Discovery Bank Unveils Africa’s First Integrated Crypto Trading Feature in Partnership with Luno
These updates build on the bank’s enhancements around financial planning, financial wellbeing, sophisticated security features, and a more personalised and intelligent digital banking experience, which were announced earlier this year.
Discovery Bank, the fastest growing bank in South Africa, announced a host of new product features, updates and new offers (which can be viewed here). These updates build on the bank’s enhancements around financial planning, financial wellbeing, sophisticated security features, and a more personalised and intelligent digital banking experience, which were announced earlier this year.
The additions to Discovery Bank’s digital banking platform include several industry-firsts:
- Crypto trading directly in the Discovery Bank app, in partnership with Luno.
- The TRUST Alert system, real-time AI monitoring of transactions to enhance security and protection.
- Instant quote and activation of Discovery Insure car insurance in the banking app.
- Partnerships with MultiChoice (DStv) and admyt, and more ways to earn Ðiscovery Miles in the updated Ðiscovery Miles+ Network.
First of its kind in Africa: Integrated crypto trading with Luno
As a full-service bank, Discovery Bank offers a comprehensive suite of products, including flexible savings options, home and personal loans, real-time Forex, and share trading. Expanding the range of assets that clients can now access, Discovery Bank will add crypto trading in over 50 crypto assets from December 2025.
“The financial world is evolving fast, and crypto assets have matured to become an accessible, mainstream asset class. Our clients – and South Africans more generally – are already engaged in this market, with 1 in 10 people holding crypto assets, and our regulation leading in the region and aligning with global norms. As a bank known for bringing the future of banking to its clients, we are thrilled to announce that we are the first mobile bank to partner with Luno, a leading crypto platform that is used by over 15 million clients. We’re giving our clients the capability to easily invest in crypto assets and trade directly in the Discovery Bank app. We’ll also reward them with Vitality Money Savings points for crypto balances in their secure Luno wallets. It provides Discovery Bank clients with access to the full liquidity and breadth of crypto-asset options provided by Luno, in the convenience of their Discovery Bank app.”
– Hylton Kallner, CEO, Discovery Bank
With this partnership, Discovery Bank clients will be able to link their Luno accounts to seamlessly buy, hold and sell crypto assets, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, through the Discovery Bank app. Discovery Bank clients will be able to track balances and transactions in real time, transfer funds instantly with no fees, and trade in more than 50 crypto assets.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Discovery Bank to offer its clients the same robust safeguards to trade confidently alongside over 15 million Luno customers across Africa, Asia and Europe. This is a first-of-its-kind solution in Africa to integrate digital asset investing directly into a major mobile banking platform, and this partnership is a clear signal that crypto has moved from a niche to a mainstream investment choice for those looking to diversify their investment portfolio with digital assets. Customer trust, safety and experience are central aspects for both Discovery Bank and Luno, which makes this partnership a perfect fit. We’re excited to see more people start their digital-asset-investment journey through this partnership as we continue to expand the offerings available to Discovery Bank clients.”
– James Lanigan, CEO, Luno
TRUST Alert for enhanced banking protection
In March this year, Discovery Bank introduced multi-layered security features for added security when clients transact through the app, online or in-store. Banking security is a high priority, and using pattern data and real time analysis, Discovery Bank clients will now have added, intelligent protection with every transaction being individually risk-assessed in real time by its new TRUST Alert system.
“Our intelligent TRUST Alert system monitors potential fraud threats and identifies transactions that pose a risk, based on personal patterns, behaviours and other known financial safety threats. Every in-app and secure payment is analysed in real time, with a prominent TRUST Alert warning being displayed to clients about transactions when needed. The TRUST Alert gives an explanation about the elevated risk, providing a key moment for clients to pause and confirm transaction details – and decide what action to take. Incorporating continuous learning in this system, we help our clients identify and manage suspicious transactions to protect their money.”
– Hylton Kallner, CEO, Discovery Bank
Discovery Bank app integration of Discovery products
“The Discovery Bank app is now the primary digital channel for our clients for all their Discovery products. Everything we’ve done, is designed with purpose and sets us up to offer even greater integration, and more products and rewards. Our updated app experience enables seamless access to the full Discovery ecosystem through a new, intuitive navigation and simple product activation.”
– Hylton Kallner, CEO, Discovery Bank
The following integrated features are immediately available offering even greater convenience:
- Motor insurance in Discovery Bank: Clients can now get a quote and activate a Discovery Insure car insurance plan directly within the Discovery Bank app. The process is as quick as a standard banking transaction, with pre-populated data for speed and accuracy.
- Unified portfolio view: Clients have full visibility and control over all their Discovery products in one place.
- Integrated in-app calling: The bank introduced in-app calling earlier this year, offering secure, direct contact with a banker instantly – 24/7 from anywhere in the world. There is no need for any additional authentication and calls are intelligently routed to the right area of the bank.
More lifestyle and entertainment rewards
Discovery Bank has expanded its partner network, and added DStv to its entertainment benefits in the Discovery Bank app.
From the second quarter of 2026, Discovery Bank clients can earn up to 25% back in Ðiscovery Miles on DStv decoder packages, and up to 50% back in Ðiscovery Miles on streaming packages. The bank is also offering clients up to 25% back in Ðiscovery Miles when they pay their MultiChoice debit orders from a Discovery Bank account from December 2025.
“At Discovery Bank, we turn healthy behaviours, from spending responsibly to healthy food choices, staying active, or driving well, into real financial benefits with our rewards currency, Ðiscovery Miles. Clients get added discounts on entertainment and utilities in the app, and at retail partners, double savings on Miles Ð-Day, and they can convert it into cash. It’s now also possible for clients to earn up to 15% back in Ðiscovery Miles across an expanded network of home, fashion, and lifestyle partners in the Ðiscovery Miles+ Network. Clients can also access exclusive offers in the Vitality Mall, such as deals on the Nespresso Vertuo POP coffee machine and Nespresso coffee pods when paying with Ðiscovery Miles. It’s completely seamless. When clients make an in-store purchase of R250 or more with a Discovery Bank card between December 2025 and January 2026, and park using the admyt app, we will automatically refund the parking costs in Ðiscovery Miles. Clients simply park, shop, go and get rewarded. It’s a great example of the integrated data, ecosystems and payment rails that underpin Discovery Bank.”
– Hylton Kallner, CEO, Discovery Bank
In time for the holiday season, Kallner explained Discovery Bank clients can earn Ðiscovery Miles back when using the admyt ticketless parking app, powered by license-plate-recognition technology.
This benefit will be activated once clients link their Discovery Bank card on the admyt app to pay for parking at over 70 locations across South Africa, including V&A Waterfront, Mall of Africa, Canal Walk, Ballito Junction and Sandton City.
“The Discovery Bank app now serves as a gateway to lifestyle, financial, and rewards ecosystems, with instant connection. With every enhancement, we’re focused on value, providing a seamless experience that’s consistent, yet personalised, and to deepen engagement that increases the benefits for every client over time.”
– Hylton Kallner, CEO, Discovery Bank
