Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 1 hr ago
South African banks warn customers against sharing logins with AI agents
South African banks are warning customers not to share banking logins with AI agents.
An agent with those details could sign in as the customer and take actions on the account.
Absa says customers may be held liable for losses if they hand over their credentials.
FNB, Discovery Bank and Capitec say they do not currently let third-party agents access customer accounts.
FNB is building a system for approved assistants that would require customer consent for each action and monitor interactions.
The warnings follow reports that some US banks found outside AI agents in customer accounts, apparently acting beyond users’ instructions; the reports do not establish any financial losses.
FNB says it will start with information services and expand only when safeguards are in place.
South African banks are warning customers not to share banking logins with third-party AI agents.
Absa says customers who hand over their credentials may be held liable for losses.
FNB, Discovery Bank and Capitec say they do not currently allow third-party AI agents to access customer accounts.
FNB is developing a secure framework for approved AI assistants to connect in future.
The warnings follow reports that major US banks detected AI agents accessing accounts and apparently acting beyond users’ instructions.
- Who
- South African banks, including Absa, FNB, Discovery Bank and Capitec, and their customers.
- What
- Banks are warning customers against sharing banking credentials with third-party AI agents; some say they block such agents.
- When
- TechCentral reported the warnings on 26 October 2026. The date the banks issued the warnings is not stated.
- Where
- South Africa.
- Why
- Banks cite the risks of agents accessing accounts or acting beyond users’ instructions, and Absa warns customers may be liable for losses.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Capitec group CIO Andrew Baker wrote that the bank was rolling out its Scam Checker AI tool over the following weeks.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said on the bank’s third-quarter earnings call that it would not allow just any outside agent.
TechCentral published South African banks’ warnings about sharing banking logins with AI agents.
TechRadar published an article about financial institutions limiting AI agents’ access to customer accounts.
- Banks named
- FNB, Discovery Bank, Capitec and Absa
- Absa warning
- Customers who share credentials with an AI agent may be held liable for losses
- FNB future plan
- Building a secure framework for approved AI assistants
- Capitec access policy
- Third-party AI agents are not permitted to access client accounts
- JPMorgan Chase call
- 13 October
- TechCentral publication
- 26 October 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
Our principle is simple: no autonomy without control
not going to allow just any outside agent
that’s just too risky for clients and for JPMorgan
At Absa, we do not use AI agents to access customer accounts, and we strongly discourage customers from sharing their banking credentials with any third-party AI agents