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Media release

Media release

Absa Group Opens New Regional Office to Support Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development

28 November 2025

Absa Group has opened a new Regional Office in Gqeberha, as it continues to enhance its customer-centric approach to banking. The development reinforces Absa’s long-term commitment to the Eastern Cape and supports the bank’s ambition to advance inclusive growth and community empowerment in the province, having invested R180 million in the Bay area.

Located at 274 Cape Road, the new office establishes a dedicated hub for local businesses, corporates, and customers, bringing Absa’s specialist teams closer to the metropolitan area’s growing commercial base and expanding access to financial services, enterprise support, and regional economic partnerships.

“This office is so much more than a physical expansion. By establishing a stronger presence in Nelson Mandela Bay, we are creating a platform that brings our services closer to communities, supports local enterprises, and strengthens our partnership with the industries and institutions that drive the provincial economy,” said Shane Agnew, Interim Provincial Executive: Eastern and Southern Cape Province.

Absa recently engaged Honourable Babalwa Lobishe, the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, to reaffirm its commitment to a meaningful partnership that advances economic participation, financial inclusion and long-term regional development, highlighting a shared ambition with the mayoral office to collaborate for future growth and prosperity of the region.

The 274 Cape Road development, from where the former Newton Park Absa bank branch has also commenced trading, integrates a range of sustainable design and engineering principles and is being assessed for ‘Green Star SA – Interiors’ certification, positioning it among the most environmentally advanced commercial properties in the province. The interior design prioritises energy and water efficiency through high-performance lighting, smart control systems, and low-flow fixtures, supported by materials selected for low emissions and responsible sourcing.

In assessing the building for certification readiness, the project was evaluated against multiple criteria, including building management, energy and water performance, indoor environmental quality, resource conservation, transport access, land use and ecology, and innovation.

“Absa has set a target for 33% of its South African property portfolio to be certified as green spaces by 2030. Sustainability is central to how we operate, and we continue to reduce our environmental footprint, support South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy, and promote more responsible building practices across the market. This office allows us to lead by example and demonstrate what environmentally conscious investment can achieve,” said Marachel Bessenger, Absa’s Head of Occupational Health & Safety and CRES Risk.

 

28 November 2025

Absa Group has opened a new Regional Office in Gqeberha, as it continues to enhance its customer-centric approach to banking. The development reinforces Absa’s long-term commitment to the Eastern Cape and supports the bank’s ambition to advance inclusive growth and community empowerment in the province, having invested R180 million in the Bay area.

Located at 274 Cape Road, the new office establishes a dedicated hub for local businesses, corporates, and customers, bringing Absa’s specialist teams closer to the metropolitan area’s growing commercial base and expanding access to financial services, enterprise support, and regional economic partnerships.

“This office is so much more than a physical expansion. By establishing a stronger presence in Nelson Mandela Bay, we are creating a platform that brings our services closer to communities, supports local enterprises, and strengthens our partnership with the industries and institutions that drive the provincial economy,” said Shane Agnew, Interim Provincial Executive: Eastern and Southern Cape Province.

Absa recently engaged Honourable Babalwa Lobishe, the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, to reaffirm its commitment to a meaningful partnership that advances economic participation, financial inclusion and long-term regional development, highlighting a shared ambition with the mayoral office to collaborate for future growth and prosperity of the region.

The 274 Cape Road development, from where the former Newton Park Absa bank branch has also commenced trading, integrates a range of sustainable design and engineering principles and is being assessed for ‘Green Star SA – Interiors’ certification, positioning it among the most environmentally advanced commercial properties in the province. The interior design prioritises energy and water efficiency through high-performance lighting, smart control systems, and low-flow fixtures, supported by materials selected for low emissions and responsible sourcing.

In assessing the building for certification readiness, the project was evaluated against multiple criteria, including building management, energy and water performance, indoor environmental quality, resource conservation, transport access, land use and ecology, and innovation.

“Absa has set a target for 33% of its South African property portfolio to be certified as green spaces by 2030. Sustainability is central to how we operate, and we continue to reduce our environmental footprint, support South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy, and promote more responsible building practices across the market. This office allows us to lead by example and demonstrate what environmentally conscious investment can achieve,” said Marachel Bessenger, Absa’s Head of Occupational Health & Safety and CRES Risk.