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Where to Get Your Smart ID: Banks Offering Home Affairs Services Near You

Several of South Africa’s major banks now offer Department of Home Affairs (DHA) passport and smart ID services at select branches, processing thousands of applications each month. Banks like Absa, FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank provide these services at various locations nationwide, with some branches handling between 5,400 and 6,800 applications monthly.

In an inquiry by MyBroadband, banks shared details about their most popular branches for these services. Discovery Bank and Investec were excluded, as each only offers the service at one location.

Standard Bank identified its Johannesburg branch at 5 Simmonds Street as its busiest site for DHA services, based on monthly application volume. The bank operates nine branches nationwide that offer DHA services, with four in Gauteng, two in the Western Cape, and one each in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape. Since the DHA began providing accurate data in February 2024, Standard Bank reported a consistent flow of applications, with numbers ranging from 5,399 in June to 6,790 in July.

Absa did not specify which of its branches is the most popular but highlighted that its strategic branch locations across the country have led to consistent growth in service uptake. FNB, on the other hand, revealed that its Gauteng branches are the busiest, while its Greenpoint branch in Cape Town and Cornubia branch in KwaZulu-Natal also attract high volumes. However, FNB’s Burgersfort branch in Limpopo sees lower demand.

Nedbank reported that its DHA-supported branches are highly regarded within their communities, including one located in a residential area and another in an office park. The latter caters to professionals, offering a convenient option for those needing DHA services without taking extended time off work. Some Nedbank branches process more than 1,200 applications monthly.

The expansion of DHA services is on the horizon for many banks, but progress hinges on a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement, currently being negotiated through the Banking Association South Africa. Absa has already identified 12 additional branches ready to launch DHA services once the PPP agreement is finalized. Similarly, Nedbank is awaiting the finalization of its partnership agreement with the DHA, while FNB’s project remains in the pilot phase, with a deadline extension to September 2024. Standard Bank, the leader in offering DHA services at the most branches, stated that the expansion depends on Home Affairs’ discretion.

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