First National Bank (FNB) has expanded its collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), enabling the reissuance of Smart IDs and passports via the FNB Banking App and branch network.

Since the partnership began in 2015, FNB has issued over 570,000 Smart IDs and passports through its seven participating branches. This includes 312,000 Smart IDs and 258,000 passports, reflecting the success and scale of the collaboration.

Harry Kellan, CEO of FNB, comments, “FNB recognizes how critical Smart IDs and passports are to all South Africans, whether for applying for basic services, opening bank accounts, seeking employment, or travelling. We continue to innovate to meet our customers’ needs and are proud to extend our decade-long partnership with the DHA while supporting the government’s digital and modernization agenda. With the DHA’s newer technology, reaching millions of South Africans through FNB’s systems and infrastructure will be a reality. That is what real help is all about: continuing to support everyday South Africans.”

Over the upcoming months, customers will be able to apply for reissuance via the FNB Banking App or the existing DHA’s online booking system. On the Banking App, customers can apply for their Smart ID or Passport to be reissued and delivered to their address or collected at one of our branches. Should a customer require assistance, they will continue to visit one of our designated branches, as they currently do, for photographs and fingerprints and can collect from the same branch. We will enable status tracking for the customer to view where in the process their Smart ID or Passport is once the application is completed.

CEO of FNB Points of Presence Zibu Nqala adds, ” We recognize the vital role that the DHA plays in the lives of South Africans. Our ambition is to expand this service nationally, with a particular focus on reaching communities that have historically faced challenges in accessing these essential services. In addition to the mobile banking App capabilities that will be introduced, overtime we’ll also look to enable every branch to assist customers with the service. This will ensure representation across all provinces and allow us to continue providing convenient, community-focused services in partnership with the DHA.

Our partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to improve access to services, and we are proud to support the Department in delivering meaningful impact to communities across the country.”