Media releases > Archive > Media releases 2004 Media releases 2004   Date Release title and summary 13 December 2004 Deal first of its kind for Hong Kong We have further extended our position as a global emerging markets specialist with the conclusion of a large mortgage-backed securitisation transaction in Hong Kong. 25 November 2004 Supporting 16 Days of Activism Statement by Jacko Maree, Chief Executive, Standard Bank Group, on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism campaign launch, Motherwell, Eastern Cape: 25 November 2004. 25 November 2004 Standard Bank joins global settlement system. We have become one of only two South African banks to be both a full settlement member and shareholder of CLS Group Holdings, which operates a system aimed at removing settlement risk from the global interbank forex market. 23 November 2004 We donate R500 000 to fight violence against women and children. Standard Bank supports 16 Days of Activism, which runs from 25 November to 10 December and serves to increase awareness of the plight of women and children confronted by violence. 16 November 2004 Sadiki is the bank's first black female provincial director. Standard Bank has appointed Hannah Sadiki as the new provincial director for the Eastern Cape. 14 November 2004 Standard Bank wins KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government account Standard Bank has been awarded the contract to be the banking services provider to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government. 10 November 2004 The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited R2 billion Tier II Bond Issue We have placed a R2 billion subordinated bond due in November 2016 and callable in November 2011. 3 November 2004 Jacko Maree is business leader of the year Standard Bank Chief Executive Jacko Maree has won The Sunday Times Business Leader of the Year and the Wits Business School Annual Management Excellence awards. 3 November 2004 Cyril Ramaphosa joins the board Standard Bank Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Cyril Ramaphosa to the boards of Standard Bank Group and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited. 3 November 2004 Standard Bank secures US$100 million loan facility We have secured a US$100 million term loan facility from an international consortium of 15 leading banks. 25 October 2004 Standard Bank endorses Mzansi We welcome the Mzansi account - a banking industry initiative aimed at providing a simple and affordable banking solution to South Africa's unbanked millions. 25 October 2004 Standard Bank launches a new, affordable account for the unbanked millions We have launched our new Mzansi product offering, Mzansi BlueAccount, an affordable banking account aimed at an estimated 13.2 million unbanked South Africans. 18 October 2004 We team up with eThekwini Municipality to host Diwali celebrations Standard Bank is partnering eThekwini Municipality in hosting this year's Diwali celebrations in the area. The "Diwali in Durban" festivities take place in Chatsworth, Phoenix and Mitchell Park in Morningside from 14 November. 15 October 2004 Appeal win affects industry as a whole Standard Bank has won the appeal, with costs, against a November 2003 judgment handed down in a case involving a man who was robbed after drawing cash from our Kempton Park branch. 20 September 2004 Top financial brand for 10th year running Standard Bank is the top brand in South Africa's financial services industry according to the Markinor/Sunday Times Top Brands Survey for 2004. We have held this No. 1 spot for 10 consecutive years. 14 September 2004 Shareholders give BEE initiative their overwhelming support The overwhelming majority of Standard Bank shareholders have voted in favour of selling shares to fund the bank's black economic empowerment initiative. 8 September 2004 We win host of bank accolades Standard Bank has won The Banker magazine's Africa Bank of the Year as well as the Emerging Markets Bank of the Year awards. 24 August 2004 Standard Bank staff help fight fraud Our millionaire crime fighter is Sandra Ann Hendricks of Cape Town. She managed to prevent a R500 000 fraud taking place. Standard Bank staff vigilance helped prevent more than R286 million fraud against the bank last year. 29 July 2004 Standard Bank and Liberty launch groundbreaking multi-million rand education programme Our innovative programme, endorsed by the National and Provincial Departments of Education, is another step in a long-term programme designed to make South Africans more financially literate. 20 July 2004 We're moving up ranks of the top 1 000 banks in the world Standard Bank has been rated No. 1 in South Africa in The Banker magazine's annual survey of the world's top 1 000 commercial banks. 16 July 2004 Standard Bank launches growth award for KZN businesses We have introduced an annual award programme aimed at supporting the business sector in KwaZulu-Natal. 15 July 2004 Standard Bank Group to sell 10% stake to broad-based BEE groups Standard Bank Group will be selling an effective 10% interest in its South African banking operations to a broad-based grouping of black entities in a deal worth about R4.3 billion. 7 July 2004 Overwhelming response for preference shares Standard Bank Group Limited's preference share offer is 616% over-subscribed. 