The 28th Connected Banking Summit – Southern Africa | Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 closed at the NH Johannesburg Sandton after a full day of keynotes, power panels, a fireside chat and an awards ceremony.
Organised by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), the summit was held under the theme “Advancing Intelligent Banking, Security & Enterprise Digital Modernization.”
The summit marked the Silver Jubilee of the Connected Banking series, which has spent 25 years supporting collaboration, innovation and transformation across global banking. This edition brought together senior leaders from Southern Africa’s financial services sector at a time when AI, digital payments, cybersecurity and data are reshaping how banks operate and serve their customers. Delegates also networked with peers, sponsors and partners at The Connected Lounge throughout the day.
A Programme Built Around the Industry’s Priorities
The agenda addressed the issues most relevant to banking leaders today.
Digital money and payments. Speakers examined the role of stablecoins in enabling cross-border payments and financial connectivity, and discussed how real-time payment rails are modernising the way money moves across Southern Africa.
Cybersecurity, privacy and trust. Sessions explored the evolving cyber threat landscape facing financial institutions, the importance of privacy and protection in an AI-driven financial ecosystem, and the role of governance and operational resilience in safeguarding digital banking.
Data and customer experience. Leaders discussed how strong enterprise data foundations underpin AI-driven customer experiences, how intelligence is shaping decision-making across the sector, and how banks can deliver customer-centric services at scale.
Inclusion and growth. The programme also highlighted financial inclusion, SME digitisation and the opportunity to build for the next billion customers across Africa, before closing with a look at how AI, cybersecurity and governance will define digital trust in the years ahead.
Leading Voices from Across the Industry
The summit featured senior executives from Absa Group, Standard Chartered, Standard Bank Group, Nedbank, Momentum Group, Access Bank South Africa, State Bank of India (South Africa), Ithala Development Finance Corporation, National Housing Finance Corporation SA, Vodacom, MTN and Bidvest, alongside leaders from Tether, Group-IB, SAS, EvonSys, ISACA South Africa and Cybersec Clinique.
Tier 1 Speakers
- Thuthukile Mtshali – Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Standard Chartered
- Mandla Mbasane – Chief Information Security Officer, National Housing Finance Corporation SA
- Rashid Ishmail – Chief Information Security Officer, Access Bank South Africa
- Doreen Mokoena – Chief Information Security Officer, Cybersec Clinique
- Liam Reddy – Chief Compliance Officer, State Bank of India, South Africa
- Khetha Cele – Group Chief Information Officer, Ithala Development Finance Corporation
- Arun Krishnamoorthy – CIO, Commercial Payments, Absa Group
- Thav Reddy – Group Head, Data Privacy, Absa Group
- Brian Mahlangu – Head, Strategy & Digital Commercialisation, Absa Group
- Dolly Mphahlele – Head, Enterprise Datawarehouse, Nedbank
- Nqobile Kubeka – Data Head for Global Markets, Standard Bank Group
- Sanisha Packirisamy – Group Economist, Momentum Group
- Richard Simanga Ngwenya – Founder & Chairman, Nisela Capital & Honeybadger Family Office
- Dhiren Beni – Founder & Digital Transformation Executive, Beni Group Pty Ltd
- Matt Crow – Head of Regional Expansion, Tether
- Max Baldakov – Regional Head, Business Growth & Customer Operations (FP, META), Group-IB
Tier 2 Speakers
- Koketso Rihlampfu – Senior Manager: Lead Information Security Officer, MTN
- Durvesh Maharaj – Portfolio Manager: Growth, Vodacom
- Itumeleng Nomlomo – Senior Business Solutions Manager, SAS
- Mohammad Flaifel – Regional Sales Director, KSA, SADC & Turkey, Group-IB
- Pedro Mullor – Director of Payments Solutions Growth & Delivery, EvonSys
- Muvhango Sipho Steven Livhusha – Digital Transformation Strategist and AI Evangelist
- Chris Gatsi – ISACA South Africa
- Mcdonald Chigumba – Experienced Treasury Executive, Bidvest
Sponsors & Partners
The summit was supported by organisations across digital assets, cybersecurity, data and AI, digital transformation and IT governance.
Gold Sponsors
- Tether is a digital asset company known for USD₮ (USDT), a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. Its blockchain-based technology supports digital transactions and cross-border payments, contributing to innovation across the global digital financial ecosystem.
- Group-IB is a global cybersecurity company specialising in threat intelligence, fraud prevention and digital risk protection. Its solutions help organisations detect and prevent cyberattacks, investigate digital threats and safeguard critical assets.
Silver Sponsors
- SAS is a global leader in data and AI solutions, helping organisations transform data into actionable insights through advanced analytics, fraud detection, risk management and regulatory compliance.
- EvonSys is a global digital transformation and technology solutions company specialising in low-code application development, process automation and enterprise application modernisation.
Supporting Partners
- ISACA South Africa Chapter is a professional association dedicated to advancing information systems governance, cybersecurity, risk management and IT assurance.
- Cybersec Clinique is a cybersecurity and IT solutions provider focused on helping organisations strengthen digital security and manage evolving cyber threats, with expertise in cybersecurity, digital forensics, mobile application security and IT governance.
Official Photography & Videography Partner
- Anama Productions
Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026
The day concluded with the Connected Banking Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, celebrating the region’s boldest banking innovators. The awards recognised the institutions, leaders and innovators shaping the future of banking and financial services through vision, leadership and measurable impact, across institution, innovation and leadership categories.
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Award Category |
Winner |
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Excellence in FX, Trade & Cross-Border Banking |
Standard Bank |
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Excellence in AI-Enabled Banking Innovation |
Absa Bank |
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Excellence in Mobile Banking Experience |
First National Bank |
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Excellence in Investment Banking & Capital Markets |
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) |
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Leadership in Sustainable Finance |
Nedbank |
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Excellence in Financial Inclusion & Affordable Banking |
Capitec Bank |
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Excellence in Social Impact & Customer Empowerment |
African Bank |
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Best Digital Bank – South Africa 2026 |
GoTyme Bank |
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Excellence in SME & Women’s Entrepreneurship Banking |
Access Bank South Africa |
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Emerging Bank of the Year |
OM Bank |
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Banking Cybersecurity Partner of the Year |
Group-IB |
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CEO of the Year |
Jason Quinn, Nedbank |
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CIO of the Year |
Arun Krishnamoorthy, Absa Bank |
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Banking Cybersecurity Leadership Award |
Manoj Puri, Absa Bank |
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Technology Transformation Leader of the Year |
Andrew Baker, Capitec Bank |
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Looking Ahead
The summit reinforced the value of collaboration between financial institutions, technology providers, professional bodies and innovators in building an intelligent, secure and digitally modernised banking sector. From stablecoins and real-time payments to cyber resilience, data intelligence and financial inclusion, the discussions in Johannesburg reflected the priorities shaping the future of financial services in Southern Africa. As the Connected Banking series marks 25 years of industry engagement, ICSA thanks all speakers, sponsors, partners and delegates for their contribution to the 28th edition.
About ICSA
The International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) is a global organisation that designs platforms for collaboration, knowledge exchange and leadership dialogue across banking, technology and digital transformation. It convenes decision-makers, innovators and policy leaders through executive forums, strategic summits and thought-leadership initiatives. Through the Connected Banking Summit series, ICSA brings financial institutions, technology providers and industry bodies together to address the challenges shaping the future of financial services, fostering partnerships and shared insight across the sector.
Company Contact
International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA)
Phone: +44 20 3808 8625
Email: info@connected-banking.com
Website: www.intercsa.com
Event: connected-banking.com/summit/southern-africa/
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