Coen Jonker is a prominent figure in the fintech and digital banking sector, best known as the co-founder of Tyme, a digital banking group that has significantly expanded its operations across Africa and Asia. Born in South Africa, Jonker has been instrumental in leveraging technology to provide banking solutions accessible to the unbanked populace. Under his leadership, TymeBank has grown into a major player within the South African financial services industry since its inception in 2019 and has expanded operations internationally, with notable success in the Philippines.
In recent years, Coen Jonker has been at the forefront of several developments within TymeBank and the broader Tyme Group.
July 2024: TymeBank appointed Karl Westvig as its new CEO. Coen Jonker transitioned to focus exclusively as the Executive Chairman of Tyme Group, continuing to drive the company's expansion strategy across multiple countries. His new focus includes preparations for a potential public listing in the near future.
August 2024: TymeBank aimed to enter the Southeast Asian market more robustly, particularly targeting Indonesia. Tyme chose to initially focus on small business lending, seeing significant potential among Indonesia's vast network of SMEs.
April 2024: Jonker outlined ambitions to make TymeBank one of South Africa’s top three banks catering to affluent customers, further cementing its status within the retail banking sector.
December 2023: Under Jonker's leadership, TymeBank achieved profitability, marking a significant milestone for digital banks focusing on underserved markets.
2022-2023: Tyme expanded into the Philippines with GoTyme Bank, achieving rapid customer growth, testament to Jonker’s expansion strategy.
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Coenraad Jonker |
| Born | Not publicly available |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Executive Chairman of Tyme Group |
| Known For | Co-founding Tyme, digital banking innovations |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | MBA from GIBS; Law degrees with honors |
Coen Jonker's early life details are not widely publicized, but his professional journey reflects a strong foundation in education and law. He started his career with Edward Nathan Corporate Law Advisers, where he eventually became CEO. Jonker shifted towards finance and strategy by joining Deloitte in 2011, a move that sowed the seeds for his fintech endeavors. His academic credentials include an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and law degrees with honors, which equipped him well for the cross-disciplinary world of financial innovation.
Jonker's career is marked by strategic leadership roles across various financial and legal institutions before founding Tyme.
2011: Joined Deloitte as a Partner in the strategy and innovation practice, allowing him to develop Tyme as a new venture.
2012: Tyme was spun out of Deloitte, marking its entry into the fintech world.
2015: Tyme was acquired by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), and Jonker relocated to Hong Kong to lead CBA’s digital initiatives.
2017: Appointed Group Executive responsible for CBA’s international retail banking and insurance business.
2018-2019: Partnered with African Rainbow Capital to buy Tyme from CBA, relaunching it as TymeBank in South Africa.
2022: Expanded Tyme’s footprint to the Philippines with the launch of GoTyme Bank.
Today, Coen Jonker leads Tyme Group as Executive Chairman, having been instrumental in its strategic redirections, including major geographic expansions and preparation for an IPO. Under his vision, Tyme aims to reshape banking not only in South Africa but across emerging markets, emphasizing financial inclusion and leveraging technological advancements to simplify banking services.
Coen Jonker has played a pivotal role in the success of TymeBank and its expansion across various international markets. Through innovative banking solutions aimed at underserved communities, Jonker has set a precedent for digital banking strategies globally. As he transitions to his new role within Tyme Group, his contributions continue to shape the landscape of financial services, promising to leave a lasting impact on how banking is perceived and utilized in emerging markets.