Standard Bank has officially started rolling out Smart ID services at selected branches, marking another step in making identity services easier to access.
For now, the service is available at Rosebank, Maponya Mall, and Westgate, with plans to expand further.
During this launch phase, customers won’t pay any added convenience or processing fees. Clients will only cover the standard Department of Home Affairs application fee of R140, keeping the process affordable from the start.
At these branches, people can apply for or renew their Smart ID cards, complete payment, and collect the finished document at the same location.
A fully digital application system is expected to follow in a later phase.
This development builds on last year’s expansion of the Home Affairs banking partnership model. Capitec and FNB were the first to join the department’s new digital model, aimed at extending Smart ID and passport services from around 30 branches to hundreds more nationwide, including rural areas and banking apps.
Standard Bank has actually been part of this partnership since 2016. In August last year, it formally relaunched the collaboration alongside FNB, committing to 20 branches first, with a goal of reaching 300 over time.
As Marius le Roux explained, “Access to identity documents is foundational to participation in the economy,” adding that the bank’s focus is on “removing friction for clients, not adding to it.”
