The cheapest bank accounts for a domestic worker are GoTyme Bank (formerly TymeBank) and Bank Zero, which both charge no monthly fee, followed by Capitec and Standard Bank MyMo at R7.50 a month and FNB Easy PAYU at R8 a month. All five have a low-cost card and a banking app, and card purchases are free at all of them. A South African can open a GoTyme account with just an ID and a cellphone number. A proper account is safer than cash and gives your worker a bank record in her own name, which helps when she wants to rent a home, borrow or buy on credit.
Why many domestic workers still get paid in cash
Many domestic workers are still paid in cash or through send-money codes like FNB eWallet or Standard Bank Instant Money.
The law allows you to pay a domestic worker in cash, by cheque, or straight into an account she chooses. If you pay cash, hand it to her at work, during her working hours, in a sealed envelope. However you pay her, give her a payslip every payday. Send-money codes are not named in the law, so a bank account is the safer choice.
Cash is easy to lose and easy to steal, and it leaves her without a bank record in her own name. It also means she misses out on the interest, safety and everyday tools that only come with a proper bank account.
The most affordable bank accounts for a domestic worker
All five of these accounts are cheap to run and let your worker bank from a phone. Fees below are from each bank's 2026 pricing guide.
GoTyme Bank Current Account (formerly TymeBank)
- Monthly fee: R0
- First Visa debit card free (a replacement is R100)
- Card purchases: free
- Cash: R10 per R1,000 at any ATM, free at Pick n Pay and Boxer tills with a TymeCode, or R3 with the card at major retailers
- Instant payments up to R5,000: free
Good for workers who prefer mobile banking and low fees. The old TymeBank app has been replaced by the GoTyme app.
Bank Zero Account
- Monthly fee: R0
- Card: R83 once-off to collect at Clicks, or R125 delivered (plus R30 outside the metros)
- Card purchases: free
- Cash: R10 per R1,000 at ATMs, or R2.50 at a till
- EFTs and debit orders: free; immediate payments to other banks R6.50
Good for anyone who wants simple, digital banking with no monthly fee. It needs a smartphone with a camera, proof of address and a South African cellphone number.
Capitec
- Monthly fee: R7.50, with a R30 minimum balance
- Cash: R10 per R1,000 at any ATM, or R2 at a supermarket till
- Payments: R1 to another Capitec client, R2 to another bank; debit orders R3 each
Still the most popular low-cost bank in South Africa, with physical branches you can walk into.
FNB Easy PAYU
- Monthly fee: R8 (from 1 July 2026)
- Card purchases: free
- Cash: R12 per R1,000 at FNB ATMs, R12 plus R2.80 per R100 at other banks' ATMs, or R3 at a till
- Payments: R1 to another FNB account, R2 to other banks; external debit orders R3.50 each
A solid choice if your worker already uses FNB send-money services like eWallet.
Standard Bank MyMo
- Monthly fee: R7.50
- Card purchases: free
- Cash: R10 per R1,000 at ATMs, up to R2,000 a month in total, then R2.80 per R100; free at retailers
- Payments: R2 each; debit orders R3.50 each
A simple, reliable option for anyone who prefers a big, familiar bank.
Bank account comparison
| Bank and account | Monthly fee | Card purchases | ATM cash (per R1,000) | App payments | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoTyme Bank | R0 | Free | R10 (free at Pick n Pay / Boxer tills) | Free up to R5,000 | First card free, fully digital |
| Bank Zero | R0 | Free | R10 | EFTs free; immediate R6.50 | Card from R83; needs a smartphone |
| Capitec | R7.50 | Free | R10 | R1 to R2 each | Branches; R30 minimum balance |
| FNB Easy PAYU | R8 | Free | R12 at FNB ATMs | R1 to R2 each | Good for eWallet users |
| Standard Bank MyMo | R7.50 | Free | R10 (up to R2,000 a month) | R2 each | Big, familiar bank |
Bank fees change from time to time, so check the current fee with the bank before opening an account.
Why having a bank account matters
A bank account does more than give your worker a card to swipe.
- Safety. No need to carry large amounts of cash or worry about theft.
- Proof of income. Payslips and bank statements make it easier to rent a home, apply for a loan or buy on credit.
- Access to benefits. She can earn interest, get SMS alerts, and reach affordable funeral cover and savings tools.
- Financial inclusion. A bank account is the first step toward long-term financial independence.
What you can do as an employer
Encourage your domestic worker to open one of these low-cost accounts. AskMandla can pay her salary straight into her bank account, generate her payslips, and handle your UIF admin.
Even if she currently uses a cash code like eWallet, a South African worker can open a GoTyme account with only her ID and a cellphone number. If she is not South African, check with the bank which documents it accepts before she applies.
How AskMandla helps
- Salaries are paid safely and on time
- Payslips are generated automatically
- UIF contributions are worked out correctly
- Your worker gets proof of income and access to financial inclusion tools
Chat to AskMandla on WhatsApp to find out how we can help your employee open an affordable account and get started the right way.
Why a bank account beats cash
Cash can feel convenient, but it limits opportunity. A proper bank account gives a domestic worker safety, proof of income and a real step toward financial independence.