Standard Bank staff are ‘active’ GenAI users
The big-four bank’s half-year results show 72% of employees were active users of GenAI tools, with 87 approved use cases.
Standard Bank Group reports that 72% of its employees actively utilize generative AI tools, as of June 30, with 87 approved use cases. The bank continues to expand AI deployment across client-facing and internal operations. For half-yearly results ending June 30, the bank announced R26.1 billion in headline earnings, a 10% increase.
Return on equity (ROE) reached 19.8%, within the 18% to 22% target range for 2028. AI-enabled recommendations have facilitated over 10 million personalized client interactions during this period, supported by a technology platform where 78% of compute is now cloud-based. Standard Bank's chief information officer, Jörg Fischer, stated that AI training will be mandatory for employees, with AI deployment boosting both customer experience and productivity.
The bank secured the top spot in Africa and second overall in the inaugural Evident AI Index for Banks – Middle East and Africa, indicating strong AI maturity. With a client base of 20 million, Standard Bank's growth was driven by both South Africa and Africa regions. In South Africa, digital retail transactional clients increased by 9%, with a 17% rise in transaction volumes and 69% of clients transacting digitally.
Earnings from Africa regions were R10.4 billion, with significant contributions from Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. Operating expenses grew by 5% to R42.7 billion, driven by investments in talent, digital capabilities, and strategic initiatives. IT spend totaled R11.8 billion in the first half of 2026, with a 5% year-over-year growth rate over five years.
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