Online loans in South Africa
Every provider on this site takes applications online, from your phone or computer. Here is how it works, what to have ready, and how to check that a lender is real.
Compare online lendersHow online loans work
An online loan is one you apply for, sign and receive without visiting a branch. The National Credit Act protects you in the same way as at a branch.
There are two kinds of online provider. A direct lender assesses your application and pays out the loan itself. It must be registered with the NCR.
A loan-matching service passes your details to lenders in its network. It is not a credit provider, so it has no NCRCP number. The lender you end up with must have one.
- Direct lenders here: Century, Creditbar, Crediwise, Jabulani Money, LendPlus and Prime Loans.
- Matching services here include MoneyHello, Binixo and Creditomax. Their partner lenders set the rate and terms.
Applying for a loan online, step by step
These steps follow the direct lenders' own application pages. The order differs a little from lender to lender.
- Choose the amount on the lender's calculator, and the term if it asks.
- Create a profile with your ID number, cellphone number and email. Creditbar, for example, confirms your number by SMS.
- Fill in your employment, income and bank details.
- Share your last three months' bank statements. Century and LendPlus let you share them through TruID, or you can upload them.
- Wait for the affordability check and the decision.
- Read the quote and the agreement, then sign online. Century, for example, has you sign with a one-time PIN (OTP) sent to your phone.
- Approve the DebiCheck debit order with your bank. The lender then pays the loan into your account.
Documents online lenders usually ask for
Most lenders ask for fewer documents than a bank branch might. These are the documents each direct lender lists on its own website.
| Lender | Documents listed |
|---|---|
| Century | SA ID number, bank details, and 3 months' bank statements showing your latest salary deposits |
| Creditbar | SA ID, 3 months' bank statements, and bank details for the payout and debit order |
| Crediwise | SA ID, 3 months' bank statements and a cellphone number |
| Jabulani Money | SA ID (smart card or green booklet) and your 3 latest bank statements |
| LendPlus | SA ID, 3 months' bank statements and a cellphone number |
| Prime Loans | Copy of your ID, 3 latest bank statements, latest payslip, proof of residence and a cellphone number |
Matching services such as Binixo and MoneyHello ask for basic details first. The lender they match you with then asks for its own documents.
How to spot an unregistered lender online
The NCR warns about fake credit providers that ask for upfront payments. Check these things before you give anyone your details.
- An NCRCP number on the NCR register. Search it on the NCR register of credit providers. The company name should match the website.
- The exact number. Small differences happen. Creditbar prints its number as CP23238, and the register lists it as NCRCP23238.
- No upfront fee. The NCR says an upfront payment for a loan is unlawful. Never pay to get a loan approved or released.
- Real company details. A real lender shows its legal company name, registration number and contact details on its website.
- A secure website and a written quote. The web address should start with https. You should get a pre-agreement statement and quote before you sign.
- Never share passwords. No lender needs your online banking password or bank PIN.
To report a suspicious lender, call the NCR on 0860 627 627 or email info@ncr.org.za.
Online lenders compared
All nine providers take applications online. The six direct lenders are NCR-registered. MoneyHello, Binixo and Creditomax are loan-matching services that pass your details to lenders; they are not credit providers.
NCR-registered lender · NCRCP22362
R500 – R4,000 · Payday (repayable on your next salary date)
NCR-registered lenders are listed first, then loan-matching services, in our commercial order. We may earn a commission if you apply through these links. It doesn't change what you pay. How we make money.
What a R3,000 online loan over 2 months can cost at most
Applying online doesn't change the legal caps. This is a first short-term loan in the calendar year, repaid in two monthly instalments.
| Amount borrowed | R3,000 over 2 months |
|---|---|
| Maximum interest rate | 5% a month (first short-term loan) |
| Interest | R226.83 |
| Initiation fee (incl. VAT) | R419.75 |
| Service fees (incl. VAT) | R138.00 |
| Monthly instalment (2 payments) | R1,892.29 |
| Most you would repay | R3,784.58 |
Worked out at the legal maximums under the National Credit Act, with the repo rate at 7.25% (since 24 September 2026). A lender may charge less, never more. Check the exact figure in your pre-agreement quote. See all the legal caps or work out your own loan.
Online loans in South Africa: frequently asked questions
Are online loans safe in South Africa?
They can be, if the lender is registered with the NCR. Check its NCRCP number on the NCR register before you apply. Never pay an upfront fee or share your bank PIN.
What documents do I need for an online loan?
Most lenders ask for your SA ID and your last three months' bank statements. Prime Loans also asks for a payslip and proof of residence. Century and LendPlus let you share statements through TruID.
Is a loan-matching service the same as a lender?
No. A matching service passes your details to lenders and is not a credit provider. The lender you choose gives you the loan and signs the agreement with you. Check that lender's NCRCP number before you sign.
Can I get an online loan without a credit check?
No. Every registered lender must check that you can afford a loan before it approves it. Century, for example, lists a credit bureau check as part of its process.
Should I apply to several online lenders at once?
It is better to compare first and then apply to one lender. Several loans at once can stretch your budget. Matching services may also share your details with many lenders in their network.
Related pages and sources
- Reviews of all 15 providers
- Compare lenders side by side
- What the National Credit Regulator does
- Short-term loans: terms of up to 6 months
- Loan calculator with the legal caps
Sources
- National Credit Regulator – register of registered credit providers
- National Credit Regulator – media release on fake credit providers and upfront payments (April 2020)
- National Credit Regulator – Consumer rights under the National Credit Act
- National Credit Regulator – media release on keeping ID documents and bank cards (October 2021)
- Century Financial Services – FAQs
- Creditbar – online loan application
- Crediwise – How to borrow
- Jabulani Money – How to apply
- LendPlus – How to borrow
- Prime Loans – How to borrow