Rated as one of the world’s top 200 fintechs.

Powerful
Banking

at Zero cost

A simple and modern App-driven bank for both individuals and businesses, with a fresh approach towards banking.

Use the App for all your day-to-day banking needs and more.

A patented personalised card gives you powerful security and global reach (with a forex mark-up rate of just 1%!).
 
Card Machines by iKhokha at Zero monthly fees and great service, here.
 
Commercial banking for any size business, streamlined and easy. Read our blog.
Need assistance? With email or WhatsApp chat 7 days a week you get peace of mind.

Get Your

App

On top of the Zero (or low) fees,
what defines Bank Zero is its functionality.

After downloading the App, register in 2 simple steps

Business & Commercial

Banking

Bank Zero caters for businesses with turnovers from really small to in the billions.

Most banks don’t offer the required banking solutions to support businesses. This changes forever with Bank Zero.

Total
Control

The power of
3 x 3

Within a few minutes, build your own authorisation chain of up to 3 levels, with up to 3 authorisers per level.

Add, remove or move authorisers real-time by dragging their face tiles to the relevant level – all from the comfort of your desk or couch.

Example

Card
Machines

Seamlessly order
and link a POS

Pay Zero monthly fees, only a once-off upfront payment.

Automatically link your new iKhokha card machine to your Bank Zero account, without needing to re-FICA.

Get started here

Seamless
Integration

Link to external
accounting software

Connect Xero directly to your Bank Zero account and automatically import your transactional data.

No more manual data entries.

Xero Website

Easy
Downloads

With a swipe and a tap,
straight into Excel

Transaction history viewable on your App can be downloaded straight into an Excel file.
Just swipe down to the date from when you want to download, tap the Excel icon, and save the file.
Available on all Bank Zero accounts, for both businesses and individuals.

Step 1 – Documents you need to add your business

  • Proof that business exists (e.g. for Pty’s CIPC Disclosure Certificate OR CoR30.1 | Annual Returns OR CoR 14.3).
  • CIPC name change document if trading under another name.
  • Proof of Address and affidavit if property not in business’s name.
  • Names and cell numbers of all directors, shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners. Also those officials you want to use in your authorisation chain or as relationship bankers.
  • When the shareholders are businesses, their registration / trust / etc numbers.

Step 2 – We auto-populate your other documents
…and email them to you once you have added your business – all you have to do is sign:

  • Resolution for mandated officials
  • Ownership / control structure that shows all shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners with more than 25% shareholding
  • Proof of Address affidavit

Step 3 – Add your business

  • Tap the ‘+’ on the grey empty tile on your banking canvas, then choose ‘Add business’
  • All owners and officials and directors and ultimate beneficial owners, as well as any relationship bankers can be added on one single simple powerful screen. Set up your authorisation chain for your main account now, or later.
  • Watch out for any messages from us should you need to re-submit any documentation. (Just follow the task prompts)

Special

Features

A Zero pricing strategy is important, but that’s not enough.

Offering innovative functionality to ensure control and transparency, is critical.

Both businesses and individuals require significantly more functionality than what is currently available to solve daily banking problems.

Although most banks have started addressing the needs of individuals, most banks don’t offer the required banking functionality to businesses.

Card Subscriptions
Control

A world first – security
under your control

As part of Bank Zero’s focus on security, we request an App-phone authorisation for ALL online purchases – whether the site does secure purchasing or even if it’s unsecure (often targeted by criminals).

Since App-phone authorisations are impractical for subscriptions posted by online news sites and others, we allow you to select which sites may bypass your App-phone authorisation. All under your control on the Card Settings screen.

Special
Card Patent

No more card
skimming

The Bank Zero card patent provides a simple but innovative solution to ensure cutting-edge security. It minimises the impact of card data theft, card skimming and fraudulent eCommerce transactions.

The 16-digit card number doesn’t change each time you replace your card – unless you want to – which means card details for digital subscription services don’t have to be reset

Rogue
Debit Orders

We hate them!
And we protect you.

