Standard Chartered Kenya Launches SC Juza: A Potentially Disruptive Mobile Lending App.
This morning, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Standard Chartered’s new mobile lending app, SC Juza, at the JW Marriott in Nairobi. SC Juza is a short-term lending mobile app designed to meet the growing demand for short-term unsecured loans that are easily disbursed through mobile wallets.
This is something that many fintechs and banks have also offered in Kenya for years and have proven to be extremely popular. However, it was clear from the outset that SC Juza is poised to make a significant impact in the mobile lending market in Kenya! Therefore, here are the standout features of SC Juza that set it apart from other mobile lending apps in Kenya :
Longer Loan Tenure
One of the most striking features of SC Juza is its 60-day repayment period. This is more than double the tenure offered by many existing mobile lending products including those which typically have repayment periods as short as 15 days. This extended period provides borrowers with much-needed breathing room to manage their finances without the stress of quick turnarounds.
Competitive Interest Rates
Another impressive aspect of SC Juza is the incredibly low and competitive interest rate of 1.6% per month. Compared to other mobile lending products in the market, some as high as 10% per month, this rate is significantly lower, making it a more attractive option for borrowers seeking short-term loans. Interest is only charged on the days the loan is held, enabling clients to benefit from early repayments.
Flexible Loan Amounts
SC Juza allows clients to borrow amounts ranging from KES 1,000 to KES 100,000. This upper limit is notably higher than what most mobile lending apps in Kenya offer, providing greater flexibility for borrowers who may need more substantial sums.
Easy and Speedy Loan Disbursement
Users will need to download the ‘SC Juza App’ to access credit, provided they meet minimal requirements such as a proven track record of loan repayments and a six-month M-PESA subscriber history. Loan requests are processed and disbursed quickly into clients’ mobile wallets, making it incredibly convenient.
Transparent Service Charges
To ensure clients have access to a transparent and inclusive service, the app provides full transparency regarding loan service charges. The processing fee for each approved application is set at 5.5%, which means, for instance, a loan of KES 1,000 will incur a processing fee of KES 55. Additionally, the interest rate on loans is 1.6% per month, translating to a monthly interest of KES 10.80 on a KES 1,000 loan. Notably, the service fee is applied only after the first 30 days, adding a layer of flexibility for early repayments.
Robust Fraud Prevention Measures
Standard Chartered has implemented several measures within its app to safeguard consumers from fraud. These include technology designed to detect SIM swaps, verifying identities through the Integrated Population Registration Services (IPRS), confirming with Safaricom that a number is legitimate and has been registered for over six months, and incorporating checks with Credit Reference Bureaus to enhance security further.
Strategic Partnerships
The development of SC Juza is in collaboration with Craft Silicon, one of the leading digital and mobile banking and financial services solutions providers in Kenya and Africa. This partnership confirms the robustness and reliability of the app’s technical infrastructure given Craft Silicon’s long standing reputation as one of the best in Kenya and the rest of Africa when it comes to co-creating and deploying digital financial services propositions for banks of all sizes.
Inclusive Banking Strategy
Standard Chartered has traditionally been seen as a bank for the wealthy in Kenya, primarily serving high net worth individuals, business and corporate banking clients. However, through digital channels and innovative mobile financial solutions like SC Juza, the bank is expanding its reach to a broader customer base, including consumers, MSMEs, and SMEs. This strategic shift aims to democratize access to financial services and cater to a more inclusive market.
Initial Trial Success
Over the last month, SC Juza was offered to a small segment of customers for testing and feedback. Initial use indicates that over 13,346 clients attempted to register on the app, with 88 percent successfully securing loans. The average loan ticket size secured is KES 10,000, demonstrating the app’s appeal and functionality.
Final Thoughts
Standard Chartered’s SC Juza app looks like a superior mobile lending proposition on almost every level compared to existing options in the marketplace. With its extended loan tenure, competitive interest rates, flexible borrowing limits, and seamless onboarding process, SC Juza is set to potentially set to disrupt mobile lending in Kenya!
The app not only caters to the immediate financial needs of its users but also reflects Standard Chartered’s commitment to leveraging digital innovation to foster financial inclusion across the board. For anyone looking to explore a reliable and flexible mobile lending option, SC Juza is definitely worth considering.