[citation needed] The union was founded in February 1916, in response to low staff numbers and high costs of living during World War I.

In its early years, it represented workers throughout the British colonies of southern Africa.

By 1926, it had 3,800 members, and was affiliated to the South African Trades Union Congress.

In 1981, it absorbed the National Union of Bank Employees of South Africa, representing "coloured" workers, and the South African Bank Employees' Union, representing black workers.

This article related to a South African trade union is a stub.