If a NEW debit order is loaded, we warn you with a red task on your App. Check the provided details, and reject immediately if you don’t recognise this.

All at Zero cost to you.

Bank Zero prevents rogue debit orders from hitting your account, as long as you keep your eye out for the red Bank Zero tasks.

Intuitive
Design

A Quick Start Guide
to the magic

The App was kept light and simple and intuitive.

There are some unique features that you would not have encountered before – specifically the dragging and dropping of account tiles.

We want to help you discover this and other features, so please start off by looking at this one-page Quick Start Guide.

Download Bank Zero Quick Start Guide

Ecosystem

It’s all about digital
connectedness

Being both digitally and financially connected is a reality of how humans operate. Bank Zero mirrors this directly in its design.

Directly connect your Bank Zero accounts (and/or profile) with family, friends, children, staff, co-owners of businesses, club/stokvel members, or basically anyone you choose. Share information, allow sharing (or not) of funds, and remain up to speed on all transactional banking matters relevant to you or those you connect to.

Smart Scheduled
Payments

Easily managing
your finances

These are simple but powerful tools to make life easier, and are offered by most banks.

A nifty feature though on your Bank Zero App is that you receive tasks for all scheduled payments / transfers that will run the next morning. This allows you time to check your account balance for sufficient funds. It also allows you time to decide if you want to change or even cancel it. And you have time to do this right up until just before it runs – no more 2 days’ notice required.

Relationship
Banking

Supporting you with
all banking admin

For those assistants, staff members, family members or anyone doing banking admin on your behalf… just load their cell numbers against the accounts and/or recipients they must be able to access.

If you’re a business, their transactions will follow the authorisation chain you’ve set up. If you’re an individual, you as the account owner will authorise (or reject).

Clever
Card Control

From ATM to Online
transactions

Use your App to control your Bank Zero card. Lock it fully if temporarily misplaced or lock partially to control ATM use. You can even select what type of ATM use is allowed.

Control who does your online card authorisations; decide whether a PIN is required for small tap transactions; and more – download to see everything you can do.

QR Payments
& Receipts

Unique QR code for
easy micro payments

Pay anyone in the Bank Zero ecosystem with a quick QR code scan, at Zero cost to you.

Receive payment by sharing your QR code without sharing any other detail (account or cell number). Only pay 0.5% of amount received – less than average market pricing. Add your QR code to your invoice or your till point or your website!

… and if you rather want to use any other QR solutions available in the market, just load your Bank Zero card onto those Apps.

Proof of Payment
(PoP)

Authenticated tracing
with supporting info

A PoP is emailed on your request, at Zero cost to you. Not only can these PoPs be authenticated, they also contain valuable supporting information for businesses and individuals alike.

While making payment, upload relevant docs such as invoices or contracts. These docs are then displayed in the PoP.

The PoP also shows where the money currently is. During authentication, the latest update on the money flows is provided.

No More
Phishing

Using the power
of biometrics

When you register, we obtain highly specialised biometric information from you. We use this to protect you from any attempts to fraudulently drain your bank accounts.

Should someone attempt access to your Bank Zero profile from their phone by pairing with using your personal details, we match their biometrics to those you provided us.

Under
16?

Yes you can
join too!

If you’re under 16, a legal guardian needs to kick-start the process (by providing your proof of ID).

Then you’re all set to create your own unique profile with your own personal access – and with full control over your transactions.

We are passionate about driving a savings culture. And the sooner you start banking, the sooner you start realising the powerful impact of saving.

Rates &

Pricing

Pricing has been turned on its head – basic banking is free and only extras are charged for.

The functionality, pricing and rates apply equally to all – all businesses and all individuals.

Bank Zero doesn’t offer entry-level accounts which are then forced to upgrade to higher-priced ones to access better functionality – feature-rich banking should never force customers into paying exorbitant fees.

Pricing Guide – Individuals & Businesses

Just like our banking, this is simple – all on one single page

Same pricing for ALL individuals and businesses. No tricks like needing to upgrade your account to access more features. Pricing includes VAT.

