Bank like a local · Diaspora in SA

Open an account in SA — passport, SA ID or asylum permit.

Bank account details to receive money, plus a Mastercard — open as a foreigner in SA with just one document: SA ID, passport, or asylum seeker permit. No proof of address. No “come back tomorrow.”

3 minaverage sign-upR0to open1 doc+ a selfie
Pick one — any of these
All FICA-compliant
SA ID (smart or green)
RSA citizens & permanent residents
Foreign passport
Zimbabwean, Malawian, Mozambican, Nigerian — any
Asylum seeker permit
Section 22, valid & current
Just one of these — plus a selfie. That's it. No proof of address, no bank statements — no other documents needed.
Registered TPPPFSCA-authorised · FSP 52248SA bank account details for EFTFICA in-app · no branch visit
● What you get

Account details, a Mastercard and EFT in and out.

Unique reference & account number

For your salary. For EFTs in. For paying SARS, your landlord, anyone. Works like a bank account number — without the bank queue.

EFT-readyaccount number & reference

Mastercard you can swipe

Physical and virtual. Tap-to-pay anywhere Mastercard works. Withdraw at any ATM. Buy data. Pay rent. No "show me your work permit" at the till.

190+countries accepted

All transaction types available

Outward: eWallet, EFT, RTC. Cash in: retail cash-in points and ATM deposits. Both directions, one app, one card.

1 cardone wallet

Free between SOLmate members

Free SOLmate-to-SOLmate transfers. Small fixed fee + small FX margin to send out — both shown upfront, never hidden in the rate.

R0SOLmate → SOLmate
● How sign-up works

How to open your account — 3 minutes, one document.

STEP 01

Download the app

Available on App Store, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, or as a direct APK. The whole sign-up happens in-app.

~30 seconds
STEP 02

Photograph your document

Whatever you have: SA ID, passport, or asylum permit. Then a quick selfie for the FICA check.

~90 seconds
STEP 03

Get your account number

Your account number and personal reference arrive in-app. Share them with your employer the same day.

~30 seconds
● What people use it for

What you can do with one account.

Get paid

Receive your salary by EFT

Share your account number with your employer. No more cash envelopes, no more "we can't pay you because you don't have a bank account."

No need for cash

Use the card & send money

Send money across SA anytime, free swipes with the SOLmate Mastercard, pay online — no awkward questions at the till.

Send home

Money to Zim, Malawi, or Moz

EcoCash, OneMoney, M-Pesa, e-Mola, bank deposits, cash pickup. Small fixed fee + small FX margin, both shown before you press send.

Top up & borrow

Fee-free prepaid & small loans

Buy airtime and data with zero fees. Need a little extra? Apply for a small loan right in the app — offered under our registered credit provider licence. See terms.

● Already a SOLmate member?

Send money home in under a minute.

Send to 190+ countries — mobile wallets, bank deposits, or cash pickup. Fair rate, fixed fee shown upfront — no margin baked into the rate.

Check the rates
● Powered by Ria · 4 payout methods · Minutes
9:42
SOLmatenow
Money sent
EcoCash · Tendai M.
− R1,000.00
You sentR1,000.00
FeeR25.00
Rate0.0535
They received$53.50
Status✓ Delivered
● Reviews

From people who'd given up on banks.

Real customers, real sign-ups, real receipts.

4.7
2,400+ reviews · HelloPeter & Trustpilot · refreshed weekly
Capitec turned me away three times. SOLmate had me with an account number in 4 minutes — passport only.
Blessing
Berea, JHB · opened Mar 2026
My boss couldn't EFT me before. Now I get paid like everyone else. The card works at every till I've tried.
Amara
Yeoville, JHB · opened Jan 2026
Three minutes from download to account number. I sent rent to my landlord the same evening. Game changer.
Memory
Cape Town · opened Apr 2026
● FAQ

Got a tricky case?

If you've been refused by another bank, message us with what they said. We'll tell you up front whether your documents work — before you even start the sign-up.

Chat on WhatsApp
Standard Bank rejected my asylum permit. Will SOLmate take it?
Yes, as long as the permit is valid and current (Section 22). We do FICA in-app from the photo. No branch visit, no manager judgement call.
Do I need a work permit?
No — you don't need to present a work permit to activate your account.
Is this a bank account?
It's a FICA-compliant digital account — not a traditional bank account, but it gives you a unique account number and personal reference that take EFTs, Instant EFTs, and ATM deposits. SOL Ecosystem (Pty) Ltd is an authorised FSP (52248) and Third-Party Payment Provider.
What does it cost?
R0 to open. A small monthly fee shown in-app before you sign up. Free between SOLmate users. Free prepaid airtime purchases. Other transactions have a small fee shown clearly in-app before you confirm.
Do I need proof of address?
No. Just one document — your ID — plus a selfie. We don't ask for utility bills, leases, or letters from your landlord.
Can I receive my salary into SOLmate?
Yes. Share your account number and unique personal reference with your employer. If the reference is used correctly, the payment is allocated automatically. Otherwise, submit Proof of Payment in-app for manual allocation.
Can I withdraw cash?
Yes — any ATM that takes Mastercard, plus retail cash-out points (Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers) even without the card. You can also cash out via the eWallet feature.
My ZEP is expiring. What happens?
SOLmate accepts your Zimbabwean passport directly — your ZEP is not the document we use. Your account remains open as long as your passport is valid.
Diaspora corridorsZimbabweMalawiMozambiqueNigeriaGhanaAll 190+ →
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