BANKSETA — Banking sector

BANKSETA learnerships 2026: how to apply

BANKSETA runs Letsema (post-matric) and Kuyasa (graduate) plus accredits bank-run learnerships at every major SA bank. ~75% of completers go on to full-time banking employment.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers

Visit BANKSETA youth programmes

Letsema NQF level: 5 (post-matric)
Kuyasa NQF level: 5–6 (graduate)
Stipend: R3,500 – R5,900 / month
Duration: 12 months
Recruitment window: July–August (Letsema)
Head office: Centurion · 011 805 9661

Who can apply

South African citizen with a valid SA ID
Currently unemployed (Letsema and Kuyasa)
Letsema (post-matric): Grade 12 with minimum 50% English AND 50% Accounting OR 50% Maths OR 60% Maths Literacy
Kuyasa (graduate): Completed 3-year degree in HR, Risk, IT, Marketing, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, or Law — minimum 50% average
Clear credit (ITC) record — mandatory for banking sector
No criminal record — mandatory for banking sector
Strong written and verbal English
Positive testimonial from school or institution
Aged 18–35 (Letsema); under 30 (Kuyasa) — sources vary, treat 35 as safe upper bound
Persons with disabilities welcomed (medical certificate required)

What you'll need

Certified copy of green bar-coded SA ID or smart card
Certified Matric certificate (or Statement of Results plus affidavit)
Certified copy of highest qualification (for Kuyasa or bursary)
CV (typically 2 pages)
Proof of residence (not older than 3 months)
Testimonial / reference letter (school, religious institution, or previous employer)
Medical certificate confirming disability (if applicable)
Proof of household income (bursary applicants only)

Step by step

1
Pick the right route for your level
Three main entry points:
- Bank-run learnerships (most NQF L4 entry-level posts) — apply via the bank's careers portal
- BANKSETA Letsema (post-matric L5) — apply directly to BANKSETA during the July–August window
- BANKSETA Kuyasa (graduate L5/L6) — apply directly to BANKSETA
Tip: BANKSETA-run programmes have a specific July–August recruitment window. Bank-run programmes (Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Absa, Capitec) run year-round on their own portals.
2
For bank-run programmes: open the bank's careers site
Direct links to the major bank learnership pages:
- Standard Bank learnerships — see our Standard Bank guide
- FNB careers — 2026 stipend R5,933/month
- Nedbank careers — YES 4 Youth R5,241/month from March 2026
- Capitec careers
- Absa careers
For BANKSETA-direct programmes: watch July–August

BANKSETA's Letsema and Kuyasa intakes typically open in July–August for the following year's cohort. Download forms from bankseta.org.za and submit with all certified documents before the deadline.
Build a clean SA Youth profile

Many BANKSETA-funded and bank-run learnerships now also list on sayouth.mobi. Complete your profile so you can apply within minutes when intakes open.
Pass the assessment

Most BANKSETA learnerships include online numeracy and English assessments plus psychometric tests. Banking is a regulated sector — credit and criminal checks are mandatory.
Sign your contract and start

You'll sign a tripartite learnership agreement (you + the bank/employer + the training provider). The 12-month programme combines theory at an accredited provider with in-bank practical work.

Tip: If you're not contacted by the published date, BANKSETA's FAQ confirms you should assume the application was unsuccessful and keep applying elsewhere.

BANKSETA's four main learnership programmes

Programme	NQF	Audience	Qualification
Letsema	5	Post-matric, unemployed	National Certificate: Banking Service Advice
Kuyasa — Management Development	5	Graduate	Certificate in Management Development
Kuyasa — Business Analyst	6	Graduate	National Certificate in Business Analysis
Kuyasa — Financial Markets	6	Graduate	National Certificate in Financial Markets & Instruments

Stipend reality check

There's an important distinction between BANKSETA-direct and bank-run stipends:

Letsema NQF L5 (BANKSETA-direct): approximately R3,500/month
Bank-run learnerships: typically higher — FNB 2026: R5,933/month; Nedbank YES 4 Youth: R5,241/month from March 2026 (tracks the National Minimum Wage)
General range across NQF L4–L6: R3,000–R6,000/month

Stipends above R7,500 quoted by some sites are usually YES-funded or bank-funded placements, not direct BANKSETA stipends.

BANKSETA Bursary

BANKSETA funds bursaries for B.Com Banking, B.Com Financial Accounting Sciences, B.Com Risk Management, B.Com Internal Audit and related finance and economics degrees.

Coverage: full tuition, prescribed textbooks, ~R7,000 laptop allowance, ~R1,500 monthly stipend, ~R500 monthly data allowance.

Application window: typically Q1 each year. The Higher Education Funding Windows Guidelines 2026 PDF was published on bankseta.org.za in November 2025.

Partner institutions: UNISA and CPUT have flagship BANKSETA bursary partnerships.

