As South Africa observes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a form of harm often unseen—and rarely discussed—demands urgent attention: financial abuse. While conversations around abuse typically focus on physical or emotional violence, financial abuse remains one of the most common and devastating forms of control in intimate relationships. Yet, it is also one of the least understood.
A Nedbank research study, Financial Freedom: Addressing Financial Abuse, reveals a staggering reality: financial abuse forms part of 99% of domestic abuse cases. Despite its widespread prevalence, it continues to exist in silence, eroding women’s independence, dignity, and safety long before they recognise it as abuse.
Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank, warns that financial abuse is a deeply destructive form of control that traps victims—mostly women—in cycles of dependency.
“As part of our commitment to using our financial expertise to do good, Nedbank is working to bring this issue to light, educate people on its signs, and empower women with the resources they need to break free or avoid becoming victims,”.
says Nobanda
What Financial Abuse Looks Like
Financial abuse occurs when someone uses money as a tool of control, restriction, or manipulation. It rarely begins with dramatic gestures. Instead, it often starts small, disguised as concern or responsibility.
Common forms include:
- Being denied access to your own bank accounts
- Having your income monitored or controlled
- Pressure to take out loans you do not need
- Being guilt-tripped or prevented from earning an income
- A partner demanding full visibility of your finances while withholding their own
These actions do not leave physical marks, but they inflict deep internal harm—shattering confidence, creating dependence, and making it financially impossible for many women to leave abusive relationships.
Spotting the Red Flags Early
Early signs of financial abuse can be subtle, persistent, and easy to overlook. Among the most common “money warnings” are:
- Sudden scrutiny of how you spend every cent
- Demands for receipts or proof of transactions
- Claims that financial independence is unnecessary or a sign of mistrust
- A partner refusing transparency about their finances while expecting full access to yours
Recognising these red flags early is crucial. Without awareness, many women struggle to name what they are experiencing, making it harder to seek help.
A Collective Responsibility
Financial abuse is not just a private issue—it is a societal one. Financial institutions, community organisations, workplaces, and families all play a role in raising awareness and ensuring women have access to safe and practical tools to protect their financial independence.
Organisations such as POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse) offer confidential counselling, legal assistance, and support pathways for women navigating financial or other forms of abuse. Their work remains vital in sustaining long-term support for survivors.
Nedbank’s Ongoing Mission to Make the Invisible Seen
Last year, Nedbank launched its Money Warnings initiative—an innovative campaign designed to expose subtle financial abuse by placing warning-strip messages across its own billboards and advertising materials. In partnership with POWA, the campaign extended beyond awareness to provide real support and financial education for those affected.
Now, Nedbank is reigniting the campaign during this year’s 16 Days of Activism, driven by a continued need to deepen public understanding and strengthen pathways to safety.
“We want people to understand that abuse isn’t always physical. By bringing financial abuse into the conversation, we want to be a trusted partner to those looking to regain control of their finances and take their first steps toward independence and safety.”
Nobanda emphasises
Towards a Safer Future
This year’s campaign reinforces one critical message: it starts with recognising the first signs. Honest conversations about money, access to financial education, and the ability to manage one’s own finances independently are essential steps in protecting women from financial control.
By building environments where women understand their rights, recognise red flags, and know where to seek support, South Africans can help close the spaces where financial abuse thrives—often unnoticed.
Financial abuse may be a hidden currency of control, but by naming it, confronting it, and working together, the country can help ensure that women reclaim not only their finances but also their freedom and dignity.
