CABS
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersHarare, Zimbabwe
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
CABS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CABS
- Legal name
- Central Africa Building Society
- Website
- https://cabs.co.zw
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CABS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Harare
- HQ country
- Zimbabwe
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
CABS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Interest Income: Interest earned on mortgage loans, equity release loans, business loans, and personal loans extended to customers. Key products include commercial mortgages (up to 75% LTV, 16% p.a.), equity release loans (up to 50% LTV, 15% p.a. for individuals), and short/medium-term business loans.
- Transaction and Service Fees: Fees from point-of-sale transactions, wire transfers, mobile banking transactions, account maintenance, and card services.
- Bancassurance Commission: Commission revenue from selling insurance products including short-term insurance, funeral plans, life insurance, and unit trust investments, underwritten by Old Mutual Group entities.
- Investment and Savings Products: Returns from managing term deposits, money market investments, unit trusts, and savings plan accounts for customers.
- Payroll Services: Revenue from payroll processing services offered to corporate clients in partnership with Autopay, including direct salary deposits and payroll-based lending administration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Blue Account - Entry-level transactional account |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Account - Premium transactional account with enhanced services |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | SWIFT/Telegraphic Transfer Fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Mobile Banking App Transaction Charges |
| Subscription | Monthly | Equity Release Mortgage Loans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Commercial Mortgages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
CABS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CABS provides retail, SME, and corporate banking services in Zimbabwe, including transactional and savings accounts, mortgage and business loans, investment products, Visa debit and prepaid cards, bancassurance offerings, safe deposit boxes, custodial services, and payroll administration. Services are delivered through the country's largest branch network alongside digital channels (mobile app, USSD *227#, internet banking, and WhatsApp banking), an agent network of over 400 TextACash agents, and an extensive POS network.
Product overview
CABS (Central Africa Building Society) offers a comprehensive financial services portfolio organized across Personal Banking, Business/SME Banking, and Corporate Banking divisions. The core banking platform includes transactional accounts (Blue, Gold), savings products (Savings Plans with tiered interest), investment products (Term Deposits, Unit Trust, Money Market), and lending (Equity Release Mortgages, Short-term Loans, Business Loans). Digital banking channels include Internet Banking, Mobile Banking (*227# USSD and smartphone App), WhatsApp Banking, Textacash agent network, and POS network. Card products span Visa International Debit, Visa Prepaid, and co-branded Closed Card Schemes. The February 2026 Visa partnership introduces a Virtual Card for digital payments. Insurance offerings under the bancassurance model include Short-Term Insurance and long-term products (Funeral Plans, Life Plan, Diamond Retirement Plan) underwritten by Old Mutual. Additional services include Safe Deposit Box facilities, Custodial Services for securities, Payroll Services via Autopay, and international payment capabilities via SWIFT/SIRESS/ZETTS networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Textacash: Mobile money and agent banking service allowing users to send cash to cell numbers, make deposits and withdrawals, and access various banking services through POS terminals nationwide. Currently there are over 400 Textacash agents offering services including account opening, cash transfers, and bill payments.
Products and services
- Gold Account
- Blue Account
- Platinum Savings Plan
- Blue and Gold Savings Plan
- Term Deposit
- Unit Trust
- Money Market
- Equity Release Mortgage Loan
- Short Term Loans
- Visa International Debit Card
- VISA Prepaid Card
- CABS Visa Virtual Card
- A+ Student Debit Card
- Textacash Agent Network
- CABS POS Network
- Mobile Banking *227#
- CABS Mobile Banking App
- WhatsApp Banking
- Internet Banking (Individual)
Quantifiable outcome
- Transaction volumes increased 195% year-on-year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CABS
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CABS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature4 records
CABS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- VisacoreStrategic partnership with Visa to provide cutting-edge digital payment solutions in Zimbabwe. The collaboration will introduce new products including a virtual card launching in February 2026, complementing CABS' existing prepaid card offerings and expanding digital banking access across the country. CABS has become the third most popular Visa issuer in Zimbabwe.
- SPAR and MyTrees TrustminorEnvironmental partnership for tree planting initiatives. 500 trees planted at Marlborough High School and 1,200 trees donated to Harare City Junior Council as part of reforestation and climate resilience efforts.
