Sureswipe, Grobank partnership gives independent retailers the edge

It was a big day for the retail business banking sector as Grobank and Sureswipe, South Africa’s largest independent payment service provider, announced a partnership that combines financial reliability and safety coupled with merchant solutions to service SMME’s throughout Southern Africa.

Says Grobank Head of Business Banking, Paul de Bruyn: “While we have had a relationship for some years, this is the first time we are going to market together with a service that ultimately gives our retailer client the advantage of working wholly with Grobank, backed by Sureswipe.

“The success we’ve had in last week or two far exceeds our expectations,” says De Bruyn. “It’s already proven to be an exciting partnership to have forged.”

In teaming up with Sureswipe, Grobank is now able to bring actual point of sale (POS) to clients as part of its merchant services. “Sureswipe is a business we know well and their infrastructure allows Grobank to close gaps in our service to retailers,” De Bruyn says. “Whenever we can find a partnership with an existing Grobank client, it makes sense to do so.”

Sureswipe’s MD Richard Flack notes: “Our relationship with Grobank dates back many years, and we are excited to be partnering with them to provide their clients with simple and affordable payment solutions and excellent service, which can add significant value to their businesses at such a critical time.”

Launched during the recession of 2008 as a subsidiary to the Tradebridge Group, Sureswipe has defied all the odds to become the payments partner of choice for more than 8 000 independent retailers.

Sureswipe was founded in 2008 and was acquired by CTS in 2019. In 2020, CTS rebranded as Adumo to become the largest independent payments and fastest-growing merchant acquiring solutions platform in South Africa. It brings together more than 30 000 active clients and 50 000 active card machines – processing over $4 billion in transaction value – and with a presence in 7 African countries.

A partnership of tangible success

According to Grobank’s Personal and Business Banking Executive, Darryl Adriaanzen, this team creates the kind of win-win relationship Grobank seeks in every alliance, turning business potential into tangible success.

Like De Bruyn, Adriaanzen notes that Grobank’s service is now end-to-end with retail customers: “Prior to this, we had to use another bank’s POS devices to complete transactions, but this partnership enables the full transactional service to be coordinated by Grobank.”

As a one-stop payments shop from installation through to fulfilment and after care service needs, Sureswipe says it understands that running a business is hard work, and ensuring quick and easy card payments, excellent service and very competitive rates removes this added pain-point.

“Building the type of infrastructure needed for this service is not Grobank’s core business, so it made sense to get an expert organisation to close the loop,” says De Bruyn.

Proudly South African, Sureswipe’s national footprint sees the company’s head office in Bryanston, main hubs in Cape Town and Durban, and satellite offices in other regions, to best service clients’ needs.

Flack says the company’s relationship with Grobank is directly aligned to its primary business vision, to enable independent retailers with reliable card payment solutions without any hassles so they can focus on growing their business and rebuilding our economy.