Download Pricing Guides here:

Banking should be free

Account monthly fee

Zero

Account minimum balance

Zero

Add savings account or notice account

Zero

Add a business profile

Zero

Add a child

Zero

Friend people to account (e.g. family, club, stokvel)

Zero

Transfer money between accounts

Zero

Pay a debit order

Zero

Pay another bank’s customer using their account number (EFT)

Zero

Pay a Bank Zero customer using their account number (EFT)

Zero

Pay a Bank Zero customer using their cell number (SendMoney)

Zero

Pay a Bank Zero customer using their QR code

Zero

Pay by card – local or foreign card fee

Zero

Pay by card – mark-up on foreign transactions posted in ZAR

Zero

Send proof of payment via email

Zero

Buy prepaid data, airtime, electricity, etc

Zero

Receive notifications on activity

Zero

Receive monthly statement via email or download from App – within 3mths

Zero

Request account confirmation letter or IT3B

Zero

3rd party costs are passed on to you

Card personalised & delivered to Clicks store

R59

Card personalised & delivered to street address in most cities (if remote +R30)

R99

Request balance at ATM or at POS

R2

Withdraw cash at ATM – local & foreign (note: R45 min fee if foreign)

R9/R1000 block

Withdraw cash at POS – local & foreign (note: R45 min fee if foreign)

R2

Withdraw cash without card – use SendMoney & cash-out at Shoprite Group

R8.50

Send cash to non-customer – use SendMoney & cash-out at Shoprite Group

R8.50

Deposit cash at POS – Shoprite Group (max R3k), PnP group (max R5k)

Ask retailer

Nuisance fees:
– Using new card before activating it (or using old card)
– Card used when set to ‘Lock’ or ‘ATM off’, or locked after 3 wrong PINs
– Exceeding chosen limits
– Insufficient funds (card, debit order, scheduled payment/transfer)

R2

Send proof of payment via SMS (but email is free!)

R1.50

Value-added services are your choice

Pay mark-up on foreign currency card transactions

Only 1%

Receive money via Bank Zero QR code

0.5% of amount

Dispute or stop a debit order (new debit order rejection is Zero!)

R8

Chargeback a card transaction

R50

Add another check account

R50 to open

If no transactions on a check account for more than 6 months

R5/month

Statements older than 3mths (or download xls as far back as you want for Zero!)

R10 / statement

Banking should be free

Account monthly fee

Zero

Account minimum balance

Zero

Add savings account or notice account

Zero

Add a business profile

Zero

Add a child

Zero

Friend people to account (e.g. family, club, stokvel)

Zero

Transfer money between accounts

Zero

Pay a debit order

Zero

Pay another bank’s customer using their account number (EFT)

Zero

Pay a Bank Zero customer using their account number (EFT)

Zero

Pay a Bank Zero customer using their cell number (SendMoney)

Zero

Pay a Bank Zero customer using their QR code

Zero

Pay by card – local or foreign card fee

Zero

Pay by card – mark-up on foreign transactions posted in ZAR

Zero

Pay a debit order

Zero

Send proof of payment via email

Zero

Buy prepaid data, airtime, electricity, etc

Zero

Receive notifications on activity on account or profile

Zero

Receive monthly statement via email – also available from App

Zero

Request previous statements within 3 months

Zero

Request account confirmation letter

Zero

3rd party costs are passed on to you

Card personalised & delivered to Clicks store

R69

Card personalised & delivered to street address in most cities (if remote +R30)

R119 (R159)

Request balance at ATM or at POS

R2

Withdraw cash at ATM – local & international

R9 / R1000 block

Withdraw cash at POS – PnP, Spar, Shoprite Group

R2

Withdraw cash without card – use SendMoney & cash-out at Shoprite Group

R8.50

Send cash to non-customer – use SendMoney & cash-out at Shoprite Group

R8.50

Deposit cash at POS – Shoprite Group (max R3k), PnP group (max R5k)

Ask retailer

Nuisance fees:

– Insufficient funds (card, debit order, scheduled payment/transfer)
– Exceeding chosen limits
– Card set to ‘Lock’ or ‘ATM off’, or card locked after 3 wrong PINs
– Using new card before activating it, or using old uncancelled card

R2

Send proof of payment via SMS (but email is free!)

