Capitec rolling out new branches and ATMs in South Africa
Capitec customers are benefiting from a larger network of branches across South Africa in 2026. While its ATM numbers have declined slightly, it still has substantially more of these devices than other banks.
The bank’s annual results for the financial year ended 28 February 2026 revealed Capitec increased its branches to 885.
Both its ATM and branch networks are set to grow in 2026, according to the bank’s earlier feedback to MyBroadband.
“For us, it’s essential that banking is accessible for everyone, which is why we continue to invest in our physical footprint,” Capitec said.
Capitec said it would continue to grow its ATM and bank branch channels in line with client demand and requirements.
“We will keep optimising our footprint by relocating selected branches and ATMs as market dynamics change,” it said.
“This means moving infrastructure to stronger, more convenient nodes to ensure we remain present where our clients need us most.”
Until recently, Capitec and FNB were the only major South African banks growing their branch networks, while other banks were reducing their branch footprints.
FNB added 26 branches to its network between June 2020 and June 2025, with its branch footprint growing from 604 to 630 locations.
Standard Bank recently announced a shift in strategy after reducing its branch footprint between 2020 and 2025.
However, it has since told MyBroadband that it is now in a branch growth phase, with plans to increase its physical representation points by a “good” number.
“Three branches have been opened in the year-to-date ending March 2026, three are in construction and to be opened in May, and more are in the making,” it said.
“Our physical channel expansion remains core to our business growth strategy, which enables us to access new environments and to be accessible and relevant to the communities we serve.”
The table below tracks Capitec’s branch and ATM numbers from the end of February 2022 to the end of February 2026.
| Point of representation | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branches | 853 | 860 | 866 | 880 | 885 | +32 |
| ATMs | 7,178 | 7,988 | 8,382 | 8,798 | 8,771 | +1,593 |
Capitec processing thousands of smart ID applications
Capitec also provided an update on its smart ID kiosk rollout through its digital partnership with the Department of Home Affairs.
“Since inception in March 2026, 71,000 smart ID applications have been successfully processed,” the bank said.
Capitec was one of the first two banks to sign up to the department’s digital partnership model for smart ID and passport services, which launched in August 2025.
It launched its first branches offering smart ID services in the second week of March 2026. These branches are equipped with self-service terminals for smart ID applications.
Capitec customers can walk into one of 86 branches offering smart ID services without a prior booking and apply for their document through the terminals.
The application process is entirely paperless and, according to Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber, takes less than five minutes to complete.
The bank said this is possible thanks to its proprietary biometric technology and full integration with the Department of Home Affairs’ systems.
Applicants will receive a notification when their ID is ready, and they can collect it from the branch at which they applied. Applications cost R150, comprising the standard smart ID and a R10 logistics fee.
Capitec explained that the self-service terminal system was a proprietary solution built on Amazon Web Services.
“This enables Capitec to scale the service quickly with strong stability and lower operational costs,” it said.
“The terminals are centrally managed so new features and critical security updates can be deployed rapidly.”
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