Number Of The Day | 10 | 13 August 2026
10 is today’s Number of the Day. Standard Bank has reported a 10% increase in headline earnings to a record R26.1 billion for the six months to June 2026. Revenue growth outpaced costs, credit losses declined and the group increased its interim dividend by 10%. South Africa contributed just over half of group earnings, while Africa Regions contributed 40%. (eNCA)
Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd unpack what those numbers reveal beyond another strong set of bank results. The conversation moves from Standard Bank’s confidence in South Africa and its growing African footprint to the increasingly fierce battle between the country’s biggest banks for customers and market value. Then the focus shifts beyond the domestic banking race to a potentially bigger opportunity: the financial infrastructure connecting African businesses to China. 10% is the headline number. The wider question is how much of Standard Bank’s future growth will be built beyond South Africa’s borders.
Catch up on all Number of the Day episodes here: https://www.enca.com/number-day-podcast
Chapter List
(00:00) Standard Bank Profits Rise 10% to a Record R26.1bn
(01:11) Why Standard Bank Is Betting on African Growth
(02:53) South Africa’s Banking War Heats Up
(04:16) The Fight for Banking Customers and Market Value
(05:18) Africa-China Trade and Standard Bank’s Next Frontier