- TM Pick n PayminorHealthcare partnership for breast and cervical cancer screening programs. In 2025, partnered to roll out screening services to 1,712 women as part of community health initiatives.
- AutopaycorePayroll services partnership with Autopay enabling companies to outsource payroll administration and staff loan management. The service offers direct salary deposits and payroll loans administered at the borrower's work premises.
- Mukuru.com, Hello Paisa, Mama Money, Express LinksminorMoney transfer and diaspora remittance partners enabling CABS clients to receive international money transfers. Services include international funds transfers, trade finance facilities, letters of credit, and foreign bank guarantees.
- Old Mutual Investment GroupcorePartnership with Old Mutual Investment Group for investment products including unit trusts, money market investments, and Old Mutual products (Balanced Fund, Equity Fund, Mutual Life, Money Market Fund, Gross Money Market Fund & Property Fund) available through CABS banking channels.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CABS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BancABC (ZB Financial Holdings): Zimbabwean and regional banking group offering personal, SME, and corporate banking with a multi-country footprint. Comparable to CABS in retail and SME banking products, card services, and digital channels.
- ZB Bank: Zimbabwean universal bank with personal, business, and corporate banking plus treasury and card services. Direct competitor to CABS in retail accounts, mortgages, and SME lending in Zimbabwe.
- CBZ Bank: One of Zimbabwe's largest commercial banks offering personal, SME, and corporate banking with a national branch and digital network. Directly comparable to CABS as a universal retail and corporate bank serving the same Zimbabwean customer base.
- Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe: Global bank with Zimbabwean retail, SME, and corporate banking operations including Visa card products and international payments. Comparable to CABS in cross-border payments, card issuance, and corporate banking.
- Nedbank Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean subsidiary of Nedbank Group offering retail, business, and corporate banking with a growing digital channel footprint. Comparable to CABS in product range and customer segmentation.
- Ecobank Zimbabwe: Pan-African bank with Zimbabwean operations offering personal, SME, and corporate banking plus extensive cross-border and remittance capabilities. Comparable to CABS in international transfers and SME/corporate services.
- Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe: A Standard Bank subsidiary operating full-service retail, business, and corporate banking in Zimbabwe. Comparable in product breadth, digital channels, and target segments (mass affluent, SME, corporate) to CABS.
- POSB (People's Own Savings Bank): Zimbabwean savings-oriented bank providing transactional, savings, and loan products to retail and SME customers. Comparable to CABS in retail savings plans, personal loans, and digital banking access for mass-market customers.
- First Capital Bank Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean universal bank providing personal, SME, and corporate banking, treasury, and trade finance. Overlaps with CABS in commercial mortgages, trade finance, and international payments.
- NMB Bank Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean commercial bank providing personal, agricultural, SME, and corporate banking with a strong agribusiness and trade finance focus. Comparable to CABS in commercial mortgages, agritrade, and corporate lending.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CABS social profiles
Digital presenceCABS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CABS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CABS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CABS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CABS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CABS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CABS
What does CABS do?
CABS provides retail, SME, and corporate banking services in Zimbabwe, including transactional and savings accounts, mortgage and business loans, investment products, Visa debit and prepaid cards, bancassurance offerings, safe deposit boxes, custodial services, and payroll administration. Services are delivered through the country's largest branch network alongside digital channels (mobile app, USSD *227#, internet banking, and WhatsApp banking), an agent network of over 400 TextACash agents, and an extensive POS network.
Is CABS a public or private company?
CABS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CABS founded?
CABS was founded in 1954. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CABS based?
CABS is headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe, in the Africa region.
How does CABS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are transaction and Service Fees, bancassurance Commission, investment and Savings Products and payroll Services.
Who are CABS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BancABC (ZB Financial Holdings), ZB Bank, CBZ Bank, Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe, Nedbank Zimbabwe, Ecobank Zimbabwe, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, POSB (People's Own Savings Bank), First Capital Bank Zimbabwe and NMB Bank Zimbabwe.
Does CABS have an API?
No public API is recorded for CABS.