Nedbank has been named Africa’s best banking and financial services employer after climbing to 26th place in the Forbes World’s Best Employers 2026 rankings.
The South African bank ranked as the continent’s top banking institution and among the world’s top three banking employers. Assessors evaluated more than 800 organisations for this year’s rankings.
The latest result marks an improvement for Nedbank, which moved up from 49th place in 2025.
Nedbank Group executive head of organisational effectiveness Andee Uren said the recognition reflects the bank’s continued investment in its employees. “Being recognised as Africa’s leading banking and financial services employer is a significant achievement for Nedbank and a testament to the exceptional people who bring our purpose and values to life every day. Ranking among the top employers globally demonstrates that organisations from Africa can compete with the very best in the world when it comes to creating meaningful employee experiences and high-performing workplace cultures,” she said.
Uren said the award reflects how employees feel about working at the bank.
“This recognition matters because it reflects the lived experiences of our people. It reinforces the strong connection between an engaged workforce, exceptional client experiences and sustainable business performance. We are committed to creating an environment where employees feel empowered to innovate, grow and make a meaningful impact,” she said. She added that Nedbank continues to invest in staff development through leadership programmes, skills training, employee wellbeing initiatives and career opportunities across the organisation.
The bank also collects regular employee feedback through surveys, focus groups and other workplace assessments to improve leadership and working conditions. Uren said every employee played a part in the achievement.
“This recognition belongs to every Nedbank employee. Their passion, commitment and dedication have made this achievement possible. As we continue investing in technology, artificial intelligence, skills development and future-fit ways of working, we remain focused on building an organisation where our people can thrive, our clients can prosper, and our communities can succeed,” she said.
The Forbes World’s Best Employers 2026 rankings also included several other African financial institutions. Standard Bank Group ranked 54th, followed by Absa at 98th, FirstRand at 104th, Investec at 197th and Sanlam at 470th.
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