South Africa’s biggest bank by customers, Capitec, has revealed that it will launch its first Smart ID-processing branch soon.
The bank is preparing to launch the first of hundreds of Capitec branches expected to roll out over the coming months and years.
In November 2025, Capitec said it plans to introduce passport and Smart ID services to approximately 300 branches within the year.
It added that the intention is to expand the service to its more than 860 branches in the years ahead, meeting the Department of Home Affairs’ goals.
The DHA is undergoing a major digital transformation, aiming to make most, if not all, Home Affairs services accessible through digital channels.
As part of the process, it aims to get Smart ID and Passport services onto major banks’ banking apps. However, the first step in the plan is to make access to Smart IDs as widespread as possible.
In this vein, the DHA launched a partnership with virtually all major banks in South Africa to make these services available in-branch using the department’s new systems.
More branches coming
The department set a near-term goal of extending services to 100 branches by the end of March 2026—a deadline fast approaching—with a longer-term goal of reaching 1,000 branches by the end of FY 2028.
Capitec, which is launching the services for the very first time, said that 100 branches are expected to be activated by mid-2026, and 200 more by the end of the year.
Regarding its coming launch, it aligns with Capitec’s strategy to make services available in areas that have so far been overlooked for Smart ID access.
The original Smart ID and Passport banking pilot, initiated in 2015, mainly focused on urban areas.
Previously, Capitec avoided the pilot, saying that the old pilot system was not an integrated one and would have required its branch consultants to be split between serving banking customers and DHA customers.
However, with the DHA’s new digital-first approach and integration into banking apps and systems, the service’s new model can sidestep these issues.
Capitec outlined how the Smart ID process will work at its branches when they launch:
- Photo capture: if the DHA does not have a suitable ID photo on file, clients can visit a special Smart ID terminal at select Capitec branches.
- Biometric verification: Clients enter their ID number, have their photo taken, and the system verifies their identity against the DHA database in real time.
- Collection: The Smart ID will be available for collection at the same branch within weeks.
- Future expansion: Functionality through the Capitec App and home delivery will be added in the future.
Other banks are also expected to start rolling out Smart ID and Passport services more broadly, in line with the DHA’s goals.
Standard Bank announced that it would launch three new branches in the coming months, with services currently being piloted and tested.
