Glenova Group Official Launch: Introducing a New Approach to Everyday Banking

What if business could do more?

When your salary, grant or bursary allowance needs to cover transport, groceries, electricity and everything else that comes with daily life, the way you access and manage your money matters. For some people, getting to a bank branch means spending money on transport and taking time out of an already busy day. For others, transaction fees can make a difference when every rand has a purpose. These are the everyday realities behind a question Glenova Group has been asking: What if business could do more?

On Friday, 23 October 2026, Glenova Group will officially launch, introducing a business built around purpose, ambition and a genuine desire to make a difference. At the heart of its transactional offering is the Glenova Card, designed to help individuals receive, manage and spend their money through one card. The launch marks an opportunity to introduce Glenova's vision and the solutions being developed to make everyday financial services more accessible.

Introducing the Glenova Card

The Glenova Card is a low-cost transactional account with a Mastercard-branded chip and contactless card. It's designed for people who need a practical way to receive payments and manage their everyday spending. That includes people receiving salaries, social grants, bursary allowances, stipends and other payments.

Rather than focusing only on how money enters an account, the Glenova Card brings several everyday activities together. You can receive eligible payments onto the card, deposit cash at participating retail stores, make purchases at retailers that accept card payments, and manage your account through an online portal or mobile app. The aim is to give people another option to consider when deciding how to access and use their money.

Getting money into your account without visiting a bank branch

Imagine your grant payment has arrived, but the nearest bank branch is far from where you live. Or perhaps you earn cash from occasional work and need a way to deposit it into your account.

With the Glenova Card, cash deposits can be made at Shoprite and Pick n Pay stores nationwide. The available store networks include more than 2,747 Shoprite stores and more than 2,080 Pick n Pay stores.

The card can also receive salary, social grant and bursary payments. For someone who lives or works closer to a participating retail store than a bank branch, this provides another way to deposit cash or receive money without needing to visit a branch. Before choosing any transactional account, it's worth checking how deposits work, which locations are available to you, and whether any charges apply to the transactions you expect to make.

How can you access your money?

Getting money into an account is only half the story. You also need to know how you'll use it when you need to pay for groceries, buy airtime or withdraw cash. The Glenova Card can be used to make purchases at retail stores across South Africa that accept card payments.

For cash withdrawals, the account offers free withdrawals at Standard Bank ATMs.

Withdrawals are also possible at other ATMs and participating retail till points, although charges outside Standard Bank ATMs have not been confirmed in the published information. That distinction matters. A withdrawal fee may affect how much money you have left to spend, so it's worth checking the applicable charges before using a different ATM or withdrawing at a till. The card also supports chip and contactless payments, giving you options when paying at a retailer that accepts the relevant payment method.

Can you manage the account from your phone?

You don't always need to visit a physical location to check what's happening with your money.

The Glenova Card includes access to an online portal and mobile app, where you can monitor your balance and manage your account in real time.The app displays your balance and a virtual card, with options to transfer money, deposit, make payments and buy airtime.

For example, if you're a student receiving a bursary allowance, you can check your balance before making a purchase instead of relying on memory or waiting until you're near an ATM.

Having these tools available can make it easier to keep track of your account. As with any digital financial service, it's still useful to understand the available transactions, applicable fees and how to access support if you need help.

More than one solution for different financial needs

The Glenova Card is the flagship product of Glenova Transact, but the wider offering also includes specialised solutions for particular groups and financial needs.

• NovaEPWP: Designed for Public Works programme participants, with funeral cover of up to R30,000 and accidental hospital cover of up to R100,000.

• NovaGrad and NovaStipend: Intended for students, graduates and emerging professionals, with career support guidance and financial advisory services.

• NovaStokvel: A digital group savings solution with contribution tracking and a flexible payout model.

These offerings reflect different circumstances. A student managing an allowance, an EPWP participant receiving payments and a stokvel member contributing towards a shared goal may have different needs, even though all three need practical ways to manage money. The details of each solution, including its terms and any applicable charges, should be checked before signing up.

What about the extra benefits?

The Glenova Card is also linked to additional benefits that may be useful in everyday life.

These include R5,000 funeral cover with repatriation services, discounts at Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Boxer, Woolworths and participating pharmacies, online doctor consultations, private emergency medical services by ambulance, and legal assistance. These benefits have their own terms and conditions. If you're comparing accounts, check what is included, who qualifies, when benefits can be used, and whether any additional conditions apply.

For funeral cover specifically, the insurer and the role of each company matter. Glenova Funeral Cover is underwritten by Linar (Pty) Ltd, a licensed life insurer and authorised financial services provider (FSP No. 50188). Glenova Group is an authorised representative of iLendMoney (Pty) Ltd (FSP No. 53616). Understanding who provides a financial product and who underwrites its insurance benefits helps you make a more informed decision.

Glenova Group Official Launch: There is hope

The official launch of Glenova Group is about introducing a business built around a simple question: what if business could do more for families, communities and people who deserve a better chance? The Glenova Card is a central part of that introduction. By bringing payment access, cash deposits, everyday spending and digital account management into one offering, it gives individuals another transactional account to consider.

The right account depends on your circumstances. Fees, withdrawal options, deposit locations, digital access and the terms attached to any additional benefits are all worth comparing before making a decision. If you'd like to learn more about the Glenova Card, visit our Banking Solutions page. You can also contact Glenova at info@glenovatransact.co.za or +27 10 446 0223 for further information.

The Official Launch of Glenova Group takes place on Friday, 23 October 2026, at Floor 17, Metal Box, 25 Owl Street, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg.

There is hope. And this is the beginning of Glenova's next chapter.