Here is how much you`ll be charged on Fuliza facility after Safaricom, NCBA and KCB Restructure

Kenya`s largest mobile service provider – Safaricom which offers the Fuliza overdraft facility in conjunction with financial institutions; NCBA and KCB have announced a reduction in the fees charged on the facility by up to 50%. Customers will also access the facility without daily charges on transactions that are less than Ksh. 1,000 for the first three days. Fuliza overdraft facility is enjoyed by more than 80 percent of MPESA users, making it one of the most important loan facilities in the country.

And while the facility has generally enjoyed a cordial acceptance amongst Kenyans, the interest and other fees charged have been categorized as opaque and is regarded as one of the most expensive facilities in the country. This is however expected to change after the recent move by Safaricom and its partners, lowering fees by 10 to 20 percent for customers who borrow more than Ksh. 1,000.

The 1 percent one-off Access fee levied when customers access Fuliza remains unchanged, but customers should enjoy the fees reduction starting from October 1, 2022. Additionally, the institutions announced commitments to support the government in restructuring the credit reference bureaus that most lenders base their decisions when awarding loans. To this end, Safaricom and NCBA will execute a credit repair mechanism that will see customers who have defaulted on M-Shwari and Fuliza enroll into a credit repair scheme, hopefully resulting in the delisting of over four million digital loan defaulters who are negatively listed on CRBs.

Speaking on the event, Safaricom`s CEO Peter Ndegwa said the company introduced a free daily maintenance fee period for Fuliza transactions that are less than Ksh. 1,000 which was inline with its mission of transforming lives through the spirit of Tuinuane.

New Fuliza overdraft facility rates (2022)