Major banks that participate

Big 5: Standard Bank, Absa, FNB (FirstRand), Nedbank, Capitec
Other: Investec, African Bank, Postbank, Bidvest Bank, Sasfin, TymeBank, Discovery Bank, Bank Zero, HBZ Bank
Mutual / co-operative: GBS Mutual Bank, Finbond Mutual Bank, and several CFIs (Co-operative Financial Institutions)

Accredited training providers

BANKSETA accredits 100+ training providers. Major ones:

Chartall Business College — NQF L4 & L5 Banking
BOTI – Business Optimization Training Institute
FinLearn Skills Academy
IFF Learning Solutions
Milpark Education — financial services
Felix Risk Training Consultants — Kuyasa partner
Regenesys Business School
Eduvos / Damelin — selected programmes

Always verify on the BANKSETA live accreditation list before enrolling.

Common rejection reasons

Incomplete or uncertified documents (the #1 cause)
Subject grades below threshold (English <50%, no Maths/Accounting at 50%, Maths Lit below 60%)
Not a South African citizen or no valid SA ID
Adverse ITC / credit record — disqualifying for banking
Criminal record — disqualifying
Already employed (Letsema is for unemployed only)
Over the age cap
Already studied or completed the same NQF qualification
Poor performance in psychometric / numeracy assessment
Application submitted outside July–August window

BANKSETA scams

BANKSETA has publicly warned about fake learnership adverts. Red flags:

Any request for payment — BANKSETA never charges any fee
WhatsApp-only contact with no .org.za email
Promises of R10,000+ stipends for entry-level posts
Cell numbers on posters (BANKSETA uses landline +27 11 805 9661)
Poor spelling and grammar
Adverts circulating outside the July–August window
Lookalike domains — official is bankseta.org.za (not .co.za)

What you get at the end

An NQF-registered qualification on SAQA (e.g. NC: Banking Service Advice, NQF L5, 120 credits)
12 months of banking workplace experience with workplace logbook
Certificate of completion from BANKSETA and the host employer
~75% absorption rate into full-time banking-sector employment, per BANKSETA's Letsema/Kuyasa reporting across 12,183 placements

Contact

Phone: +27 11 805 9661
Email: info@bankseta.org.za
Address: Building C2, Eco Origin Office Park, 349 Witch-Hazel Ave, Eco-Park Estate, Centurion, 0144
Hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–16:30
Fraud Hotline: 0800 204 661 (toll-free)

Frequently asked questions

What is the stipend for BANKSETA learnerships?

~R3,500/month for Letsema (BANKSETA-direct). Bank-run programmes pay higher — FNB R5,933/month in 2026, Nedbank YES 4 Youth R5,241/month from March 2026.

When do BANKSETA learnership applications open in 2026?

July–August 2026 for the 2027 Letsema and Kuyasa intakes. Bank-run learnerships (Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Absa, Capitec) run year-round on their own careers portals.

What qualifications does BANKSETA offer?

National Certificate: Banking Service Advice (NQF L5, Letsema), Certificate in Management Development (NQF L5, Kuyasa), National Certificate in Business Analysis (NQF L6, Kuyasa), and National Certificate in Financial Markets & Instruments (NQF L6, Kuyasa).

How long is a BANKSETA learnership?

12 months for all four flagship programmes (Letsema and the three Kuyasa streams).

Can I apply for a BANKSETA learnership without matric?

No. Grade 12 is mandatory, and Letsema requires minimum 50% English plus 50% Accounting OR 50% Maths OR 60% Maths Literacy.

Does BANKSETA offer bursaries?

Yes — for B.Com Banking, Financial Accounting, Risk Management and Internal Audit at partner universities including UNISA and CPUT. The 2026 Higher Education Funding Guidelines were published November 2025.

How do I know if a BANKSETA learnership is legit?

Verify on bankseta.org.za (the official domain ends in .org.za, not .co.za) and call +27 11 805 9661. BANKSETA never charges fees. Anyone asking for money is a scammer.

What is the difference between Letsema and Kuyasa?

Letsema is the post-matric learnership stream (NQF L5) for unemployed Grade 12 holders. Kuyasa is the post-graduate stream (NQF L5/L6) for unemployed degree-holders in HR, Risk, IT, Marketing, Accounting, Finance or Law.

Do BANKSETA learnerships lead to a job?

Approximately 75% of Letsema and Kuyasa completers are absorbed into full-time banking-sector employment, according to BANKSETA's reported outcomes across 12,183 placements.

Related guides

Standard Bank Graduate Programme

Bank-run alternative to BANKSETA learnerships — for Honours/Master's graduates.

MICT SETA learnerships

IT and telecoms alternative to banking learnerships.

YES Programme

Some bank-run learnerships are YES-aligned with R5,241/month stipends.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.