First National Bank has launched a competition of sorts and is calling for “budding entrepreneurs, innovators, designers and thinkers” to submit ideas for their Ideas Can Help initiative. The competition doesn’t revolves solely around tech, FNB is asking only that prospective entrants “be creative, be original, while making a real difference to communities in South Africa.”

It wouldn’t be a competition without prizes and First National Bank have put up R750,000 for the three most innovative and useful entries. The winning submission will get R500,000 in order to create their idea as well as a one year Business Development Programme/Incubation from the Vumela Enterprise Development Fund. Two runner ups will net R175,000, to fund their own projects.

FNB Chief Marketing Officer Bernice Samuels said “Through this campaign we want individuals outside of FNB to make a difference even in the smallest of ways to demonstrate how “help” can lead the way in growing and building our communities and country.”

Ideas for innovations can be submitted to the FNB blog and entries will be open from now until 1 October this year. Prior to the announcement of the competition winners, submissions will be shortlisted and posted on FNB’s blog where members of the public can vote on their favourites. Prize winners will be announced on 15 November.