Standard Bank customers now have greater choice when applying for Smart IDs. The Bank has reached a milestone of 50 new bank‑assisted Smart ID processing branches in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
“We committed to adding 50 new branches offering the Smart ID service by the end of April, and we have delivered on that promise. The success of this partnership highlights what we can achieve to improve access to services through stronger collaboration between government and business,” says Kabelo Makeke, Chief Head of Personal & Private Banking at Standard Bank South Africa.
Since Standard Bank began expanding its branch network that processes Smart ID applications, it has significantly increased its processing capacity and improved access for clients.
To date, the bank has completed 5,272 applications through these new branches, with more than half of the Smart ID cards already collected by clients. Despite the higher volumes, efficiency has remained a key strength: clients spend, on average, less than eight minutes completing their applications in-branch. In addition, the average turnaround time for clients to receive their Smart ID cards is approximately two weeks from the date of application.
“We are now processing multiples of the number of applications compared to just a year ago. But our branches are managing these volumes efficiently, demonstrating how our trusted infrastructure can support secure, broader economic activity,” adds Makeke.
Now that it has ramped up to 50 new branches, Standard Bank has raised its ambition further, targeting a network of 112 branches by the end of 2026. In this initial rollout phase the bank has limited services to its own clients to ensure stability and careful scaling. However, it plans to broaden access in future to reach millions more customers, especially in high-demand areas where Home Affairs capacity is constrained.
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