First private bank for entrepreneurs

Wilma den Hartigh, on behalf of the bank, said the financial institution is the country’s only private bank that caters exclusively for entrepreneurs. Guests and entrepreneurs were invited for some champagne to celebrate the opening of the bank.

Tom Stilwell, head of Mercantile Private Bank said, “South Africa has, for a long time, needed a private bank that understands entrepreneurs, their challenges and aspirations and this is it.”

He said the bank does not see entrepreneurs as a risk. “Our sole purpose is to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses,” he explained.

“We understand what entrepreneurs want and how they want to be treated. We don’t think banking should be an anonymous, frustrating and disempowering process. This is why in building this business we’ve kept the best parts of old school traditional banking, giving entrepreneurs everything they need and nothing they don’t,” added Stilwell.

Den Hartigh explained that entrepreneurs can expect to receive the attention they deserve with the bank. Stilwell added, “We believe that entrepreneurs are critical contributors to the economic growth of South Africa and this is why we’ve created something that is relevant for this sector, and the best part is that entrepreneurs don’t have to be ultra-rich to access it.”