Digital-first banking platform TymeBank plans to rebrand its South African operations as GoTyme during the first half of 2026. This move is designed to align its local identity with the brand it utilizes in several of its international markets, reflecting its growth and commitment to customers across all economic segments.
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“We are indeed in the process of evolving our brand in South Africa to reflect our continued growth, maturity and commitment to customers across the economic spectrum,” confirmed Pontsho Ramontsha, TymeBank’s spokeswoman. The bank, which achieved unicorn status (a valuation of US$1.5-billion) in 2024, operates under the GoTyme brand in key international locations, such as the Philippines. The bank’s leadership, including Tyme Group CEO Coenraad Jonker, views the rebrand as a natural step in its global progression.
The name “Tyme” itself is an abbreviation of “Take Your Money Everywhere,” coined by a Deloitte Consulting team in 2012. Initially, the entity—then known as TymeCapital—was an MTN-backed mobile money service that focused on facilitating local remittances through partnerships with retailers.
The company rapidly expanded its technological footprint. In 2015, Australia’s Commbank acquired the fintech for approximately R365-million, intending to leverage Tyme’s technology to build a digital retail bank and apply for a formal banking licence in South Africa. The licence was granted in 2017 under the TymeDigital brand.
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In 2018, Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital (ARC) purchased 100% of TymeDigital from Commbank. Following the acquisition, the bank onboarded its first customers, achieving one million customers by November 2019. By October 2024, the bank had successfully signed up 10 million customers. During this period, the international arm, TymeGlobal, expanded its operations to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore, where the TymeGroup is headquartered.
The upcoming launch of the GoTyme brand in South Africa in 2026 will thus unify its domestic and international presence under a single, globally recognized identity. The bank stated that the final unveiling will occur once all internal and regulatory steps are complete.
