South Africans are set to enjoy even greater access to Smart ID and passport services as FNB and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) accelerate the nationwide rollout of their digital partnership. By December 2026, the service is expected to be available in 240 FNB branches, significantly expanding access to essential identity services across the country.
The milestone follows more than a decade of collaboration between the banking sector and Home Affairs, with over 570,000 Smart IDs and passports already processed through participating FNB branches since the initiative began in 2015.
The latest phase of the partnership introduces an enhanced digital service that allows customers to visit participating FNB branches to replace the traditional green barcoded ID book with a Smart ID card. Customers whose Smart ID cards have been lost or stolen can also apply for replacement cards through participating branches.
Since the launch of the new digital model earlier this year, the initiative has already demonstrated significant impact. According to FNB, the bank has issued more than 14,000 Smart ID cards through the new system, contributing to the broader rollout of secure digital identity services.
Bringing government services closer to communities
FNB CEO Lytania Johnson says the partnership is about fundamentally improving how South Africans access essential public services.
“From the outset, our ambition has been to meaningfully shift how South Africans experience access to essential services, making it more seamless, more inclusive and more responsive to their everyday needs.
What we have achieved thus far demonstrates the power of institutions aligning behind a shared purpose to drive real help at scale. As we continue with the next phase of expansion, our focus remains on extending access to more communities across the country through a branch network that customers already know and trust.
We see this as a long-term collaboration that will keep evolving to deliver greater ease, dignity and impact for South Africans across the country.”
The service is currently available in more than 51 FNB branches across all nine provinces, with additional locations being added every month as the rollout progresses toward the 240-branch target.
Reducing queues and improving convenience
Zibu Nqala, CEO of Retail and Business Banking Distribution at FNB, says the expansion reflects increasing demand for easier access to government services.
She explains that integrating Home Affairs services into the bank’s existing branch network has reduced unnecessary delays by allowing customers to complete applications closer to where they live and work.
According to Nqala, customers are benefiting from shorter waiting times, fewer repeat visits and a more efficient application process, making it easier to access critical identity services.
Strengthening South Africa’s digital identity system
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber says the continued expansion represents another important milestone in the department’s Home Affairs @ home reform programme.
He notes that more than half a million South Africans have already replaced their fraud-prone green barcoded ID books through the banking sector’s Digital Partnership with Home Affairs in less than five months.
Schreiber says the growing network of Smart ID service points, combined with the department’s new online services, makes it easier than ever for South Africans to obtain secure digital identity documents.
Every new Smart ID card issued, he says, means one fewer vulnerable green ID book remains in circulation while bringing Home Affairs services closer to where people live, work and bank.
No additional fees for customers
Customers using the service continue to pay only the standard Department of Home Affairs application fee of R140. FNB does not charge any additional convenience or logistics fees, reinforcing the partners’ commitment to providing equitable, affordable access to government services.
Looking ahead, FNB says it plans to continue expanding the model by investing in technology, infrastructure and stronger public-private partnerships to improve accessibility, reliability and customer experience across South Africa.
With hundreds of branches expected to offer Smart ID services before the end of the year, the partnership marks another significant step towards modernising government service delivery while making essential identity services more accessible to millions of South Africans.
