TymeBank has announced a new partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, which will allow its customers to apply for ID and passport documents directly through the TymeBank app or at one of the bank’s over 1,000 kiosks located in Pick n Pay, Boxer, and TFG stores.
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The agreement marks a significant step in the Department of Home Affairs’ efforts to expand its services by leveraging external infrastructure. TymeBank, a fintech without traditional physical branches, will use its network of kiosks to take photos and fingerprints for the applications. The bank’s app will facilitate the online application process.
This collaboration is unique because it utilizes TymeBank’s kiosk-based model, which is different from the branch-based partnerships the department has with other banks like FNB and Standard Bank. While the details of how the final documents will be distributed are still being determined, the partnership is a notable development for both parties.
The agreement also comes after a period of tension between TymeBank and the Department of Home Affairs. The relationship had soured in recent months over a sharp increase in fees for accessing the national population register database. TymeBank had argued that the fee hike would harm financial inclusion in South Africa by making it harder to serve low-income customers. Despite the friction, a TymeBank spokeswoman said the two entities are now “aligned when it comes to doing what is best for all South Africans.”
TymeBank CEO Karl Westvig said in a statement that the bank is “proud to bring that same secure digital capability to support home affairs in delivering trusted, citizen-focused services.” The new service will undergo a testing phase at TymeBank’s Johannesburg head office before being rolled out to locations nationwide.