R1.50

Value-added services are your choice

Add more check accounts

R100 to open

Request statements older than 3 months

R10 / statement

Receive money via Bank Zero QR code

0.5% of amount

Dispute or stop a debit order (or card transaction)

R8 (R30)

Forex mark-up on international card transactions posted in foreign currency

1%

Resetting App login PIN

R50

If no transactions on a check account for more than 6 months

R5/month

Banking should be free

Monthly fee

Zero

Minimum balance

Zero

Set up a new business profile

Zero

Open more savings or notice accounts

Zero

Transfer money between accounts

Zero

Pay someone at another bank

Zero

Pay someone at Bank Zero

Zero

Pay someone at Bank Zero using their QR code

Zero

Pay someone at Bank Zero using their cell number (Send Money)

Zero

Pay by debit order

Zero

Pay by card (local or international card fee)

Zero

Buy prepaid data, airtime, electricity, etc

Zero

Send proof of payment via email

Zero

Receive notifications on all banking activity

Zero

Receive monthly statement via email (or download from App)

Zero

Request previous statements within 3 months

Zero

Request account confirmation letter

Zero

3rd party costs are passed on to you

Cardless cash withdrawal (Send Money to self, cash out Checkers, Shoprite, Usave)

R8.50

Send Money to someone not at Bank Zero, cash out Checkers, Shoprite, Usave

R8.50

Draw cash at ATM (local or international)

R9/R1000 block

Draw cash at POS (PnP, Spar, Checkers, Shoprite)

R2

Balance enquiry at ATM or POS

R2

Nuisance fees:

– Insufficient funds (card, debit order, scheduled payment/transfer)
– Exceeding chosen limits
– Card set to ‘Lock’ or ‘ATM off’, or card locked after 3 wrong PINs
– Using new card before activating it, or using old uncancelled card

R2

Card personalisation plus delivery to a Clicks store

R79

Card personalisation plus delivery to a street address (metro; rural)

R139; R179

Send proof of payment via SMS (but email is free!)

R1.50

Value-added services are your choice

Open additional check account on individual or business profile

R100 to open

Request statements older than 3 months

R10/statement

Receive money via Bank Zero QR code

0.5% of amount

Dispute or stop a debit order (or card transaction)

R8 (R30)

Forex mark-up on international card transactions posted in foreign currency

0%; 1%

Resetting App login PIN

R50

If no transactions on a check account for more than 6 months

R5/month

Banking should be free

Monthly fee on any account

Zero

Minimum balance in any account

Zero

Notifications on all your banking activities

Zero

Open more savings or notice accounts

Zero

Transfer money between own accounts

Zero

Pay recipient at another bank

Zero

Pay recipient at Bank Zero

Zero

Pay recipient at Bank Zero using their QR code

Zero

Pay by debit order

Zero

Pay by card

Zero

Buy prepaid data, airtime, electricity, etc

Zero

Send proof of payment via email

Zero

Receive monthly statement via email / download

Zero

Request previous statements within 3 months

Zero

Request account confirmation letter

Zero

Set up new business profile

Zero

SendMoney to Bank Zero recipient using just their cell number (max R3k)

Zero

3rd party costs are passed on to you

SendMoney to self (max R3k): cardless cash at Checkers, Shoprite, Usave

R8.50

SendMoney to someone not at Bank Zero (max R3k): cash out at same retailers

R8.50

Draw cash at ATM

R9 / R1000 block

Draw cash at POS (PnP, Spar, Checkers, Shoprite)

R2

Balance enquiry at ATM or POS

R2

Nuisance fees:

– Insufficient funds (card or debit order or scheduled payment/transfer)
– Exceeding limits
– Card set to ‘Lock’ or ‘ATM off’, or card locked after 3 wrong PINs
– Using new card before activating it, or using old uncancelled card

R2

Card personalisation with delivery to a Clicks store

R79

Card personalisation with delivery to a street address (metro, rural)

R139; R179

Send proof of payment via SMS (but email is free!)

