Standard Bank Young Talent Tsholofelo Programme

Breaking into banking after graduation can be challenging when many entry-level positions still expect workplace experience. Structured graduate learnerships can help bridge that gap by giving young professionals practical exposure while developing the business and technical skills needed within financial services.

Standard Bank is inviting South African graduates with disabilities to apply for its Young Talent Tsholofelo Programme in Johannesburg. The 18-month fixed-term learnership offers exposure to banking, insurance, fraud detection, risk, customer service and sales environments while participants work towards an accredited occupational qualification. Successful learners will receive a R10,000 monthly stipend plus medical aid.

The programme is scheduled to start on 15 November 2026 and run until 30 April 2028.

Standard Bank Young Talent Tsholofelo Programme: Quick Overview

• Company: Standard Bank
• Programme: Young Talent Tsholofelo Programme
• Target group: Graduates with disabilities
• Location: Johannesburg
• Contract: Fixed-term learnership
• Duration: 18 months
• Start date: 15 November 2026
• End date: 30 April 2028
• Stipend: R10,000 per month
• Additional benefit: Medical aid
• Application Method: Apply Now Online
• Minimum qualification: Completed Diploma, Degree or equivalent NQF qualification
• Employment status: Must currently be unemployed
• Study status: Must not be studying where studies conflict with working hours
• Other learnerships: Applicants cannot currently be registered on another learnership
• Outcome: Accredited Occupational Qualification related to the role

About the Standard Bank Young Talent Tsholofelo Programme

The Tsholofelo Programme forms part of Standard Bank’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace and developing graduates with disabilities.

Rather than placing every learner into exactly the same type of work, the programme provides opportunities across several areas within the financial services environment.

Depending on placement, participants could gain exposure to:

• Banking
• Insurance
• Risk management
• Fraud detection
• Customer experience
• Customer servicing
• Sales
• Customer activation

This means graduates from a broad range of academic backgrounds may be relevant to the programme.

Who Can Apply?

To be considered, applicants must:

• Be South African citizens
• Be persons with disabilities
• Have completed a Diploma, Degree or equivalent NQF qualification
• Be currently unemployed
• Be available for a full-time learnership
• Not currently be registered on another learnership
• Not be studying full-time or part-time where studies would conflict with working hours
• Have good communication skills
• Have good interpersonal skills
• Be willing to learn and develop
• Have basic computer literacy
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office applications

Candidates should review these requirements carefully before applying.

Your Qualification Must Be Completed

Applicants need to have a:

Completed Diploma, Degree or equivalent NQF qualification.

This is therefore a graduate learnership, rather than an opportunity aimed only at candidates with Matric.

Candidates should make their qualification and completion status immediately visible on their CV.

Qualifications Standard Bank Is Looking For

Applications are encouraged from graduates in fields including:

• Business Management
• Commerce
• Banking
• Finance
• Accounting
• Risk Management
• Insurance
• Economics
• Information Systems
• Data Analytics
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Marketing
• Customer Experience
• Public Management
• Human Resources
• Psychology
• Law
• Communications

However, Standard Bank specifically says the list is “not limited to” these fields.

That distinction matters.

Graduates with other completed qualifications shouldn’t automatically assume they’re excluded if they otherwise meet the programme requirements.

Programme Placement Areas

Successful candidates may gain workplace experience within one of several business environments.

Insurance Risk & Execution

Learners may help monitor and perform quality assurance on banking application forms submitted through the branch network.

This can involve checking whether applications:

• Have been completed accurately
• Meet required standards
• Comply with operational requirements
• Meet applicable regulatory requirements

This environment may particularly appeal to graduates interested in compliance, quality assurance, risk or process management.

Insurance Servicing

Learners can gain exposure to servicing Funeral and Credit Life policies.

Responsibilities may include:

• Policy administration
• Policy amendments
• Responding to customer enquiries
• Processing refunds
• Resolving servicing-related matters

This provides exposure to both insurance administration and customer service.

Insurance Retention Services

Participants may work with policyholders who are considering cancelling their policies.

