About Us

Our History

The World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report has rated the South African financial sector amongst the top ten in the world and as a sector, is by far the most significant contributor to the countries overall ranking. Within the financial sector, both the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the banking industry have been consistently ranked in the top three and top six in the world, respectively.

South Africa provides a financial centre for the African continent and in the State of the Nation Address on the 11th February 2016, the president announced that The Banking Association South Africa would establish a centre of excellence for financial services and leadership training in support of this national objective.

The board of the Banking Association, approved the establishment of a centre of excellence in financial services at their annual general meeting, and a non-profit organisation was registered on the 23rd of December 2016.

Our Vision

Our vision is to bring together thought leaders, both local and international, to interrogate the role financial services can play in achieving national and international objectives, in collaboration with industry experts and academics.

Our Mission

Our mission is to identify friction points in the financial services sector and initiate appropriate research to engage policy makers, regulators and industry participants by initiating broader public dialogue through credible thought leadership.

Our Approach to Research

The Centre of Excellence in Financial Services (Coefs) is organised into three layers of directed research.  At the lowest level, problem statements are identified by the financial sector and through Coefs, made available to universities.

The research may be conducted by the staff of the university or facilitate topics for masters and doctorial students.  The published article or dissertation can be used by Coefs at the second level of directed research, a round table discussion.  Here a group of individuals that have expertise in the subject matter, including those with non-financial expertise, where appropriate, would develop a working paper as an output from their deliberations.

The highest level of directed research will be Coefs board approved research, in the form of a substantive research report.  Research reports may be based on a working paper.

Board of Directors

  • Bongiwe Kunene

    Director (2020)

    Ms. Bongiwe Kunene is the Managing Director of the Banking Association of South Africa. She assumed...

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  • Sizwe Nxasana

    Director (2019)

    Sizwe Nxasana a social entrepreneur who recently founded Future Nation Schools, which is a chain...

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  • Dr Reuel Khoza

    Director (2019)

    Dr Reuel Khoza is currently Chairman of Dzana Investments (Pty) Ltd, AKA Capital (Pty) Ltd and:...

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  • Euvin Naidoo

    Director (2018)

    South African born Euvin Naidoo is a member of the Faculty of the Harvard Business School (HBS). As...

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  • Bert Chanetsa

    Director (2018)

    Mr Bert Chanetsa is a global consultant, advisor and educator.

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  • Lumkile Mondi

    Director (2017)

    Mr Lumkile Mondi is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Economics and Business Sciences of the University...

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  • Mark Brits

    Executive Director (2016)

    Mr Mark Brits is a Senior General Manager at The Banking Association South Africa where he heads...

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  • Cas Coovadia

    Director (2016)

    Cas is the newly appointed CEO of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and former managing director...

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  • Karabo Morule

    Director (2019 – 2022)

    Ms. Karabo Morule is the second black woman to qualify as an actuary in South Africa and is now...

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  • Leon Campher

    Director (2018 – 2020)

    Mr Leon Campher is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Savings and Investment South...

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  • Arnold Rautenbach

    Director (2016 – 2018)

    Mr. Arrie Rautenbach has been Chief Risk Officer at Barclays Africa Group Limited since August 2015....

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Media Queries

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