Having put down its roots in the Eastern Cape in 1862, Standard Bank is one of South Africa’s oldest companies.\u00a0 When it was established, the vision was for a bank that understood its clients better, had people with strong knowledge of local business conditions and would do a better job of connecting borrowers with lenders. This vision created the platform for the kind of bank it would become and the qualities on which its clients would come to rely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over its history, Standard Bank has grown from a mere few staff members to over 50 000 today, and extended its roots deep into the fabric of South African society.\u00a0 We have evolved and adapted along with our clients, growing a rich heritage while nurturing and protecting our reputation.<\/p>\n
Today, Standard Bank Group prides itself on being a global bank with African roots. The largest African bank by assets and earnings, it\u00a0operates in 17 countries on the African continent and 13 countries outside Africa with an emerging market focus.\u00a0With assets of R1 379 billion (USD203 billion) [as at June 2011], it is the largest banking group in Africa by market capitalisation and operates in 30 countries worldwide.<\/p>\n
The group has been a mainstay of South Africa’s financial system for over 149 years. In recent years, led by the Corporate & Investment Banking division, Standard Bank’s international expansion has taken it from its southern African base into 17 countries across the continent, and 13 countries outside Africa.<\/p>\n
Standard Bank’s Corporate & Investment Banking division serves a wide range of client requirements around the world for banking, finance, trading, investment, risk management and advisory services. Having developed in line with globalising capital markets and the growing sophistication in financing requirements in emerging markets, the division has built a deep understanding of the market dynamics in countries with rapidly developing economies.<\/p>\n
Together with our specialist product expertise, strong local capacity and global distribution reach, this understanding allows us to provide customer-focused solutions relevant in financial systems with different levels of maturity, and in markets at different stages of development.<\/p>\n