South Africa’s digital-first bank, TymeBank, is preparing to enter a new phase of its growth journey. The fintech giant announced plans to rebrand as GoTyme in the first half of 2026, a move designed to unify its global brand identity and reflect its evolution into a mature, international financial player.
From Local Innovation to Global Footprint
TymeBank’s story began with a bold idea to make banking accessible to everyone, anywhere. The name “Tyme”, short for Take Your Money Everywhere, encapsulated this mission. Conceived by a Deloitte Consulting team led by Coenraad Jonker and Tjaart van der Walt in 2012, Tyme started as a mobile money platform enabling local remittances through retail partners such as Pick n Pay and Bank of Athens.
Its early partnership with MTN, under the brand TymeCapital, marked its first steps into South Africa’s mobile money landscape. Tyme’s technology soon caught regional attention, leading to a 2014 collaboration with Namibia’s Ebank, where it powered part of Ebank’s digital banking infrastructure.
Scaling Up Through Technology
By 2015, Australia’s Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) saw potential in Tyme’s technology-driven banking model and acquired the company for approximately R365 million. The acquisition laid the groundwork for Tyme’s transition from a local fintech startup to a formal banking institution.
Operating initially as TymeDigital, the company applied for and was granted a South African Reserve Bank licence between 2016 and 2017. To expand its global ambitions, TymeGlobal was created the same year as the international arm of the business, Enabling the company to export its technology and business model across continents.
African Ownership and Exponential Growth
A major turning point came in 2018 when Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital (ARC) acquired 100% of TymeDigital from Commbank. Under African ownership, the bank relaunched as TymeBank, entering the market with an inclusive digital-first model that resonated with millions of South Africans.
Growth was swift and substantial. Within a year, TymeBank had signed up one million customers. By October 2024, that number had skyrocketed to 10 million, making it one of the fastest-growing digital banks in Africa. The same year, TymeBank achieved unicorn status, boasting a valuation of US$1.5 billion.
Global Alignment Through GoTyme
Tyme’s global presence has since expanded through TymeGlobal, headquartered in Singapore, with operations in Vietnam and the Philippines, where the company already operates under the GoTyme brand. The upcoming South African rebrand seeks to align the local operation with its international identity, strengthening brand cohesion and indicating a mature, unified corporate image.
According to TymeBank spokesperson Pontsho Ramontsha, the rebrand marks “an evolution of our brand to reflect continued growth, maturity, and commitment to customers across the economic spectrum.”
Once approved by regulatory authorities, the GoTyme brand will represent a name change that will symbolize TymeBank’s transition from a national disruptor to a global digital banking powerhouse.
As Ramontsha summed up, “We’re looking forward to unveiling the elevated brand identity once all internal and regulatory steps are complete.”
Read more about tymeBank HERE
