Capitec’s smart ID branch rollout plans
Capitec’s smart ID branch rollout plans are set to transform access to identification services in South Africa. The bank still intends to process smart ID card applications at select branches this year, although the rollout is slightly delayed from the initial schedule.
Capitec joins Home Affairs’ digital partnership
Capitec is one of nine banks collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs in a digital partnership designed to broaden smart ID card and passport services across hundreds of locations. This initiative marks a significant step in improving accessibility for South Africans in areas without nearby Home Affairs offices.
Capitec’s extensive branch network, larger than most of the traditional Big Four banks, positions it to make a substantial impact on smart ID card access. Shortly after joining the digital partnership, Capitec announced that its first branches supporting smart ID card applications would launch in October 2025.
Testing and rollout updates
However, Home Affairs officials informed Parliament that the bank-integrated system’s testing would only begin in November 2025, followed by a public pilot early next year. The department is developing an API that will allow banks to connect directly to the Home Affairs backend, enabling application initiation, biometric enrolment, and document collection without the need for Home Affairs staff at the branches.
The system builds on the eHomeAffairs pilot programme, currently operational at only 30 bank branches. Capitec is testing its systems to ensure readiness for the initial phase later this year. The bank also plans to demonstrate the technology at the Innovation Exchange in Johannesburg on 20 November 2025.
Initial branch rollout and expansion
Capitec confirmed that only a limited number of branches will be part of the initial rollout, prioritizing areas with minimal Home Affairs coverage. A complete list of participating branches will be released once operations are stable and demand assessed.
The bank emphasized its commitment to expanding client access while maintaining service quality and supporting employees throughout the rollout process.
Ambitious 2026 plans
Capitec aims to enable smart ID card applications at 100 branches by March 2026, expanding to 250–300 branches by year-end. Other participating banks, including Absa, African Bank, Discovery Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, and TymeBank, plan to provide services at over 150 branches by March 2026, eventually reaching more than 834 locations.
Combined with Home Affairs’ own offices, this will create over 1,000 locations where South Africans can apply for smart ID cards by the end of next year. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber described this collaboration as the department’s most significant technological innovation in decades.
Mobile applications and future services
Several banks plan to offer smart ID card applications through mobile apps, allowing users to submit information, verify identity via biometrics, make payments, and receive smart IDs at home. This expansion will accelerate the replacement of the remaining 16 million green ID books, reducing identity theft and fraud.
Over time, banks may also provide additional Home Affairs services, including passport renewals. Schreiber highlighted that this partnership would save the department money and ease congestion at its offices, allowing them to focus on other essential services.
Capitec’s smart ID branch rollout plans are set to revolutionize how South Africans access secure identification, combining convenience, technology, and accessibility in one initiative.
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