FNB is set to significantly expand access to Smart ID and passport services, with plans to offer Department of Home Affairs (DHA) services at 240 branches nationwide by December 2026.
The move forms part of the bank’s long-standing partnership with Home Affairs, aimed at making identity document services more accessible while reducing the need for South Africans to visit traditional Home Affairs offices.
Currently, Smart ID and passport services are available at more than 51 FNB branches across all nine provinces, with additional locations expected to be added each month.
Since the partnership launched in 2015, more than 570,000 Smart IDs and passports have been processed through participating FNB branches. Earlier this year, the bank also introduced a new digital application model, through which more than 14,000 Smart ID cards have already been issued.
The expanded service allows eligible customers to replace their green barcoded ID books with Smart ID cards, while those who have lost or had their Smart IDs stolen can also apply for replacements at participating branches.
The rollout supports the Department of Home Affairs’ ongoing drive to phase out South Africa’s green ID books, which have long been identified as more vulnerable to fraud than Smart ID cards.
FNB CEO Lytania Johnson said the bank’s goal is to make essential public services more convenient and accessible through a branch network that millions of customers already use.
Meanwhile, Dr Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, said the partnership represents another milestone in the department’s Home Affairs @ Home reform programme, noting that more than half a million South Africans have already switched to Smart ID cards through the banking sector’s digital services.
Customers using the service will continue to pay the standard R140 Home Affairs application fee, with no additional convenience or administration charges.
FNB says it will continue expanding the service throughout 2026, using technology and public-private partnerships to make government services faster, more efficient and easier to access for South Africans.
Main Image: Cape Town ETC
