696 bank branches now do Smart IDs. Here's what you'll pay

You can now swap your green ID book for a Smart ID card, or replace a lost one, at 696 bank branches across South Africa. That is the count on Home Affairs' official partner branch locator on 25 October 2026, almost double the 372 branches Home Affairs reported in early August.

Most people pay R140 and are out in a few minutes, with no booking and no paperwork. There are a few conditions, though, and first-time IDs are not on offer yet.

Which banks offer Smart IDs?

Four banks are on the Home Affairs locator:

• Capitec: 373 branches
• Standard Bank: 157 branches
• FNB: 136 branches
• Absa: 30 branches

Every province is covered. Gauteng has the most branches (186), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (129), the Western Cape (95), Limpopo (71), the Eastern Cape (68), Mpumalanga (62), the Free State (36), North West (32) and the Northern Cape (17), according to the same list. The South African has published the full branch-by-branch list.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said in his May budget vote speech that the department wants at least 750 branches offering the service by the end of 2026.

Who can apply at a bank?

Only re-issues for now. According to Home Affairs, the bank service covers:

• green ID book holders switching to a Smart ID card
• Smart ID holders replacing a card (lost, stolen or damaged)
• permanent residents and naturalised citizens from visa-exempt countries, in the first phase

If you have never had an ID, you still need a Home Affairs office. Capitec confirms first-time applications are not available in its branches yet.

How much does it cost?

The Home Affairs fee is R140. Capitec adds a R10 service fee, so you pay R150 there. FNB says it charges nothing on top of the R140.

You pay from a bank account, not with cash. Capitec says you need a Capitec account with money in it and can open one in the branch. FNB says the service is for customers with an active, funded transactional account and that payment is approved on the FNB App or online banking.

FNB's page also notes that senior citizens aged 60 and older do not pay for their first Smart ID.

What happens at the branch?

You do not need an appointment or documents for a replacement, according to Capitec and FNB. The branch captures your photo and fingerprints to confirm who you are. Capitec says it also takes your signature. If you are opening a Capitec account on the day, bring your green ID book.

Home Affairs then processes and produces the card. You collect it at the branch you chose, or have it delivered where your bank offers that. Updates on your application come from your bank, not Home Affairs.

How do I find my nearest branch?

Use the locator on My Home Affairs Online. Home Affairs says new branches are added there as they go live, so check it before you travel rather than relying on an older list.