"It's Advanced": US Couple Living in Johannesburg Compare SA and American Banking Systems

• A US couple based in Johannesburg shared their honest take on how South Africa's banking system differs from what they knew back home
• The pair noted that SA banks felt busier and slower in person, but acknowledged the country's banking technology appeared more advanced
• South Africans flooded the comments to school the couple on mobile banking apps and why most locals never visit a branch at all

A US couple living in Johannesburg sat down for a candid conversation about something most South Africans take for granted: banking.

@blueprintsandbloodlines posted the clip on 29 June as part of their ongoing expat series,

"What we have discovered living in South Africa," and episode nine tackled the banking system. The couple shared their observations in a relaxed, patio-style chat, comparing everyday banking life in South Africa to what they were used to in the United States.

One of their biggest surprises was the absence of standalone bank buildings with drive-through teller windows. Back in America, they explained, you can pull up to a window, slip your documents into a capsule, and complete most transactions without ever leaving your car. They said they had not come across anything like that in Johannesburg.

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SA banks busy but tech-forward

On the flip side, the couple admitted that South Africa's in-branch technology appeared more advanced. However, they were caught off guard by the long queues. They joked that you could collect your ticket, grab lunch, walk around, get ice cream, and come back to find your number still uncalled.

In contrast, they said American bank branches have become increasingly quiet, often staffed by just one teller, with multiple self-service machines handling most transactions quickly.

What they may not have realised is that South Africa's banking landscape is dominated by a handful of major institutions, including Standard Bank, FNB, Absa, Nedbank, and the fast-growing Capitec, which have built strong digital platforms. Real-time payments via mobile apps and EFTs are standard across the country, while the US still leans on legacy systems like the Automated Clearing House network, which can take several business days to clear funds.

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Watch the full banking comparison here:

Mzansi sets the record straight

South Africans in the comments on the couple's TikTok page had a lot to say, and most were quick to point out that visiting a branch is simply not part of their routine anymore:

@BreezyBree said:

"Once you bank online or on mobile, you'll hardly need to go to the bank in person."

@ManFromGQ added:

"I haven't been inside a bank in years."

@Tumie M said:

"The only time I ever go to the bank is honestly to renew my bank card when it expires or when I lose my card. Other than that, I genuinely haven't been to the bank. Everything is done on my banking apps."

@MaSikhakhane wrote:

"Not a little more... A lot more advanced."

@Thami kwazi pointed out:

"Unless you've lost your card, there's NO reason to go into a bank."

@Zozzo said:

"You guys are making us appreciate our country all over again, thank you."

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@GUGU ANOSHKA added:

"There's no cellphone cash send in America. Also mention that."

More on expats and life in South Africa

• Briefly News recently reported on the Logan family's traditional Xhosa-inspired photoshoot for their newborn's first Heritage Day in Cape Town.
• A TikTok comedian had South Africans in stitches after a satirical skit about an Afrikaner refugee family being turned back in the US went viral.
• A Washington display of 3,000 white crosses honouring SA farm attack victims sparked fierce backlash from a rival Afrikaner group.

Source: Briefly News