Absa shuts down 79 branches and over 100 ATMs in South Africa

• Absa has closed around 79 physical bank branches in South Africa as customers increasingly shift their banking activity to digital channels.
• The changes form part of a broader restructuring of Absa’s physical banking network, driven by changing customer behaviour and declining use of branches for cash transactions.
• The move is seen as an effort to adapt to the growing demand for digital banking services, with Absa's digital customer base continuing to grow strongly during the first half of 2026.