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# Standard Bank joins JPMorgan's Kinexys network, opening the way to near real-time cross-border settlement pilots
- URL: https://www.theglobalbanker.com/standard-bank-joins-jpmorgans-kinexys-network-opening-the-way-to-near-real-time-cross-border-settlement-pilots/
- Published: 2026-11-13T01:11:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-13T01:11:53.000Z
- Description: Sub-Saharan Africa's largest bank by assets gains access to a blockchain deposit network that has processed more than $4 trillion of transactions since inception.
- Author: TGB Editorial Team
- Tags: Fintech, Africa, #newsroom, #needs-photo

Standard Bank's corporate and investment banking arm has entered a strategic collaboration with Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, giving it access to the Kinexys Blockchain Deposit Account network, the South African group said on 12 November 2026\. The bank said the collaboration will support efficient and seamless payments and lay a foundation for future programmable solutions.

The tie-up creates opportunities to pilot blockchain-based near real-time cross-border and intra-group settlement, according to the announcement, which said the Kinexys platform has processed more than $4 trillion in cumulative transactions since inception, with an average daily transaction volume of $7 billion.

## WHAT THE BANK SAYS IT GAINS

Richard de Roos, group payments head of Standard Bank, said the ability to move funds quickly, securely and efficiently across markets "is becoming more important than ever" as client needs evolve. He said the bank was leveraging proven global infrastructure to build a platform for the next generation of innovation across payments, liquidity management and transactional services.

Akshika Gupta, global head of product sales and solutions at Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, said the deal showed how payment innovation can help global organisations unlock 24/7 money movement. Kinexys Blockchain Deposit Accounts run around the clock, with a short weekend maintenance window when money moves in and out of ordinary accounts.

Standard Bank has not said when clients can use the network, which currencies it will cover or what it will charge, and it has not named pilot clients or payment routes.

## FIRSTRAND MOVED FIRST

Kinexys already has a client in [South Africa](https://www.theglobalbanker.com/market-south-africa/). On 18 March 2026 [FirstRand](https://www.theglobalbanker.com/rankings-africa/) Bank said it was the first bank in the country to use Kinexys, moving US dollars between its own treasury entities around the clock. J.P. Morgan said the arrangement lets FirstRand's treasury team make payments across its legal entities outside traditional settlement windows.

Bhulesh Singh, FirstRand's group treasurer, said in J.P. Morgan's announcement that the system had been implemented for intragroup payments and that the bank could develop improved US dollar payment solutions for customers across broader Africa. Both banks operate in South Africa, which has the largest banking system in sub-Saharan Africa, with sector assets of R9.13tn in July 2026, up 8.3% year on year, according to TGB's market profile.

## WHERE PAYMENTS FIT IN THE CIB PLAN

The CIB business, led by Luvuyo Masinda, has R1.5 trillion in deposits and R700bn in advances, and aims to lift revenue by R25.6bn to R100bn by 2028, growing 8% to 12% a year, Business Day reported. Global markets contributes more than 40% of the franchise's revenue, transaction banking more than 30% and investment banking more than 20%.

The division operates in 21 African countries and in key international financial centres. The bank is looking to use the Africa-EU, China-Africa and Gulf Cooperation Council-Africa trade corridors, which together carry more than $1 trillion in financial flows, according to Business Day.

## THE TGB VIEW

Standard Bank tops TGB's 2026 table of the largest banks in sub-Saharan Africa, ranked by total assets, with US$218.2bn, ahead of FirstRand at US$145.6bn, though FirstRand's 18.3% return on equity is higher than Standard Bank's 17.5%. FirstRand started on Kinexys with dollar transfers inside its own treasury group, so the test for Standard Bank is whether it goes beyond intra-group transfers to the cross-border settlement it says the deal could be used to pilot. With transaction banking already more than 30% of CIB revenue, the first details to watch are the currencies, payment routes and pilot clients the bank has yet to name.

*Related: [Standard Bank Group delivers 10% rise in H1 2026 headline earnings to R26.1 billion with 19.8% ROE](https://www.theglobalbanker.com/standard-bank-group-h1-2026-headline-earnings-up-10-percent-r26-1-billion-roe-19-8/)*