This allows Capitec to scale the service quickly with strong stability and lower operational costs. Terminals are centrally managed so new features and critical security updates can be deployed rapidly.
Capitec, South Africa’s leading financial services group, has launched its in-branch Smart ID service in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) . After a successful pilot, the service is now live in select branches, marking the start of a phased national rollout that will expand to 100 locations by mid-2026.
Capitec clients can now apply for a Smart ID via dedicated in-branch Self-Service Terminals (SSTs) with no prior booking required. The seamless, paperless process takes less than five minutes and is fully integrated with DHA systems, enabling secure, real-time processing in the heart of communities. Clients receive a notification when their ID is ready and can collect it from the branch.
The dignity of access
For millions of South Africans, the fundamental right to an identity has long been a source of anxiety, requiring taxing journeys, long queues, and sometimes lost income. Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber notes that more than 4.4 million South Africans over the age of 16 have neither a green ID book nor a Smart ID card. The human cost of this exclusion is profound. The World Bank’s latest Global Findex report notes that lacking an ID effectively locks people out of the modern economy. Without an ID, people cannot vote, open a bank account, or secure formal employment. Findex data also shows that the distance people travel for document applications is one of the largest barriers keeping them from opportunities.
“This partnership with Capitec marks a historic step in transforming how South Africans access their identity documents. By bringing Smart ID services into bank branches, we are moving closer to a future where people no longer have to travel long distances or stand in long queues to access this fundamental right. This is what effective public-private collaboration looks like. It uses innovation and national reach to ensure every South African can obtain the identity they need to participate fully in our economy and democracy, closer to where they live. This is our vision to deliver Home Affairs @ home, in action.”
– Dr. Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, South Africa
Meeting the high demand for IDs across the country puts significant pressure on the DHA. While the department has a nationwide network of 349 offices, only 190 are currently equipped to process Smart IDs. By partnering with Capitec, the DHA aims to expand access and remove barriers that have limited reach.
With over 860 branches across suburbs, townships, and rural areas, Capitec is uniquely positioned to extend access and help ease the burden on DHA offices. As the rollout progresses, Capitec’s branches will serve as hubs that simplify services by bringing critical functions under one roof.
“Our work with the DHA is about enabling access for all. An ID is a catalyst for economic participation. We serve close to half of South Africa’s adult population, and we know that time is our clients’ most valuable asset. By integrating Home Affairs services into our branches, we are using our scale and technology to shorten long journeys and help fill a real gap in underserved communities.”
– Graham Lee, Group Chief Executive Officer, Capitec
Industry-leading tech
Capitec is the first bank to move beyond reliance on stationed Home Affairs officials. Instead, it has developed a proprietary digital integration, built on Amazon Web Services, connecting in-branch SSTs directly to DHA systems. This allows Capitec to scale the service quickly with strong stability and lower operational costs. Terminals are centrally managed so new features and critical security updates can be deployed rapidly.
The SSTs are designed to streamline everyday transactions by digitising and simplifying processes, reducing queue times, and returning valuable hours to clients.
“This is purposeful innovation. By democratising access to essential identity documents, we support the government’s mandate for socio-economic transformation. This partnership also ensures every citizen has the chance to participate in the nation’s progress.”
– Graham Lee, Group Chief Executive Officer, Capitec
Growing the value ecosystem
Consistent with Capitec’s promise of simplicity and transparency, there are no hidden fees. The application fee is R150, comprising the standard DHA fee of R140 and a Capitec service fee of R10 to cover logistics. Capitec’s proprietary biometric technology also allows applications to be completed without paperwork.
“We are building an ecosystem where banking, connectivity and identity live side-by-side. Our clients trust us with their money, their data bundles and connectivity, along with services that support their daily lives. Through this partnership with the DHA, we are honouring that trust by handing them the most important key to their financial future – their identity.”
– Graham Lee, Group Chief Executive Officer, Capitec
