# Creating your account

## Overview

Creating a Fynbos account is quick and simple. You'll verify your mobile number, enter your personal details, and choose your subscription. Most users finish in under 5 minutes.

- **Mobile-first**: Sign up on your phone or computer using WhatsApp OTP
- **Immediate access**: Start exploring your accounts as soon as signup is complete
- **Verify later**: Identity verification is only required when you're ready to deposit money

## Choosing what you want to do first

Signing up starts by telling Fynbos what you're here for. This tailors the first thing you see once you're in — nothing is locked in, and you can open or change accounts at any time afterwards.

1. Review the options presented:
  - **Save for emergencies**: Grow your savings with Allan Gray
  - **Long-term investing**: Invest long-term and tax-free with expert-built portfolios
  - **Save for retirement**: Build long-term retirement savings with tax benefits (Protea)
  - **Invest for my kids**: Invest tax-free for your children (Protea)
  - **Save for other things**: Organise your savings into pots (Protea)
  - **Investment accounts**: Automated investing to match your strategy (Protea)
  - **I'm not sure**: Explore at your own pace
2. Tap your preferred option to continue to sign-up

Options that need a Protea subscription carry a **Protea** pill. Choosing one doesn't commit you to subscribing — you pick your subscription later in the flow.

## Signing up with your mobile number

The most common way to create an account is with your mobile number. Fynbos sends a one-time pin (OTP) via WhatsApp to verify it's really you.

1. Navigate to [fynbos.app](https://fynbos.app) in your browser
2. Enter your **Mobile number** in the field provided
3. Select your country from the dropdown if you're not in South Africa
4. Tap **Request OTP**
5. Check WhatsApp for a message containing your one-time pin
6. Enter the **Code** in the verification field
7. Tap **Continue**

> **Tip**: Didn't receive a code? Tap **Resend** to request another WhatsApp message, or tap **get SMS** to receive the code via text message instead.

If message delivery is degraded, both the sign-in and code screens show a notice saying codes may be delayed, and suggest signing in with a passkey if you've registered one. Codes still arrive — they just take longer.

Once verified, you'll proceed to create your profile.

## Signing in with a passkey

After you've created your account, you can register a passkey for faster future sign-ins. Passkeys use your device's built-in security (like Face ID, Touch ID, or Windows Hello) instead of OTP codes.

> **Note**: You cannot sign up with a passkey. First create your account using your mobile number, then register a passkey in your account settings. See the "Registering a passkey" section below.

## Entering your personal details

Fynbos needs your legal name and ID number to create your profile and comply with financial regulations.

1. Enter your **First name** as it appears on your ID
2. Enter your **Surname** as it appears on your ID
3. Enter your 13-digit **ID number**

Your birthday is automatically calculated from your ID number and displayed for confirmation. If referred by a friend, you'll see information about any referral rewards at the top of the screen.

1. Tap **Continue** to proceed

## Accepting the disclosures

Before completing your account, you'll review important information about how Fynbos works.

The disclosures explain:

- **Intermediary Service**: Fynbos helps you execute transactions but doesn't provide personalised financial advice
- **Administrator**: Your money is managed through Itransact (FSP number: 650), a licensed administrator
- **License**: Fynbos operates under Life Current (FSP number: 51852)
- **FICA**: Fynbos must verify your identity before processing transactions

1. Read through each disclosure section
2. Tick the checkbox to confirm you've read and accept the disclosures and terms
3. Tap **Continue**

## Telling us how you found Fynbos

Next, Fynbos asks how you first heard about us. It's a single question and it helps us understand which channels actually reach people.

1. Choose one of: **Social media**, **Friend or family recommendation**, **Google search**, **AI chat**, **An article or interview**, or **Other - please specify:**
2. If you choose Other, type a short answer
3. Tap **Continue**

## Reviewing a family invitation (if you have one)

If someone has invited you to their Fynbos family, the invitation appears as a step here, before you choose a subscription.

You'll see who invited you and a note that they'll sponsor your Protea subscription through the family. Tap **Accept invite** to join them, or **Decline** to carry on and choose your own subscription.

Accepting means you don't need to pay for Protea yourself. See Inviting your partner.

## Choosing your subscription

Fynbos offers two subscription options to fit your needs.

| Subscription | Cost | Includes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Start for free** | R0/month | Emergency Savings, Tax-Free Savings Account |
| **Protea** | R100/month or R1,000/year | Everything in free, plus Savings pots, Kids Accounts, Investment accounts |

1. Select your preferred subscription
2. Tap **Continue**

You can change your subscription at any time from your account settings. If you've been referred by a friend or through a partner, you may see a special offer.

If your employer, a partner, or a parent already covers Protea for you, this step shows their sponsorship instead of the price list, and you just confirm.

> **Note**: The sign-up flow runs in a fixed order and remembers where you got to. If you close the app partway through, coming back takes you to the step you still need to finish rather than the beginning.

## Verifying your identity

Identity verification is required before you can deposit money. You don't need to complete it during signup—Fynbos will prompt you when you're ready to add funds.

When you're ready to verify:

1. Tap **Verify now** to open the verification flow
2. Have your identity document ready (ID Book, ID Card, Passport, or Driver's License)
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to photograph your document
4. Complete a short selfie verification

Verification typically takes a few minutes. Once approved, you can deposit money and access all features.

> **Note**: If you're setting up a child's account, you'll need their birth certificate instead of an ID document.

## Registering a passkey (optional)

After completing signup, you can register a passkey for faster future sign-ins. Passkeys eliminate the need for OTP codes.

1. On the passkey registration screen, tap **Register passkey**
2. Follow your device's prompts to create the passkey
3. Your passkey is now saved for future sign-ins

You can register passkeys using your browser's built-in mechanisms, a password manager like 1Password, or a hardware security key.

## What happens after signup

Once you've completed signup, your account is ready to explore. Here's what to expect:

- **Home screen**: View all your accounts from a single screen
- **Account setup**: Your Emergency Savings and Tax-Free Savings accounts are created automatically
- **Add money**: Set up a debit order or make an EFT transfer to fund your accounts (requires identity verification)
- **Automation**: Configure rules to automatically distribute money across your accounts

When you're ready to add money, Fynbos will prompt you to complete identity verification.