Good news for FNB customers in South Africa
FNB is expanding its Smart ID and passport services in South Africa by partnering with the Department of Home Affairs.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced that Capitec and FNB are joining the department’s new push to expand access to these services to 100 more branches this year and to banking apps.
The Minister said the new phase will deviate from the pilot project that had seen Smart ID and Passport services offered at about 30 bank branches.
He said this “old model” relied on the costly duplication of Home Affairs staff and hardware inside bank branches.
The new system will introduce a better “live capture” process and more interoperability between the banks and the DHA’s systems.
FNB said that the new partnership will enable the reissuance of Smart IDs and passports via the FNB Banking App and branch network, completing the existing services for first-time applications.
FNB has seven branches offering Smart ID and passport services in Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Since the partnership began in 2015, FNB has issued over 570,000 Smart IDs and passports via its seven participating branches.
This includes 312,000 Smart IDs and 258,000 passports, reflecting the collaboration’s success and scale.
“FNB recognises how critical Smart IDs and passports are to all South Africans, whether for applying for basic services, opening bank accounts, seeking employment, or travelling,” said FNB CEO Harry Kellan.
“With the DHA’s newer technology, reaching millions of South Africans through FNB’s systems and infrastructure will be a reality. That is what real help is all about, continuing to support everyday South Africans.”
How the system will work
Over the upcoming months, customers can apply for reissuance via the FNB Banking App or the existing DHA’s online booking system.
On the Banking App, customers can apply for their Smart ID and Passport to be reissued and delivered to their address or collected at one of our branches.
If a customer requires assistance, they can continue to visit one of the designated branches, as they currently do, for photos and fingerprints and then collect from that branch.
FNB will also offer status tracking for the customers to view where in the process their Smart ID or Passport are once the application is completed.
“Our ambition is to expand this service nationally, focusing on reaching communities that have historically faced challenges in accessing these essential services,” said CEO of FNB Points of Presence, Zibu Nqala.
“In addition to the mobile banking App capabilities that will be introduced, we’ll also look to enable every branch to assist customers with the service over time.”
While FNB has already offered the service alongside several other banks, Capitec is now joining the service, having historically shied away from the system.
Capitec’s services will be similar to those of FNB. It will initially only be in-branch, before being added to the bank’s app in the future, along with home delivery.
Regarding locations, Capitec said it will roll out services to branches that the DHA and other banks currently underserve
“This partnership is the first proof point of our commitment to work closely with the government and the public sector to resolve real problems,” said new Capitec CEO Graham Lee
“By combining our technology, branch network and client-first approach with the DHA’s mandate, we are making essential services faster.”
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