How to hit eBucks Level 5 with new rules
It is still relatively easy for FNB Premier customers to reach the top level of the eBucks rewards programme after changes come into effect in July 2025.
South Africa’s third-largest bank tweaked the earnings criteria for moving up eBucks Rewards Levels on its Premier and Private accounts.
The adjustments include the complete removal or reduction of points for many of the levelling requirements that were easy to achieve.
On Premier, the biggest change is that using your virtual card for more than 80% of in-store and online purchases will give you a maximum of 1,500 points instead of 3,000 points.
In addition, FNB scrapped the 500 points people could previously earn from making at least six financial transactions via its mobile banking app and 1,000 points for making three real-time payments.
These amendments reduced the number of points attainable with the simplest criteria by 3,000.
That would have dropped a user who had just managed to break over the 11,999-point threshold for Level 5 to Level 3.
On the positive side, FNB reduced the number of points customers required to reach Level 5 by 1,000, while the thresholds for Level 2 and Level 4 were also reduced.
In addition, the bank introduced a criterion that is worth 500 points for people who buy vouchers from three different categories on the FNB app.
This includes airtime, data bundle, and lotto purchases, as well as vouchers for various popular retailers and other businesses.
It also offers vouchers for Apple App Store or Google Play Store purchases, which support payments to nearly all the major online subscription services.
It is important to note that some Private Client and Private Wealth customers have also reported that the changes will make it more difficult for them to level up.
The table below shows how Premier customers can easily reach eBucks Level 5 with the criteria taking effect in July 2025.
| Criteria | Easiest way to achieve | Additional spending required | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1. Have a minimum monthly deposit of at least R5,500 into your account. 1.2. Have a minimum monthly deposit (excluding inter-account transfers) of R16,500 into your account. 1.3. Have average deposits over 12 months of at least R16,500 into your account 2. Initiate at least 10 debit transactions on your account per month. | Earn a salary of at least R16,500 and have it deposited into your account. Have a total of 10 transactions from the following types each month: – Debit card purchases – Electronic and manual payments – eWallet payments – Debit orders – Bank you Change transfer – Cash deposit – ATM or till cash withdrawal – EFT – Prepaid airtime, electricity, lotto, or TV licence purchases | No | 2,000 |
| Use your Virtual Card for 80% of your qualifying online spend in a calendar month. | When shopping online, only use your virtual card. Virtual card setup is free, and you can use different cards for different services. | No | 1,000 |
| Use your Virtual Card for 80% of your qualifying in-store spend in a calendar month. | For in-person shopping, use FNB Scan to Pay in the FNB app or link your virtual card to Apple Pay Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or SwatchPay on your smartphone or smartwatch and use your device to pay | No | 500 |
| Set up 3 Smart budget categories and access your Smart budget every month, engage with My Net Worth monthly or engage your Credit Status monthly | Set up three Smart Budget categories under Nav>>Money and open the feature once a month. Open My Net Worth under Nav>>Money or the money panel in the FNB Accounts page once a month. Open Credit status under the FNB Accounts page | No | 1,000 |
| View the “Track My Rewards” tab on the FNB App every month | View the “Track My Rewards” tab on the FNB App every month | No | 1,000 |
| Have an FNB Fusion Account with a credit limit and an active credit card with a credit limit | If you have a Premier Current account, switch to Fusion for R25 less per month. | No, saving of R25 | 2,000 |
| Manage your property or use one of the available services under the nav» Home tab on the FNB App once a quarter. | Search for any property in this tab and view some listings early in a quarter. | No | 500 |
| Have a Revolving Facility with an average utilisation of greater than or equal to 50% and opt in for Shortfall Protection. | Have only the Revolving Facility, access less than R200 monthly, and pay off usage immediately | No | 500 |
| Pay at least 2 bills using the FNB Pay Bills functionality on the FNB App every month | Load two of the following with combined value higher than R1,000: – DStv bill – Municipal utility bill – Insurance bill – Funeral cover | No | 1,000 |
| Buy 3 or more different products every month (with a combined minimum purchase value of R300) from these categories under the ‘Buy’ tab on the FNB App: Electricity, Lotto, Airtime and Bundles, Gaming and Vouchers. | Buy 3 of the following with a minimum combined value of R300: – Prepaid data bundle or airtime – Prepaid electricity – Netflix voucher – Showmax voucher – Apple App Store or Google Play Store voucher – Spotify voucher – Makro voucher – Uber voucher | Yes — only if not using products either way | 500 |
| Total points | 10,000 | ||
| Additional options | |||
| Maintain a healthy Credit status on nav» Money with a Green status | Ensure all bills are paid on time | No | 500 |
| Grow your FNB Savings or Investment accounts by at least R1,400 per month, excluding interest, profit, and other returns | Deposit R1,400 into your Savings Account each month Deposit R1,400 into your Investment Account each month | Yes | 500 for one 1,000 for both |
| Total optional points | 1,000–1,500 | ||
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