Zydah Manuel | Head of SME and Retail Banking
Access Bank

Zydah Manuel is the Head of SME and Retail Banking at Access Bank South Africa, where she leads the development and growth of the bank’s retail strategy, customer value propositions, and client engagement initiatives.  She is an experienced financial services professional with a career spanning retail banking, customer value management, home loans, private banking, and middle-market banking across some of South Africa’s leading financial institutions. Prior to joining Access Bank South Africa, Ms Manuel held several leadership roles at Absa and Standard Bank, where she was responsible for driving customer-focused financial solutions, segment growth, and relationship management across diverse client portfolios.  Ms Manuel is particularly passionate about supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses, recognising their critical role in driving economic growth, innovation, and job creation across South Africa and the continent. She is a strong advocate for inclusive finance and is committed to improving access to financial solutions, strategic networks, and growth opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and emerging businesses.  In her current role, she plays a key part in advancing Access Bank South Africa’s retail and SME banking ambitions, with a focus on innovation, customer engagement, and expanding access to relevant financial solutions within the broader pan-African banking ecosystem.  She holds a postgraduate qualification and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Henley Business School and is recognised for her collaborative leadership style, strategic thinking, and passion for empowering clients and communities through meaningful financial inclusion initiatives.