R1.50

Value-added services are your choice

Open additional check account on individual or business profile

R100 to open

Request statements older than 3 months

R10 / statement

Receive money via Bank Zero QR code

0.5% of amount

Dispute or stop debit order

R8

Dispute card transaction (i.e. chargeback)

R30

If no transactions on a check account for more than 6 months

R5/month

Whereas pricing is fixed for the year, interest rates tend to fluctuate as the repo rate moves.

So please always check back here for the latest rates. The below table is effective as from 26 May 2023.

Amount

< R1k

≥ R1k

≥ R25k

≥ R50k

≥ R100k

≥ R500k

≥ R1m

Savings

6.95%

7.05%

7.35%

7.65%

7.70%

7.75%

7.80%

7 Day Notice

7.00%

7.15%

7.45%

7.90%

7.95%

8.05%

8.10%

32 Day Notice

7.05%

7.45%

7.85%

8.15%

8.25%

8.30%

8.40%

45 Day Notice

7.10%

7.50%

7.90%

8.20%

8.35%

8.40%

8.50%

Amount

Savings

7 Day Notice

32 Day Notice

45 Day Notice

<R1k

6.95%

7.00%

7.05%

7.10%

≥R1k

7.05%

7.15%

7.45%

7.50%

≥R25k

7.35%

7.45%

7.85%

7.90%

≥R50k

7.65%

7.90%

8.15%

8.20%

≥R100k

7.70%

7.95%

8.25%

8.35%

≥R500k

7.75%

8.05%

8.30%

8.40%

≥R1m

7.80%

8.10%

8.40%

8.50%

Contact

Us

Everything has been designed so that you have full control and do not need to contact us for help.

If you do still need assistance, email us at info@bankzero.co.za or WhatsApp us on 079 221 6628, but first check if your question is not answered below.

View your card PIN

Open your App, tap on the account tile menu of the account that this card belongs to. (The account tile meu is the 3 dots in the bottom right corner of your account tile.)
Select Card > select Card Details.

Forgot your App PIN?

Send an email to info@bankzero.co.za, and we will assist you with resetting your PIN. We might charge a R50 fee (as per our pricing guide), so please make sure that you have first tried all the various possible PIN combinations you could have chosen.

Turn daily emails on/off

This is not currently directly available in the App, so please send an email to info@bankzero.co.za so that they can turn it off for you.

Banking details – where to find them

Tap name on account tile. Or choose ‘Settings’ from account tile menu (by tapping 3 dots bottom right).

Transaction history – how to view / download

Tap account balance shown on account tile. (And tap specific transaction for even more detail.)
To download account history in excel format, scroll down to point from where to download, then tap top right excel icon.

Business banking on iPhone

Currently you can only add a business from an Android phone, but once added, business accounts can be managed from both iOS and Android. (Pair your profile temporarily to Android phone to add business and upload FICA docs.)

Add / edit / delete recipients

Add:
Drag tile to Pay bubble > Tap grey ‘+’ > Populate recipient details > Tap Add.

View or edit or delete:
Drag tile to Pay bubble > Tap dropdown arrow next to ‘Select Recipient’ > Tap pencil bottom right of recipient account tile. Remember to Tap ‘Update’ once done. To delete, tap dustbin right next to ‘Update’.

Online purchases – authorisations, time-outs, subscriptions

Auth sent as phone notification, not SMS. No need for App to be open but phone must be unlocked. (If no notification, restart phone before trying again.)
If online store displays Mastercard auth screen, you have a minute to auth the notification on your phone.

If online store doesn’t display Mastercard auth screen, the notification time on your phone is short and might time-out. After 2 time-outs, store will be auto-added to your Card Subscriptions list. It will be marked with a ‘X’. If you want us to bypass you in phone auth notification process, tick store name. This is helpful when you’re not on your phone when transaction is posted (e.g. online news sites or other regular services like Netflix or an Uber tip).

