The Provision of Home Affairs Services at Bank Branches

Publication Date: 03/05/2025

The Banking Association South Africa (BASA) remains committed to working with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in its efforts to extend the rollout of Home Affairs services through bank branches.
Participating banks will supply most of the technology needed to support this service. However, they rely on DHA infrastructure to request identity cards and passports be issued by the department.
Presently, there is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between participating banks and the DHA that provides for DHA staff to be seconded to bank branches. To expand the services, this MOU must be changed into an agreement to transfer the responsibility for staffing to participating banks. This will also release much needed capacity back to the DHA.
While there have been ongoing engagements between BASA and the DHA, the agreement has yet to be finalised. BASA remains available to the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, to resolve the outstanding matters and assist him in meeting the targets DHA has for the rollout of the services.