Finance news you can use: banks, petrol, pensions and crypto

Here are the money stories from across Africa that could hit your pocket today. I’ll keep it short and practical: what happened, why it matters, and one quick action you can take.

First up: Dondo Mogojane resigned amid the VBS Mutual Bank corruption fallout. That matters if you follow public funds and corporate governance—resignations like this often trigger audits, legal reviews, and changes at affected firms. If you hold exposure to companies tied to VBS or government pension funds, watch announcements from GEPF and Moti Group for asset reviews or changes in leadership that could affect share prices or contract flows.

Fuel prices are next: petrol in South Africa is set to drop by 92 cents per litre from 4 September. Inland 93 octane will fall to about R21.79/L and coastal to R22.19/L. For drivers and small businesses that rely on transport, that’s immediate relief—budget for lower fuel costs this month and consider locking in short-term delivery contracts while prices ease.

Crypto and trading tech

Bybit Web3 launched DEX Pro, a decentralized exchange with advanced tools and i-SMART data. If you trade crypto, DEX Pro could mean faster access to liquidity and better on-chain data for decision-making. That said, DeFi still carries smart-contract and custody risks—use small test trades first, enable wallet safety measures, and only move funds to new platforms after confirming audits and real-user feedback.

Back to banking: Nigerian banks saw roughly N549bn in insider loans between 2019 and 2023, but those loans dipped sharply in 2023 after new Central Bank of Nigeria governance rules. That shift signals stronger oversight and less tolerance for risky insider lending. For investors, improved governance can reduce tail risk in bank portfolios—but also expect tighter credit flows that could slow short-term lending-driven growth.

Quick takeaways you can act on

If you drive or run a fleet, recalculate your monthly fuel budget now and consider passing savings to customers or using the window to service vehicles. If you invest in South African or Nigerian banks, watch corporate-governance updates and quarterly reports for management changes or asset write-downs tied to scandals. Crypto traders: try DEX Pro with a small amount and check security audits before larger transfers. And if you follow public funds, track GEPF statements after the resignation—pension fund moves can reshape local contract winners and market confidence.

Want regular Finance updates? Keep an eye on timelines for petrol adjustments, bank governance announcements, and new product launches in crypto. These four storylines show how policy, markets, and tech interact—small shifts can have fast effects on prices and investment risk.