Note: Card Subscriptions does NOT apply to the auths where you have a minute to auth.
Tap on account tile menu (dots bottom right of relevant account) >  Card > Card settings to see Card Subscriptions. Tick/untick at will.

Bank statements / letters

Account confirmation letter was sent with Welcome email. Statements sent on 1st of every month.  ‘Statements and letters download’ temporarily disabled on App – request directly by emailing info@bankzero.co.za.

How to change profile picture after registration
Once your profile is verified, you’re not allowed to change your profile picture, as this image is used when confirming your biometrics when repairing or pairing on an additional device.

ATM Settings

Card’s ATM setting reflected in colour of flower’s heart on account tile.
‘Always off’: flower heart white, card won’t give cash at ATM.
‘Always on’: flower heart orange, card used freely at ATM.
‘1 cash’: flower heart white or orange, depending on whether one cash withdrawal completed or not. Once withdrawal done, heart changes to white. When want to draw cash again, tap flower to turn it orange and ready for cash withdrawal. (I.e. real-time toggle which can only be used when card is on the 1-cash setting.)
Tap on account tile menu (dots bottom right of relevant account) >  Card > Card settings > ATM options.

Pairing

You can link your Bank Zero profile to multiple phones.
If no Bank Zero App on phone:
Download App > Enter cell number & ID number > App will take you through a verification process.
If Bank Zero App already used by someone else on phone:
Tap ‘profile add’ icon on top right of login screen and follow above process.

When is my card arriving

Card personalisation kicks off 9pm after your account has been funded and card costs deducted. You’ll receive an email with your unique card journey dates. Without any funds in your account, card production will not start.

How to activate card

Important, otherwise you’ll incur a nuisance fee.

Tap on account tile menu (dots bottom right of relevant account) >  Card > Activate card

Multiple cards on one account

Can only do one card per account, but can open multiple accounts on same profile (with/without their own cards.

Change card delivery / collection address

Email us at info@bankzero.co.za and we’ll attempt to change this with our couriers.

Card taps

Tap on account tile menu (dots bottom right of relevant account) >  Card > Card settings. Scroll down to ‘secure small amounts with PIN’ and tick to enable. Remember to save your changes.

“No PIN for small amounts”: tap your card without a PIN < R500 and with PIN > R500. Please ensure that you read the disclaimer shown to you when you untick.

“Always enter PIN for small amounts”: PIN required for every transaction. Some merchants decline small amounts with PIN – then just redo and insert card.

Child registration (under 16)
Child must have own unique cell number. Tap grey ‘+’ sign on YOUR canvas > Select ‘Add child’ > Provide info and upload birth certificate or passport.
Once done, download App on child’s phone or add their profile to your phone, and follow shortened registration process. (They won’t receive SMS invite.)
If child older than 16, they open their own profile.

Business registration – requirements

First open account for yourself, then add business via your profile. We require all CC members / company directors, shareholders and ‘ultimate beneficial owners’ to open individual accounts with Bank Zero to view the business account. Once they are FICAed, the business account will be opened.
Tap grey ‘+’ sign on YOUR canvas > Select ‘Add business’ and follow the instructions.

Business registration – R500 funding

All business accounts need to be funded an amount of R500 from one of your existing accounts. This is not a fee to us but funds that lie in the business account. (If none of your accounts have a min R500 balance, no accounts will be shown to pay from and you won’t be able to proceed.)

Who can open a Bank Zero account?

Any South African citizen or permanent resident with an official South African ID number. Proof of address
We accept any of the following docs in your name, or if you are staying on someone else’s property and have no PoA, we need their PoA and a letter stating that you reside on their property: Municipal bill/letter, Cell/fibre account, Security provider account, Rental agreement, Body corporate statement, bank statement, insurer or medical aid statement, Retailer account, Motor vehicle doc, Official SARS doc, TV licence, Subscription TV statement, E-toll statement, Traffic fine, Tribal authority letter.

We take complaints seriously. See our formal complaints process below.

Download Bank Zero Complaints Process

Media

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