South Africans looking to apply for a Smart ID card can now more easily locate participating bank branches following the launch of a new online platform by the Department of Home Affairs.
The service was unveiled by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber during the department’s Digital Partnership media event held with FNB at Canal Walk in Cape Town on 3 August 2026. The website enables users to identify nearby bank branches offering Smart ID applications, with additional locations expected to appear automatically as more financial institutions join the programme.
The latest initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to digitise public services and encourage citizens to replace the older green barcoded identity book with the more secure Smart ID card.
Digital partnership continues to expand
According to the Department of Home Affairs, the Digital Partnership programme has grown rapidly since it was introduced on 9 March 2026.
A total of 372 participating bank branches now provide Smart ID application services across South Africa, significantly increasing access beyond traditional Home Affairs offices.
The department said more than 500,000 South Africans have already submitted Smart ID applications through participating banks since the programme began.
Schreiber described the new branch locator as another step towards making government services easier to access.
He said every digital reform should improve convenience for the public, adding that the online platform allows residents to quickly identify the nearest participating branch instead of searching manually.
The minister also renewed his call for South Africans still using the green barcoded ID book to switch to the Smart ID card, citing improved security and stronger protection against identity fraud.
FNB plans nationwide expansion
FNB highlighted its own role in the expanding partnership, confirming that Smart ID services are currently available at 51 branches.
The bank plans to increase that number to 240 branches nationwide by December 2026, making Smart ID applications available to customers in far more communities across the country.
Since joining the Digital Partnership earlier this year, FNB has already issued more than 14,000 Smart ID cards using the department’s new digital processing model.
The Department of Home Affairs expects the number of participating branches to continue growing as more banks are integrated into the programme. Because the online locator updates in real time, users will automatically see newly added service points as they become available.
The expansion reflects the department’s wider effort to modernise identity services, reduce queues at government offices and provide citizens with more convenient access through existing banking infrastructure.
Officials believe broader participation from financial institutions will help accelerate the replacement of South Africa’s ageing green identity books while improving the security and efficiency of the country’s identification system.
Source: Department of Home Affairs