First Capital Bank Botswana has launched a new cross-border payments platform that will allow customers to receive money from across the Southern African Development Community region in real time, positioning the lender at the forefront of regional payments integration .
The service, known as Transactions Cleared on Immediate Basis (TCIB), enables instant, secure and lower-cost transfers for high-volume, low-value transactions. The bank said it is the first in Botswana to receive cross-border payments through the TCIB platform, marking a shift from traditional transfers that can take days to clear .
The rollout initially supports transfers from South Africa to Botswana through SendHome, and from Zimbabwe to Botswana via ZB Bank, with the system designed to accommodate multiple SADC currencies as participation expands.
Thatayaone Nicholas Matlapeng, Country Head of Retail Banking, said the solution is aligned with SADC governments’ push to strengthen regional payments integration and advance financial inclusion. By reducing settlement times and transaction costs, the platform is expected to benefit migrant workers, small traders and families who rely on frequent cross-border remittances .
First Capital Bank Botswana is part of FMBcapital Holdings Plc, a regional banking group with operations in five SADC markets and total assets of more than US$2 billion. Locally, the bank employs over 250 staff and serves more than 38,000 customers .
The introduction of TCIB adds competitive pressure in Botswana’s banking sector, where lenders are racing to modernise payments infrastructure amid growing demand for faster and more affordable digital transactions.