After more than a year, I reconnected with an interesting colleague, Lufhuno, aka Lloyd, whom I last met on March 5 2020, when the first Covid-19 case was reported in SA.

We met at the weekend and had a lot to talk about — from the reeling English Premier League leaders Arsenal to the pandemic and, of course, the topic of money — especially digital banking.

We left the West Rand, where Lloyd lives, to visit another colleague, Dunga, who resides in Featherbrooke Estate in Krugersdorp, right next to the magnificent Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens.

When we arrived at Dunga’s posh home, all indications were that this was the ideal place to talk about money.

Dunga, a private equity specialist, offered us Kilchoman Cask Strength 2014. I was introduced to this particular whisky by Cuen and Uncle Frank, back in the days when the drink you had accurately described your income.

With whisky glass in hand, it seemed appropriate to talk about money, banking and everything to do with wealth.

I ventured: “Are you aware that Old Mutual plans to launch a digital bank in 2024 to enter a contested terrain dominated by Capitec Bank, Discovery Bank, Tymebank and the newly formed Bank Zero, plus Shoprite?”

Lloyd replied, “What’s new? The boundaries between insurers, investment groups, retail and banks are blurred.

“There’s nothing new here. Look at what Old Mutual is doing after selling its stake in Nedbank, that’s not new.

“It’s like what Telkom did in 2008 when it started selling its lucrative stake in Vodacom to UK mobile giant Vodafone.”