28 June 2004 Standard Bank helps enrich schoolchildren's lives Standard Bank will be helping to enrich the lives of a group of mentally challenged, disadvantaged school children from the Western Cape. 22 June 2004 New investment product launched Standard Bank has launched a new style investment product, known as a discount share instalment, that is designed to provide investors with a simple, low-cost alternative to buying shares directly in the market. 17 June 2004 Standard Bank welcomes FICA deadline extension We welcome Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's decision to extend the deadline for the re-identification and verification of customers. 8 June 2004 Standard Bank raises R2 billion preference share capital We have raised share capital at a rate of 70% of prime through the private placement of non-redeemable, non-cumulative, non-participating preference shares with institutional investors. 25 May 2004 Standard Bank and Liberty finalise donations to political parties Further amounts have gone to political parties for national election funding in recognition of the country's 10th anniversary of democracy. 25 May 2004 Misty moves home This 18-metre southern right whale can now be seen at uShaka Marine World, Durban. We helped get her into her new home. 17 May 2004 Standard Private Bank launches Equity Advisory Services Standard Private Bank has launched a specialised stockbroking advisory service aimed at high net worth clients. 11 May 2004 Standard Bank 'Best Bank in sub-Saharan Africa' We have been chosen as the Best Bank in sub-Saharan Africa in Euromoney magazine's prestigious annual Awards for Excellence survey. 11 May 2004 Iraj Adedian takes on a new challenge Goolam Ballim has been appointed Standard Bank's Group Economist. He takes over from Dr Iraj Abedian, who will be leaving the bank later in May to launch a specialised bond management company and a capital structuring advisory services company. 29 March 2004 Business development partnerships to upskill Eastern Cape small business Standard Bank and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality have announced two major programmes that will train and introduce hundreds of developing Eastern Cape entrepreneurs to the mainstream economy. 25 March 2004 We extend our free McAfee anti-virus software offer Standard Bank is offering its new and existing Internet banking customers free McAfee personal firewall and anti-virus software for another year as part of our commitment to providing a safe online banking environment. 23 March 2004 Business Online offers eFiling service We facilitate secure electronic tax returns and payments to the South African Revenue Service. 16 March 2004 Sasol natural gas project debt financing successfully closed Standard Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and several international partners have successfully closed one of the biggest infrastructure deals in Africa. It involves providing debt finance of R3,83 billion for a natural gas project. 12 March 2004 Standard Bank partners Gauteng Government to assist small businesses We join the Gauteng Provincial Government in a groundbreaking drive that will help entrepreneurs in the province create viable, commercial businesses. 10 March 2004 Standard Bank Group continues long-term growth trend Long-term grow continued in 2003 with headline earnings 19% higher at R6 248 million. Other highlights of the bank's annual results are: Headline earnings per share 18,2% up Dividends per share increased by 22% Return on equity 22,8% 8 March 2004 Standard Bank consolidates its brands We have brought our subsidiary brands under one: Standard Bank. This means the well-known names of SCMB and Stannic are now known as Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking and Standard Bank Vehicle and Asset Finance respectively. 1 March 2004 Standard Bank Pro20 Series set to rock South African cricket Six new professional cricket teams will in April compete in an exciting new match format to be known as the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. Played on a 20 overs per innings basis, it promises fast and furious action-packed matches lasting little more than three hours. 1 March 2004 Standard Bank and Liberty announce donation towards the democratic process In a departure from their long held policy of not making political donations and in recognition of the country's 10th anniversary of democracy, Standard Bank and Liberty Group have made donations of R5m and R1,5m respectively towards national election funding. 18 February 2004 Unit trusts amalgamated under STANLIB Over 70 Standard Bank and Liberty unit trust funds are being consolidated and rationalised under the STANLIB brand on 1 March. 4 February 2004 Jonty's life after cricket Jonty Rhodes, one of South Africa's greatest cricketing ambassadors, has joined Standard Bank as a business banker. 29 January 2004 We partner eThekwini Municipality in innovative project to upskill small business Innovative programme will train and introduce hundreds of developing South African entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal to the mainstream economy. 21 January 2004 We make a multi-million rand investment in Edu-Loan Standard Bank has acquired a 45% equity stake in Edu-Loan and will extend loan funding to the company to expand its business of providing educational finance to students, primarily from low-income households.   Disclaimer | Conditions of access | Privacy and security statement