FNB Advisor Barred After Altering Client Contract Without Consent

A former branch advisor at First National Bank (FNB), Kgomotso Dikobe, has been permanently debarred from the financial services sector after serious breaches of integrity.

The case arose when Dikobe altered a customer’s business account agreement without the client’s consent or signature. As part of her role, she was responsible for capturing customer details accurately and ensuring that all agreements were properly signed. Any failure in this process is recorded as a “KYC Fail” (Know Your Client Fail)—a critical compliance breach in banking.

In October 2024, while assisting a client in opening a business account, Dikobe captured the customer’s name incorrectly. After her manager pointed out the error, she amended the agreement but failed to obtain the client’s signature on the corrected documents.

Attempt to Cover Up Leads to Dismissal

When the client refused to return to sign the corrected agreement after business hours, Dikobe allegedly attempted to cut and paste the client’s previous signature onto the amended contract.

Her manager immediately intervened, warning her that this conduct was prohibited and grounds for dismissal. Despite this, Dikobe pressed ahead, later telling her manager that reporting the misconduct would appear personal.

At a disciplinary hearing in November 2024, Dikobe admitted to altering the client’s agreement without a fresh signature. She argued that she acted to avoid a KYC failure but denied that her actions amounted to misconduct. The hearing panel disagreed, leading to her dismissal and a failed appeal.

Tribunal Upholds Debarment Decision

In December 2024, FNB formally notified Dikobe of its intention to debar her. By January 2025, the decision was finalized on the grounds that she had acted without honesty, integrity, or regard for compliance.

Dikobe challenged the decision at the Financial Services Tribunal (FST), claiming she created a new document rather than copying the client’s signature. However, FNB argued that she had been warned about the misconduct and even attempted to persuade her manager to conceal it.

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The tribunal sided with FNB, stating: “Altering a client’s contract without that client’s consent or knowledge is undeniably dishonest and reflects a blatant disregard for the principles of integrity and good standing expected of a financial services representative.”

The FST further noted that her conduct undermined public trust in the financial sector and posed significant risks to clients. It ruled that the debarment was based on sound legal and regulatory principles, leaving no grounds to overturn the decision.

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