Absa Group has announced a significant restructuring of its physical banking network in South Africa, closing 79 branches and over 100 ATMs during the first half of 2026. This move follows a 14 percent year-on-year increase in active digital users across the group, as customers increasingly favor mobile platforms for routine transactions. To adapt to these evolving preferences, the lender is pivoting toward smaller, more cost-effective sales and service outlets, which now constitute 37 percent of its total network. Despite these adjustments and a challenging economic environment marked by inflation and higher interest rates, Absa reported an 8 percent rise in headline earnings to R12.8 billion and increased its interim dividend by 8 percent.