The role involves:

• Understanding customer needs
• Identifying concerns
• Providing appropriate service
• Supporting customer retention
• Building customer relationships

Strong communication and interpersonal skills can be particularly useful in this environment.

Multi-Channel Service & Sales

Learners may support existing Standard Bank clients across different service channels.

They can also gain exposure to indirect sales while developing skills in:

• Customer service
• Client engagement
• Sales
• Product knowledge
• Customer experience

Fraud Detection

The Fraud Detection environment provides exposure to one of the most important risk areas within modern banking.

Learners can gain experience relating to:

• Fraud monitoring
• Suspicious transaction identification
• Fraud detection
• Financial-loss mitigation
• Customer protection
• Fraud risk management

Graduates with analytical, information systems, mathematics, statistics, finance or risk backgrounds may find this environment particularly interesting.

Multi-Channel Sales & Customer Activation

Learners may participate in initiatives relating to:

• Customer acquisition
• Product activation
• Relationship building
• Employer-led banking programmes
• Sales
• Business development

This is described as a performance-driven environment and could suit candidates who enjoy interacting with customers and developing commercial skills.

What Will Learners Gain?

Successful participants will receive more than workplace exposure.

Standard Bank states that the programme provides:

• An accredited Occupational Qualification related to the role
• Workplace experience within a major African bank
• Structured learning and development
• Professional mentorship
• Coaching
• Exposure to different financial services environments
• A foundation for developing a career in financial services

The combination of a completed graduate qualification, an occupational qualification and 18 months of practical experience could strengthen a learner’s profile for future employment opportunities.

How Much Is the Stipend?

Successful learners will receive:

R10,000 per month plus medical aid.

The programme runs on an 18-month fixed-term contract.

Candidates should remember that the R10,000 is the advertised learnership stipend rather than a permanent employee salary.

Programme Dates

The advertised programme dates are:

Start Date: 15 November 2026
End Date: 30 April 2028

Candidates need to be available to participate in the full-time programme.

Must You Be Unemployed?

Yes.

Applicants must be:

Currently unemployed.

The programme is intended to provide workplace development to graduates who aren’t currently employed.

Can You Be Studying?

The advert states that applicants must not be studying full-time or part-time where those studies may conflict with work hours.

Candidates should therefore distinguish this from programmes that impose an absolute ban on any current studies.

The key wording here is whether those studies would conflict with the programme’s working hours.

Can You Be on Another Learnership?

No.

Applicants must not currently be registered on another learnership.

Candidates already participating in another programme should therefore take this eligibility requirement into account.

Computer Skills

Applicants need basic computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Relevant skills could include familiarity with applications such as:

• Microsoft Word
• Excel
• Outlook
• PowerPoint

Only claim proficiency at the level you can genuinely demonstrate.

Standard Bank’s Commitment to Inclusion

The Tsholofelo Programme specifically targets graduates with disabilities.

Standard Bank states that it is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodationto employees and learners with disabilities.

The programme is therefore deliberately structured around increasing access to workplace and career-development opportunities.

Who Should Consider Applying?

This programme is particularly relevant to a candidate who:

• Is a South African citizen
• Is a person with a disability
• Has completed a Diploma, Degree or equivalent NQF qualification
• Is currently unemployed
• Isn’t registered on another learnership
• Can participate in a full-time programme
• Has basic computer skills
• Can use Microsoft Office
• Communicates effectively
• Is interested in financial services
• Can work in Johannesburg
• Wants practical graduate-level workplace experience

Thabang’s Tip

How to Apply for the Standard Bank Tsholofelo Programme

Eligible candidates should submit their application through the official recruitment channel associated with the Standard Bank Young Talent Tsholofelo Programme – People with disABILITIES Programme.

Before submitting, make sure your application clearly shows:

• South African citizenship
• Completed Diploma/Degree or equivalent qualification
• Qualification field
• Current unemployment status
• Relevant academic or project experience
• Microsoft Office skills
• Communication and interpersonal capabilities
• Interest in banking and financial services
• Availability for the full-time programme
• Current contact information

Candidates should also provide any supporting documentation requested during Standard Bank’s recruitment process.

Closing Date: 06 September 2026

Disclaimer

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