FNB Private Clients is a personal banking tier, not a business or tax registration. FNB’s published criteria are income-based: an annual income of R750,000 to R1,799,999 for the Private Clients Credit Card and the Fusion Private Clients account. There is no separate “business” version of the tier.
This page looks at Private Clients from the compliance side: the documents FNB verifies, what the account and card cost, and the tax and FICA questions that come with a higher-value banking relationship. If you want to bank a company, FNB’s business credit cards require a Business Account with FNB.
Business Requirements at a Glance
- Income: R750,000 to R1,799,999 a year for Private Clients. Above that, FNB’s Private Wealth tier applies (R1.8 million a year or a net asset value above R15 million).
- Identity: be 18 or older with a South African ID book or smart ID card or a valid passport. Foreign nationals need a work or study permit for the Fusion account.
- FICA verification: proof of identity and proof of residence.
- Credit: for the credit card, a pass on FNB’s credit check and affordability assessment.
- Fees: acceptance of the monthly fee structure in FNB’s pricing guide.
Registration and Legal Requirements
There is no company or trust registration needed to open a personal Private Clients account. Your obligations are those of any FNB customer under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 (FICA), which requires the bank to verify who you are and where you live. FNB’s KYC requirements guide sets out how FNB defines an ID document, and it states that it does not cover enhanced due diligence or source-of-funds requirements.
Expect a bank to ask more questions as the value of the relationship rises. If FNB asks for evidence of where your money comes from, provide documents rather than explanations, and ask your Private Advisor what it will accept.
If the relationship includes a company, the company needs its own FNB Business Account. FNB lists the documents for existing private companies and close corporations as registration documents, proof of the business address, a resolution or proof of authority where there is more than one director or owner, and ID documents for related parties.
Documents and Ownership Information Required
For the Fusion Private Clients account, FNB asks for your South African ID book or card, a recent payslip, proof of residence and three months’ bank statements, plus a work or study permit if you are a foreign national.
For the Private Clients Credit Card, FNB asks for an ID book (bar-coded) or valid passport, proof of residence in your name that is not older than three months, and your latest payslip or the last three months’ bank statements. A non-resident needs a passport with a valid work or retirement permit.
If you do not have a green bar-coded ID or smart ID card, FNB’s FICA guidance accepts a valid passport or driving licence, or a sworn affidavit with proof that you reapplied to Home Affairs. Proof of residence must generally be under three months old; FNB lists a short set of exceptions in its FICA guide. FNB’s FICA helpdesk is on 087 730 5799.
Tax, Licence and Compliance Requirements
FNB’s pricing guide sets out the cost of the tier for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027:
- Bundled monthly fee: R475 for the Fusion Private Clients account on the bundled option, including the Private Clients Credit Card and up to three additional credit cards. A PAYU option also exists, and the guide shows other fee columns.
- Credit card: R30 credit facility service fee, an initiation fee of up to R210, and R21.50 a month for each additional card after the first three.
- Interest: personalised to you and shown on your statement.
Tax and exchange control rules are set by SARS and the South African Reserve Bank, not by FNB. If your banking involves moving money abroad, changing your tax residency, running a business or using a trust, confirm the current rules with SARS and take advice from a registered tax practitioner. A bank relationship manager is not a tax adviser.
Process, Deadlines and Ongoing Obligations
Apply for the credit card on the FNB App or through your Private Advisor, and read Fusion Private Clients page and FNB’s Private Clients page before you do. FNB’s pricing guide changes every 1 July, so confirm fees for the current year.
Once you are a client, the FNB Private Clients Suite handles day-to-day queries on SecureChat in the FNB App or on 087 575 4727.
On bond registration, FNB’s old Private Clients home loan page now redirects to a general FNB Private overview, so ask your Private Advisor about home loan terms and registration costs rather than relying on a quoted discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the FNB Private Clients requirements?
An annual income of R750,000 to R1,799,999, a South African ID or valid passport, proof of residence, a recent payslip or three months’ bank statements, and a pass on FNB’s credit and affordability checks for the credit card.
How do I contact FNB Private Clients?
Use SecureChat on the FNB App or call the FNB Private Clients Suite on 087 575 4727. FNB Credit Card Customer Enquiries is on 087 575 11 11.
What is the FNB Private Clients cheque account?
FNB offers the Fusion Private Clients account and a Private Clients Current Account. FNB lists the bundled option at R475 a month, and there is also a PAYU option. The Fusion version includes the credit facility.
Does FNB Private Clients come with a credit card?
Yes. The bundled monthly fee includes the Private Clients Credit Card and up to three additional cards, subject to the credit assessment. The card has a R30 facility service fee and an initiation fee of up to R210.
How does FNB Platinum compare with Private Clients?
FNB’s consumer credit card range lists Aspire, Premier, Private Clients, Private Wealth and Petro, with no Platinum card. Platinum appears on FNB’s business credit card page, where Gold, Platinum and Black cards need a Business Account with FNB. For personal banking, compare Premier (R300,000 to R749,999) with Private Clients (R750,000 to R1,799,999).
Do I need a bond to be a Private Clients customer?
No home loan is part of the published criteria. The criteria FNB publishes for the credit card and the Fusion account are based on annual income.
Income bands, fees and FICA requirements are set by FNB, and tax and exchange control rules by SARS and the South African Reserve Bank. All are revised, so confirm the current position with each before you apply.
See the wider business and compliance requirements and the guide to company registration requirements.