South African Rand (ZAR)
United States Dollar (USD)
British Pound (GBP)
Euro (EUR)
Australian Dollar (AUD)
United States Dollar (USD)
South African Rand (ZAR)
British Pound (GBP)
Euro (EUR)
Australian Dollar (AUD)
*Disclaimer: These rates are simulated indicative rates for illustrative purposes only based on typical FNB spreads. Actual rates available at First National Bank may differ at the time of transaction due to market volatility and specific account offering.
function calculateFNBForex() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var amountInput = document.getElementById("amountToExchange").value;
var amount = parseFloat(amountInput);
var sourceCurr = document.getElementById("sourceCurrencySelect").value;
var targetCurr = document.getElementById("targetCurrencySelect").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("forexResult");
// 2. Validation
if (isNaN(amount) || amount 0) {
finalAmount = amount / rateUsed;
appliedRateStr = "1 " + targetCurr + " = " + rateUsed.toFixed(4) + " ZAR (Bank Sells rate)";
}
}
// Scenario C: Cross Currency (e.g., USD to GBP) via ZAR pivot
// Customer sells Source (Bank Buys to ZAR), then buys Target (Bank Sells from ZAR)
else {
transactionTypeStr = "Cross-rate Conversion (" + sourceCurr + " to " + targetCurr + ")";
// Step 1: Convert Source to ZAR equivalent (Bank Buys Source)
var zarEquivalent = amount * zarRates[sourceCurr].bankBuys;
// Step 2: Convert ZAR equivalent to Target (Bank Sells Target)
var sellRateTarget = zarRates[targetCurr].bankSells;
if(sellRateTarget > 0) {
finalAmount = zarEquivalent / sellRateTarget;
// Calculate effective cross rate for display
var effectiveRate = finalAmount / amount;
appliedRateStr = "Effective Cross Rate: 1 " + sourceCurr + " ≈ " + effectiveRate.toFixed(4) + " " + targetCurr;
}
}
// 5. Formatting and Display Results
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-ZA', {
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML =
'
Understanding the FNB Foreign Exchange Rates Calculator
For South Africans traveling abroad, international businesses, or individuals receiving funds from overseas, understanding foreign exchange (forex) rates is crucial. When dealing with major banks like First National Bank (FNB), the rate you see on the news is rarely the rate you get at the teller or on your banking app. This guide explains how FNB foreign exchange rates work and how to use our calculator to estimate your conversions.
How FNB Forex Rates Work: The Spread
Banks like FNB generate revenue on foreign exchange transactions through a "spread." This is the difference between the rate at which the bank buys currency and the rate at which it sells currency.
Bank Buys (You Sell): If you have foreign currency (e.g., US Dollars) and want to convert it into South African Rand (ZAR), the bank "buys" it from you. They will typically offer you a lower rate than the mid-market rate.
Bank Sells (You Buy): If you have ZAR and need foreign currency for travel or payments, the bank "sells" it to you. They will typically charge you a higher rate than the mid-market rate.
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between buy and sell rates in global currency markets. The FNB rate includes their margin for facilitating the trade and managing market risk.
Factors Influencing FNB Exchange Rates
The rates quoted by FNB are dynamic and change frequently throughout the day based on several factors:
Global Market Movements: Fluctuations in the value of the Rand against major currencies like the Dollar, Pound, or Euro.
Transaction Type: Rates differ depending on whether you are exchanging physical cash notes (which have higher handling costs) or performing a Telegraphic Transfer (TT) electronically. Electronic transfers usually offer better rates than cash.
Transaction Size: Larger transaction amounts may sometimes qualify for slightly better rates compared to very small amounts.
How to Use This Calculator
This indicative calculator helps you estimate the outcome of a forex transaction based on typical banking spreads. It automatically adjusts the math based on whether you are buying or selling foreign currency against the ZAR.
Enter Amount: Type in the numerical value of the currency you currently hold.
Select Source Currency: Choose the currency you have in hand right now (e.g., if you are in SA and want to travel to the USA, your source is ZAR).
Select Target Currency: Choose the currency you want to acquire.
Calculate: Click the button to see the estimated converted amount and the indicative rate applied to the calculation.
Please note: The results provided by this tool are for informational purposes only and are based on simulated rates. For live, executable rates, you must log in to your FNB online banking profile or visit a local branch.