24 January 2023

Absa’s Journey

Over the years, we have embedded Data Privacy frameworks, policies, processes, and procedures to protect personal information and to support compliance with data protection requirements across all our markets. We continue to embed these privacy obligations in our ways of work, processes, and systems to create a privacy culture. We have successfully rolled out a Group Privacy Programme, awareness campaigns, and training initiatives to ensure clients and employees are fully aware of their rights and Absa’s privacy obligations.

Absa has established a dedicated Group Data Privacy Office. We have dedicated Data Privacy Officers, Privacy Champions, and representatives supporting our Businesses. If you need assistance with data privacy matters at Absa please reach out to the Group Privacy Office at privacy@absa.co.za or request to be directed to a Privacy Representative at one of our branches.

Absa’s commitment to information privacy

At Absa, the collection and processing of customer and employee personal information remain important to us. Protecting privacy is key to ensuring human dignity, security and maintaining an ethical society. As data collection and use of data become more inventive, we aim to ensure that this is done responsibly. We are committed to handling all personal information in our care in the right way, for the right reasons, and to treating our customer’s personal information carefully and responsibly. For more information on this, please refer to our Absa Privacy Statement which outlines Absa’s practices. For access to your personal information held by Absa, we have published the PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000) Manual, available in Afrikaans, English, and isiZulu.

Banking Association Code of Conduct

The Information Regulator of South Africa issued Codes of Conduct (CoC’s) for the banking and credit reporting sectors which came into effect on 5 November 2022. The purpose of a CoC is to prescribe how the conditions for the lawful processing of personal information are to be complied with, specifically in relation to the banking industry in which responsible parties, such as Absa are operating within. A breach of the CoC’s is considered an interference with the Protection of Personal Information Act. Absa ensures that its Policies and Procedures are aligned to the Banking CoC’s. For more information on the CoC’s please visit our website.