There is no doubt that the past week has been very challenging for our country. The riots in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have devastated many lives, communities and businesses, and the livelihoods of many will be at risk as jobs are lost.

I am reaching out to you because at Absa, we are aware of the critical role that we play in partnering with our customers and clients, in ensuring that South Africa’s financial system and economy positively impact the daily lives of millions of people.

Our first priority is the safety of our frontline colleagues and our customers and clients who visit our service sites. Although the vast majority of our operations remain unaffected, we have put in place safety precautions in response to what remains a rapidly evolving situation. There may also be instances where some branches, ATMs and other services may not be available, or we may not be able to respond as quickly as you are accustomed to. We would like to assure you that we will continue to make every effort to reduce the likelihood of disruptions to service levels.

We recommend that, as far as possible, you should use our electronic banking and digital services platforms. When in doubt, you can contact our call centre on 0860 109 085 for Personal Banking, 0800 227 592 for Business Banking or our Corporate Banking Client Service Centre on 0860 500 703 for further guidance and assistance. In addition, I encourage you to reach out to your banker, relationship executive or client relationship associate if you need any further assistance. As always, we are ready to listen, develop an appreciation of your specific challenges and then work with you in finding the most suitable solutions.

We are constantly reviewing the situation and will make adjustments as necessary to ensure that our people and you, our customers and clients, remain safe. Please follow our social media sites and banking websites for frequent updates on branch availability.

The unrest may also have a negative impact on the fight against COVID-19. Despite the challenges, we continue to implement the recommended social distancing measures advised by local and international authorities.

These are unprecedented times that affect everyone across our nation, with material impacts on families, colleagues and businesses across sectors. We are working with business sector peers, government and partners to develop a humanitarian response for the vulnerable, and to support colleagues, customers and clients.

I wish you safety and good health, and we remain hopeful that the situation will stabilise soon.

Regards,

Jason Quinn

Interim Group Chief Executive.