Good news for Absa customers in South Africa
Following announcements from Capitec, FNB and Standard Bank, Absa is the latest retail banking group to join the Department of Home Affairs’ new digital rollout of Smart ID services in South Africa.
The group confirmed on Wednesday (13 August) that it would join the partnership, which aims to bring Smart ID and passport services to more branches, and eventually banking apps.
Absa said the collaboration will overhaul the existing pilot project that it has been a part of since 2016.
Under the old pilot, bank branches hosted satellite DHA offices, running parallel and duplicate systems to the banks. The services were rolled out to only 30 branches in a decade.
Using newer technology and integrated systems, Absa will join the other banks in expanding Home Affairs services more broadly and across its branch network.
The newer system uses an overhauled “live capture” system that is rolling out to all DHA branches, as well as working to digitally integrate with the banks.
If the DHA does not have a suitable ID photo on file, clients will be able to visit a special Smart ID terminal in bank branches.
The branches will also capture details like IDs and biometrics and verify them against the DHA’s database in real time. Within weeks, the Smart ID will be available for collection at the same branch.
“By collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs, we’re bringing services closer to where people are — in their hands, on their screens, and on their terms,” Absa said.
In line with the DHA’s announcements this week, the plan is to roll out Smart ID and passport services to 100 more bank branches by the end of the year, reaching 1,000 branches by 2028/29.
The new branches are expected to start rolling out from October 2025. Only Capitec has confirmed launch dates, but this aligns with the DHA’s Annual Performance Plan for the year.
Other banks have noted that more details will follow soon.
In addition to a mass rollout in physical points of presence, the department aims to integrate these services into banking apps.
This is part of a wider Home Affairs @ Home digital strategy. The banks have confirmed that home delivery will also be part of the rollout in the future.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said that the department put out the invitation to partner with the rollout to all banks—even those without a physical branch network.
“This is the beginning of the end for long queues to access Home Affairs’ critical services. It constitutes a transformative pro-inclusion and pro-poor intervention that will bring these services to all South Africans regardless of who they are or where they live,” he said.
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