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Absa review

Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Absa suits South African adults who want a mainstream bank with a credit card, cashback and a debit account in one place. The catch is cost: ZAR 588 a year on the credit card and a monthly fee of ZAR 115 on the debit account.

Key facts

Best for
South African adults who want credit and everyday banking under one bank
Annual fee
ZAR 588 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
APR
20.25% to 25.75% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rewards type
Cashback (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rewards rate
up to 2% cash back (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card kind
Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Absa Group Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
South Africa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1991 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Rewards
Official website
absa.co.za

Debit cards

Monthly fee
ZAR 115 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free ATM withdrawals
ZAR 2,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card type
Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Absa Group Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
South Africa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1991 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Rewards

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Cashback of up to 2% cash back on the credit card, paid as cash rather than points
  • One bank for both needs: a credit card and a debit account with free ATM withdrawals worth ZAR 2,000
  • A long-established group, Absa Group Limited, founded in 1991 and based in South Africa
  • APR of 20.25% to 25.75% sits close to the 20.85% median for credit cards on the site

Cons

  • The annual fee of ZAR 588 is far above the €0 median across credit cards
  • Borrowing costs at 20.25% to 25.75% are at the upper end, close to the 25.27% figure
  • The debit account charges ZAR 115 a month, while the €0 median for credit products is €0
Absa

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Scored 9.0 / 10 by DebitCue.

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Who it suits

  • Adults in South Africa who want a credit card and a current account from one bank
  • People who spend on a credit card and would rather have cashback than points
  • Bank customers who cash out regularly and value free ATM withdrawals

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who wants a credit card with no annual fee, such as the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card
  • Spenders who want a cheaper borrowing rate than the 20.25% to 25.75% Absa charges
  • People who want a card with no monthly account fee, as the Chime Card has none of its own

Fees and currency costs

The credit card carries an annual fee of ZAR 588 and interest at 20.25% to 25.75%. The rewards are cashback, with a rate of up to 2% cash back on the card. The separate debit account charges ZAR 115 a month and includes free ATM withdrawals of ZAR 2,000. For comparison, the median annual fee across credit cards on the site is €0 and the median monthly fee is €0.

Who runs it

Absa is run by Absa Group Limited, which has its headquarters in South Africa and was founded in 1991. The group has been trading for decades and operates as a full retail bank rather than a specialist card issuer, offering both the credit card and the debit account in the same relationship.

How Absa compares

Where Absa is available

Available
South Africa

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Absa credit card cost a year?+

The credit card carries an annual fee of ZAR 588, which sits well above the €0 median for credit cards on the site. Paying it means the cashback needs to do some work before the card pays for itself.

What interest rate do I pay if I carry a balance?+

Interest runs at 20.25% to 25.75% on the credit card. That is higher than the 20.85% median APR across credit cards here, so clearing the balance each month keeps the cost at the annual fee alone.

Does the Absa debit account come with a monthly fee?+

Yes. The debit account charges ZAR 115 a month, drawn from the Everyday Banking account. Most credit products on the site have a median monthly fee of €0, so this one costs more to keep.

Can I withdraw cash at ATMs for free?+

The debit account includes free ATM withdrawals of ZAR 2,000. That is a generous allowance compared with the €0 median across credit products on the site.

What rewards does the Absa card pay?+

The credit card pays cashback rather than points or miles, at a rate of up to 2% cash back. Cash suits people who would otherwise spend the reward on something else, though the value has to clear the ZAR 588 fee first.

Can I get a credit card and a debit card from the same bank?+

Yes. Absa offers a credit card on credit terms and a separate debit account, so one bank relationship covers borrowing and everyday spending. It is unusual among the alternatives here, which are mostly card only.

How does Absa compare with cheaper card options?+

Cost is the dividing line. The Absa credit card charges ZAR 588 a year, while the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, Wise and the Chime Card each show an annual fee of $0.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee.

Absa

Absa

South African adults who want credit and everyday banking under one bank

9.0/10See alternatives