South Africans requiring essential identity documents have received a major boost in convenience as Capitec, the country’s largest bank by customer numbers and market cap, rolls out Smart ID card and passport services across its vast branch network. This collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) marks a significant step towards modernising civic services and expanding access nationwide.

The initiative, which Capitec announced in August 2025 and began rolling out in October 2025, adopts a new, digital-first approach aimed at removing friction for South Africans and fostering national growth.

Capitec’s service rollout is planned in phases. The initial launch phase involves 10 select branches. The bank plans to activate the service in 100 branches by early or mid-2026, with expansion targets reaching approximately 300 branches by the end of 2026 or shortly thereafter. Capitec intends to eventually scale this service to its network of over 860 branches across South Africa. Importantly, this service is available to any South African, even those who are not Capitec clients, at the participating branches.

The bank specifically intends to launch the service in areas previously overlooked by the earlier pilot projects. Capitec’s Group CEO, Graham Lee, stated that by combining the bank’s technology, branch network, and client-first approach with the DHA’s mandate, they are making essential services faster, simpler, and more accessible for millions, from suburbs to rural areas. Lee confirmed that the bank will not charge extra fees for these Home Affairs transactions.

A Shift to Digital Efficiency

Capitec previously chose to steer clear of the initial pilot project, which was limited to approximately 30 bank branches, due to concerns that the old model involved costly duplication of staff and hardware, lacked integration, and would detract from existing banking operations. The new system, however, leverages technology for a live capture process and greater interoperability between the bank and DHA systems.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber praised the new model, calling the partnership the “most significant milestone to date” on the journey of digital transformation. He noted that integrating directly with banks’ secure networks extends the DHA’s IT platform across the country and onto smartphone apps.

The Minister sees this partnership as key to eliminating costly fraud by urgently replacing the 18 million remaining “green ID books”—which he called “the most defrauded document in Africa”—with secure Smart IDs. The DHA has an overall target of expanding services into 1,000 bank branches by 2029.

Simple Steps for Application and Collection

The process for accessing DHA services through Capitec is designed to be streamlined, helping to eliminate the need for multiple visits to DHA offices and significantly reduce waiting times.

Here is how the service works at participating Capitec branches:

1. Photo Capture: Clients visit a special Smart ID terminal in select Capitec branches if the DHA does not have a suitable ID photo on file.

2. Biometric Verification: The client enters their ID number and has their photo taken, enabling the system to verify their identity against the DHA database in real time.

3. Collection: The Smart ID is processed and will be ready for collection at the same branch within a few weeks.

Looking ahead, Capitec plans further enhancements for greater client convenience. Future expansion will introduce functionality through the Capitec app and home delivery. Passport renewal services are also set to be added soon.

Capitec is one of several major retail banks, including FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Absa, African Bank, TymeBank, and Discovery, that have committed to equipping hundreds of branches with DHA services over the next few years. Standard Bank, for instance, announced its updated plans to launch new services at 20 strategically selected branches in early 2026.

The expansion of these services is a major step toward ensuring all South Africans, including expats visiting home, have fast and simple access to the documents needed for work, travel, and financial inclusion