Capitec, once again proving itself to be the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) special favourite, has expanded the number of branches where customers can apply for a Smart ID. Despite kicking off the rollout only a few months back, Capitec is quickly closing in on 100 such branches, having added another ten to the list today.
It’s not alone, either. Standard Bank customers will be delighted to hear that their bank has followed Capitec’s lead. Just… not at the same rate. Today, three new branches were confirmed as part of its larger rollout, bringing its overall total up to 35 branches. It hopes to bump that number up to 50 before the end of April.
Smarter ID services are becoming the new normal
At the time of writing, Capitec has 86 branches capable of supplying customers with a new Smart ID. It confirmed as much in its latest financial results, noting that it had handled more than 71,000 successful applications. If all goes to plan, that extension could reach as many as 350 branches by the end of 2026.
Capitec owes much of its speedy rollout to its Self-Service Terminals (SST), which it claims can set customers up with a Smart ID application in five minutes or less. Obviously, there’s a bit of a wait to get the thing, but the initial process is quick. Customers need only bring R150 to get going.
With at least one Smart ID-enabled branch located in every province, Capitec has greatly expanded the DHA’s reach. Previously, customers who didn’t live near one of the few branches with such power, Saffas were forced to make do with their local Home Affairs office. We probably don’t need to remind you of that place.
For the rest of the banks participating in the DHA’s grand scheme, including Standard Bank, the process involves training up staff members to assist with Smart ID requests. This has led to a slower, but still stable rollout. It has still managed to hit a respectable 35 branches with these three new branches. These can be found at Sky City in Gauteng, Helderberg in the Western Cape, and Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.
