Pretoria, 11 November 2026. South Africa now offers Smart ID services at 753 bank branches, passing the government’s target of 750 more than four months ahead of schedule. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the milestone on Wednesday. The result matters because it moves a vital government service into places where people already bank, shop and live.
Together with Home Affairs offices, the 753 branches bring the number of places offering Smart ID services to 967. The department says that is an increase of more than 350% in 246 days. Applicants do not need to book in advance or bring paperwork to the branch. Many of the branches are in communities that historically had little access to Home Affairs services.
Four banks take part: Capitec, Absa, FNB and Standard Bank. According to the department, one million South Africans have already used the service. The minister described the programme as part of building world-class digital public infrastructure for the country.
The pace of the rollout stands out. Earlier reports show how quickly the numbers climbed. Home Affairs said in March that it had passed its first goal of 100 branches by reaching 110. By May, the department reported 167 branches after only eight weeks. In July, 250 branches were online with 500 more on the way. By late August, a Daily Investor count put the figure at 431.
The starting point was far lower. When the current administration took office, only 214 Home Affairs offices could process Smart ID applications. The bank partnership has therefore changed the scale of access within a single year.
Officials want to retire the green barcoded ID book, which they describe as one of the most frequently defrauded documents in the country. The Smart ID card is more secure. In May, the department said a clear roadmap now existed for every citizen to switch, which would let it end recognition of the green ID book. At that time, about 16 million people still used the old book.
Fraud reduction is one benefit. Convenience is another. Queues at regional Home Affairs offices have long frustrated applicants, and bank branches add hundreds of new service points.
Citizens can find participating branches on the Home Affairs online portal, myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za. The portal lists locations so that applicants can plan a single visit. Because the service needs no booking, many people can walk in during normal banking hours.
The minister says more banks and more services will be added soon. In May, officials said the partnership would also expand to passport applications and document home delivery. The department has also spoken of a digital ID that would let people reach Home Affairs services through their smartphones.
The model rests on a pilot in which Home Affairs staff were placed inside bank branches. Early partners included Nedbank, Standard Bank, Absa, Investec, Discovery Bank and FNB. Minister Schreiber has described the result as five-minute, paperless applications, something he said was unthinkable before the Home Affairs @ Home programme began.
Capitec has carried a large share of the load. A Daily Investor analysis in late August counted 242 Capitec branches among the 431 then offering the service. Spreading the work across several banks means applicants can choose the branch closest to home or work.
Applicants should check the portal first, because only participating branches offer the service. The department says no prior booking is needed. Even so, a short visit during quiet hours may help, since demand is rising. The department also reminds citizens that the Smart ID card strengthens the security of the national identification system.
What this means: For millions of South Africans, a Smart ID application is now a bank visit away. The programme also shows how government and private banks can share the work of public services. Fence Africa 24 will follow the next phase of the rollout.
Source: South African Government News Agency (11 November 2026); BusinessTech (11 November 2026, 6 July 2026, 20 May 2026); Daily Investor; ID Tech Wire.
