2025 Annual Report
Another milestone on our journey: the 2025 National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) Annual Report has been released.
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076 574 8055
Welcome to NFO South Africa
The National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) is committed to upholding financial fairness. We provide free, fair and impartial dispute resolution services, as well as financial literacy and fraud awareness outreach programmes.

The NFO is recognised as an industry ombud scheme by the Ombud Council (OC/001/24).
About Us
How to Complain
The NFO is here to assist, but we can only look at your complaint after you have first lodged it with your bank, credit provider or insurer. Once you’ve done this, you can open a case with us.
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Welcome to NFO South Africa

If you have a complaint against your financial services provider, you’re in the right place! The National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) is an independent body that resolves complaints brought by consumers against South African financial institutions – for free! The NFO is recognised as an industry ombud scheme by the Ombud Council (OC/001/24).

Submit a Complaint

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When a complaint is lodged with the NFO, every attempt is made to establish and record whether the complainant should be identified as a “vulnerable complainant”.

Contact Us

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Any consumer with a complaint about their financial services provider may approach the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) for our free assistance.

About NFO

The primary purpose of the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) is to resolve consumer complaints against financial service providers. As an independent organisation, we commit to resolve disputes impartially, speedily, confidentially and in an open, informal and approachable way – at no charge to the complainant.

The financial service providers which participate in the NFO and therefore fall within our jurisdiction comprise of:

You can view the full list of participants per division by selecting one of the divisions from the list above.

We’re here to help

Online Complaint Form

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All of the steps involved to making your complaint.

FAQ's

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FAQ’s from financial services customers/consumers.

Become a Participant

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As a financial services provider, your organisation is required to participate in the NFO. Participation brings multiple benefits, including enhanced compliance and increased consumer trust. 

Press Releases

Click on the articles below to read our most recent news, to find out more about the work of the NFO, and our involvement. in our corporate social investment initiatives.

Media Releases

Media Release – 28/08/2024

Commemorating the First 100 Days of the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO), Head Ombud, Reana Steyn took the opportunity to reflect on the newly-formed organisation’s significant achievements in this short space of time.

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Media Releases

Media Release – 18/07/2024

Reporting on the 2023 Annual Report for the Ombudsman of Banking Services (OBS), former Banking Ombudsman Reana Steyn,  reflected on the past 23 years of the office’s existence.

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Media Releases

Media Release – 28/06/2024

The Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance (OLTI) and the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (OSTI) have published their last joint annual report for 2023, as they have now been incorporated into the National Financial Ombud Scheme South Africa (NFO).

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Media Releases

Media Release – 19/06/2024

South African consumers across the board find themselves increasingly under pressure due to the high cost of living and other factors outside their control, such as the increasing food and petrol prices, with most of their budget going towards essentials.

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Media Releases

Media Release – 03/06/2024

The National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) today confirmed the appointment of Nerosha Maseti as Lead Ombud of the Banking Division. “Nerosha brings over 18 years of Banking Ombudsman experience to her new role. She has proven abilities as a leader and in all aspects of Ombud operations, and we are excited to see where she takes the Banking Division going forward…”

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Media Releases

Media Release – 10/04/2024

The newly-formed National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) today announced the appointment of its first Head Ombud, Reana Steyn. “Reana’s extensive expertise and vast experience with the OBS, Credit Ombud and at one of the leading insurers, as well as her leadership position, her qualification as an attorney, coupled with her people management experience and training of staff of the previous schemes…

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Media Releases

Media Release – 01/03/2024

The newly-formed National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) today announced the beginning of operations as a single, one-stop, all-in-one dispute resolution service made up of the four (4) former existing services – the Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS); the Credit Ombud (CO); the Ombudsman for Long-Term Insurance (OLTI); and the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance (OSTI).

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