In a landmark move that could redefine banking in the African continent, Standard Bank has solidified its strategic technology partnership with Huawei. This collaboration comes as the financial services giant seeks to modernize its banking platforms and enhance financial inclusivity, a crucial step given the historical barriers many communities face in accessing banking services.

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This long-awaited partnership was officially announced at the prestigious Huawei Connect 2026 event held in Shanghai, where both organizations revealed their intentions to deepen their collaboration significantly. The agreement aims to prioritize transformative technologies, focusing on application modernization, cloud adoption, advanced data utilization, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). By capitalizing on these innovations, Standard Bank intends to create a more agile and resilient technological foundation, essential for addressing the diverse regulatory and customer demands across its 21 operating nations.

Standard Bank Group, recognized as Africa’s largest bank by assets, operates across 21 countries, engaging with millions of clients from various layers of society. Each of these markets presents unique regulatory frameworks and infrastructure considerations, making the modernization of banking platforms not just a matter of convenience but a necessity for comprehensive service delivery.

“Access to modern technology is essential to extending financial services to more people across the continent. When technology lowers our cost to serve, it makes it commercially viable to reach communities that have historically been excluded from traditional financial services. We believe technology can play a powerful role in expanding access to banking, helping more people save, invest and build a better future for themselves and their families,”
said Funeka Montjane, Standard Bank Group's chief executive of personal and private banking. Standard Bank and Huawei executives at the partnership announcement event.

The newly-expanded partnership is not entirely unprecedented. It builds on a strategic relationship established in 2024, paving the way for a broader focus on cutting-edge cloud technologies, AI, and advanced data capabilities. This evolution signals a commitment from both entities to foster innovation not just in their operations but in the banking industry as a whole.

“By working more closely with Standard Bank, Huawei will support core-system modernization, strengthen AI infrastructure and scale AI applications to build a more agile, resilient, and intelligent banking infrastructure,”
stated Leo Chen, Huawei's senior vice-president and president of enterprise sales. This illustrates Huawei's deepened investment strategy focused on improving essential components of the financial sector. Huawei representatives discussing core-system modernization and AI infrastructure.

Jason Cao, the CEO of Huawei’s digital finance division, also emphasized the gravity of Standard Bank's trust in Huawei with its core banking infrastructure. This is significant not only for Huawei but also for the broader financial technology landscape. With promises to deliver secure, reliable, and adaptable technology solutions, the collaboration aims to transition Standard Bank from outdated legacy systems to a modern, cloud-based architecture.

“Moving forward, Huawei will continue to work with customers and partners to support digital transformation across the financial services industry with secure and reliable hybrid cloud infrastructure, providing a solid digital foundation for finance in Africa and globally,”
added Cao. Ceremony attendees celebrating the strategic partnership between Standard Bank and Huawei.

The signing ceremony was marked by the presence of key figures from both companies, including Tsebeletso Mashau, chief information officer of Africa regions and deputy group CIO of personal and private banking at Standard Bank Group, and Kui Zheng, deputy general manager of Huawei Enterprise South Africa. Mashau expressed her enthusiasm for the agreement, emphasizing that this event transcends mere technology investments, opening doors for enhanced client service and redefining the possible for future banking endeavors.

“It is really about the possibilities that it unlocks for what we can do for our clients, and [to] ensure that we serve them brilliantly and intelligently,” said Mashau, drawing attention to the collaborative spirit that underpins both companies’ efforts.

Key figures from Standard Bank and Huawei at a collaboration discussion.

Building on this sentiment, Khomotso Molabe, CIO of personal and private banking and deputy group CIO at Standard Bank, shared the bank's dedication to modernizing its technology landscape. "The group is focused on simplifying and modernizing its technology environment to support future growth. We are building a high-performance, resilient, and customer-centric technology platform for the future,” Molabe stated, reinforcing the bank's commitment to creating an efficient environment that anticipates and satisfies the evolving needs of clients.

Panel discussion on digital transformation in banking technology.
“We hope today’s strategic partnership will lead to real, high-quality projects, innovative breakthroughs and a strong team of core talent,”
said Will Meng, CEO of Huawei South Africa. He expressed hopes that this partnership would solidify Huawei as Standard Bank's most trusted partner in navigating the digital transformation landscape effectively. Executives expressing the future vision for Standard Bank and Huawei partnership.

The collaboration goes beyond just infrastructure enhancement. It opens up pathways for developing AI-enabled customer service frameworks, advanced fraud detection mechanisms, risk management strategies, and intelligent operational processes. The phased implementation of their cloud platform is expected to seamlessly align with the group’s evolving business demands and customer expectations.

In the backdrop of this strategic move, the commitment of both organizations to technological innovation comes at a crucial time when the financial landscape in Africa is experiencing rapid digital growth. Financial inclusion remains an ongoing challenge, and partnerships like these are pivotal in ensuring that underserved communities gain access to essential banking services.

About Huawei
Founded in 1987, Huawei stands as a global leader in providing information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. With a workforce of over 213,000 employees spread across 170 countries, Huawei serves more than three billion people all over the globe. The company has pledged to bridge the digital divide by bringing technology to every individual, home, and organization for a fully connected world. In 2025, Huawei reported revenue of C¥880.9 billion, reinvesting 21.8% (C¥192.3 billion) back into R&D, with around 53.7% of its workforce engaged in research and development efforts. As a private enterprise entirely owned by its employees, Huawei emphasizes customer-centric innovation and collaborative partnerships that bring enduring value to technological advancements worldwide.
For more information, visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com.