Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, February 2026 — TymeBank has appointed Cheslyn Jacobs as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026. Jacobs succeeds Karl Westvig, who has been with the bank’s leadership since 2023 and will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to support the bank’s ongoing growth.
A founding team member, Jacobs brings deep institutional knowledge and leadership experience, having played an integral role in building the business. His appointment signals TymeBank’s next chapter—shaped by an accelerated focus on innovation, customer experience, and sustainable growth.
“Cheslyn’s deep understanding of our customers, strategy, and people uniquely positions him to lead TymeBank into its next era,” said Thabani Jali, Chairman of TymeBank Holdings Limited. “It’s time to compete even harder for market share as we mature as a business. Under Cheslyn’s leadership, and with our talented team reshaping banking for all South Africans, TymeBank is geared to create even greater value for our customers and partners.”
In his new role as Chief Executive Officer, Cheslyn Jacobs will lead TymeBank’s next phase of sustainable growth—strengthening its ambition to become South Africa’s most loved bank, scaling consumer lending, enhancing business banking capabilities, and building strategic international partnerships. With a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, he will continue driving TymeBank’s low-cost, customer-centric model that challenges traditional banking norms, while deepening a culture of inclusivity and openness across the organisation.
Prior to stepping into the CEO role, Jacobs served for over three and a half years as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at TymeBank, leading commercial operations and growth through customer-focused, inclusive, and innovative financial solutions. During this chapter, his work was closely tied to enabling products and distribution models that address South Africa’s unique financial needs—bridging financial literacy gaps and creating meaningful value for customers.
Before becoming CCO, Jacobs spent nearly four years as Head: Sales and Service, where he designed, built, and scaled TymeBank’s sales and distribution capabilities across South Africa. He helped expand the bank’s distribution network to over 1,000 points of presence, supported the milestone of reaching over 5 million customers, and created over 3,000 opportunities for previously unemployed youth—reinforcing TymeBank’s growth agenda with a strong social-impact lens.
Earlier at TymeBank, Jacobs led Money Transfer for about two years, focusing on the launch and scale-up of the service across partner environments and acquiring over 3 million new customers through go-to-market execution. He also served as National Field Operations Manager for over a year, laying foundations for nationwide distribution. Prior to TymeBank, he held roles at Standard Bank across business operations and consumer education, spent time as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte, and began his career with roles at Safmarine and University of the Western Cape.
About TymeBank
TymeBank is South Africa’s fastest-growing bank and Africa’s first profitable digital bank, serving over 12 million customers since its launch in 2019. Named on the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list, Tyme is built on simplicity, transparency, and affordability. With no monthly fees, 5-minute account opening, and transaction costs up to 50% lower than traditional banks, TymeBank is also the largest merchant cash advance SME funder in the market.
TymeBank’s majority shareholder is African Rainbow Capital, a fully black-owned and controlled investment company, making TymeBank the first majority black-owned retail bank in South Africa. Its model is anchored in accessible and affordable banking, belief in the potential of people, and continuous efforts to empower customers with tools and transparency to take control of their money and unlock financial potential.
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