As the rising cost of living continues to strain household budgets across South Africa, many families are looking for smarter ways to manage their money and stretch their resources further. As National Savings Month comes to a close, FNB is encouraging homeowners to take a fresh look at how their home loan access funds facility can act as a strategic tool to save, offering flexibility, stability, and opportunity.
Mfundo Mabaso, Product Head of FNB Home and Secured Lending, explains: “A home loan is more than debt. When used wisely, it becomes an incredibly useful tool to support your broader financial plan, especially in volatile economic times. One way is through your Flexi facility, which allows you to unlock any additional funds you’ve paid over and above your minimum monthly repayments.”
This means if you’ve deposited lump sums or have consistently paid more than required, you may have built up access funds that can now be reallocated to pressing needs or long-term ambitions. These include bridging short-term expenses, consolidating higher-interest debt, renovating your house to increase its value, funding further education, or even starting a side hustle. “The key is intention. Using these funds must always be aligned with a bigger financial plan,” Mabaso continues.
This is where FNB’s broader property finance environment, including nav» Home on the FNB App, comes into play. Jolandé Duvenage, Chief Imagineer for nav» at FNB, says the bank is seeing more homeowners use digital tools to gain control over both short and long-term property decisions.
“When you’re considering accessing funds from your home loan, you need a clear view of your property’s current value, your repayment progress, and the kind of improvements or expenses that could justify that withdrawal,” she explains. nav» Home gives customers this level of visibility, from detailed bond information to live property valuations and access to 5-star rated home service providers.
And “We built the nav» Home tool to support customers make well-informed well-timed decisions. Whether someone is planning a renovation, exploring solar, or simply trying to understand the equity they’ve built, the data is right there on the FNB Banking App, says Duvenage, adding that the tool helps customers align their home loan with their overall financial goals, prompting them to weigh the long-term impact of accessing funds today, versus preserving that value for the future.
Mabaso reinforces this view. “When people treat their home as a dynamic part of their financial plan, they tend to manage it more intentionally,” Mabaso adds. It becomes more than just a passive asset, but a part of how a customer uses that asset to grow and retain wealth.”
As the month concludes, FNB encourages homeowners to reconsider how they approach their bond repayments. Paying the minimum is responsible, however, consistently paying in a little more can strengthen your financial resilience. By building this habit into your routine, you increase your access to funds over time and create a buffer for when life throws the unexpected your way.
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