Good news for Capitec, Standard Bank and FNB customers in South Africa
South African banking groups Capitec, Standard Bank and FNB have increased the number of branches where Smart IDs can be processed, bringing the total to 203 outlets across the country.
Capitec continues to lead the rollout, having increased its Smart ID branch network to 109 locations. This is followed by Standard Bank with 74 branches, and FNB with 20 branches.
The branches are part of the new digital partnership model with the Department of Home Affairs, launched earlier this year.
Under the new digital model, bank branches are able to integrate Smart ID processes into their own systems, instead of piggybacking on the DHA’s systems under the old process.
According to the DHA, under the previous model, only 248 Home Affairs offices and 32 bank branches offered Smart ID replacement services.
“The addition of 203 bank branches means that access to this critical service has been expanded by 73% in a little over three months,” it said.
“Additionally, over a quarter of a million people have already used this service to obtain a replacement Smart ID card since it was launched on 9 March.”
The department said the project has dramatically increased access to Smart ID services and is accelerating efforts to replace the vulnerable Green ID Book faster than ever.
It noted that approximately 16 million South Africans still rely on the Green ID Book, which is prone to fraud and identity theft.
“Replacing [the Green ID book] with the Smart ID card is essential to strengthening the integrity of South Africa’s identity system, protecting citizens against fraud and identity theft, and securing the population register that underpins citizenship, immigration and national security,” it said.
Under the new digital partnership, it now takes as little as five minutes to apply for a Smart ID through a fully biometric process.
The process requires no paperwork, no prior booking, and leaves no room for discretion.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the rollout of bank branches will continue, with 750 branches expected to be offering services by the end of 2026.
He added that first-time Smart ID applications, Passport applications, and home deliveries are also coming to all of the bank branches in the project.
Almost every major bank in South Africa has signed on to the project, though Capitec, Standard Bank and FNB are the only groups to roll out bank branches so far.
Nedbank, Absa, Tymebank, Discovery Bank, and African Bank are set to follow suit at some point.
“I reiterate my call to the people of South Africa: if you still have a Green ID book, help us to eradicate identity theft that feeds illegal immigration and financial fraud by switching to the Smart ID today,” he said.
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