Capitec rolls out Smart ID services at seven branches, with more to come in 2026

There’s been movement on the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) plan to make its smart ID and passport services more accessible. Relying on SA’s banks to pick up the slack, Capitec and several others agreed to upgrade their branches, allowing customers to secure Smart IDs or passports more quickly. Following some good news on that front from FNB, Capitec has launched the service in seven of its branches today.

That means a whole lot more Saffas who can get their Smart ID faster than if they took the traditional route. You know, the one that usually ends with the phrase ‘The system is offline’. You’ll notice we didn’t mention passports, despite the bank’s assurances. That’ll come later, once Capitec has settled into its new role, we imagine.

Capitec leads the way

“Our work with the DHA is about enabling access for all,” said Graham Lee, executive officer at Capitec. “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.”

Capitec is enabling its Smart ID services with an in-branch Self-Service Terminal (SST) that the bank says requires no prior booking. Just walk in, fiddle around, and you’ll be done in five minutes. When your Smart ID is ready to collect, you’ll automatically receive a notification.