This year, Standard Bank Group celebrates 120 years of it embracing technology. It was then that the first typewriter. Over the years some pretty weird-looking technology made its way into the offices and branches. Read more »

The most recent phishing attempts were identified very early, thanks to the protection software Rapport, which we provide free to users of our South African Internet banking service.

We have shut down yet another fraudulent website but users please remain vigilant and be careful of these emails. The emails look very real and often the links read “standardbank.co.za”. These links are in fact “masked” URLs. Read more »

Every year a group of colleagues at Standard Bank Group in South Africa take to 4x4s and spend two weekends meeting teachers and learners at selected rural schools. Their mission: to get books and other educational tools to these learners.

This is our contribution to Rally to Read, a literacy development programme that operates through about 100 business sponsors and more than 1 200 volunteers in South Africa. Read more »

It’s true what they say; you can’t believe everything you read and hear. We’ve all received those emails that offer advice from fictitious policemen warning about one conspiracy or another. This is no different in terms of banking, ATMs and keeping your money safe. Read more »

Spot prices, currency pairs and margin checks. Do these sound like a foreign language or do you feel as if you’re in a foreign exchange dealing room? Now, Standard Bank Group customers can speak this language and deal in foreign exchange (FX or forex) from their computers.

Standard FX Trader signals Standard Bank Group’s entry into the exciting world of collateralised online forex trading for individual retail investors. Read more »

The world's eyes are on South Africa as it hosts football’s greatest show on earth. With all the excitement buzzing in the air, more than ever we’re proudly South African. South Africa is home to Standard Bank Group – it is our birthplace and base for our headquarters. Sim Tshabalala, Chief Executive of Standard Bank Group’s operations in South Africa and Deputy Chief Executive of the Standard Bank Group, shares his views on why South Africa is so important to the group and what makes him such an optimist. Read more »

The South African Reserve Bank has decided that commercial banks may continue to accept old series R200 notes until 31 July 2010. After that date these old notes may be exchanged only at South African Reserve Bank branches. Read more »