South Africa Expands Smart ID Services to 203 Bank Branches

_{Photo credit: twenty1studio / Shutterstock.com}

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has expanded Smart ID replacement services to 203 bank branches as it phases out the fraud-prone Green ID book.

The Smart ID is a physical national identity card containing a microchip that stores the holder’s biographic information and fingerprint biometrics, with additional security features designed to prevent forgery and tampering. 

More than 250,000 people have used the Smart ID replacement service at participating bank branches since March 9. The expansion has increased access to Smart ID replacement services by 73% in just over three months.

The participating locations comprise 109 Capitec branches, 74 Standard Bank branches, and 20 FNB branches. The replacement service was previously only available through 248 Home Affairs offices and 32 bank branches.

Applicants can complete a fully biometric application in around five minutes. The process is paperless and does not require an advance booking.

Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber said: 

I am excited to share that there is much more still to come. Not only will we expand the Smart ID replacement service to 750 branches by the end of this year, but we will shortly also add first-time Smart ID applications, Passport applications, and home deliveries to all of these bank branches. I reiterate my call to the people of South Africa: if you still have a Green ID book, help us to eradicate identity theft that feeds illegal immigration and financial fraud by switching to the Smart ID today.

Around 16 million South Africans still use the Green ID Book, which authorities regard as particularly vulnerable to identity theft and financial fraud.