Standard Chartered Launches SC Juza Mobile Lending App

Standard Chartered bank has  launched SC Juza, a short-term lending mobile app for its clients. SC Juza aspires to meet the growing demand for short-term unsecured loans that are easily disbursed through mobile wallets.

The 100 percent digital product allows clients to borrow any amount between KES 1,000 to KES 100,000 with a two-month repayment period. Interest will only be charged on the days the loan is held, enabling clients to benefit from early repayments.

“SC Juza represents the continued evolution of our digitisation strategy. We hope to expand on the gains we have seen in our market with mobile lending products by offering a comprehensive solution that is highly inclusive. In addition, SC Juza will allow our clients to borrow with dignity, in line with our ambition to uplift participation in the financial ecosystem for the underserved,” said Kariuki Ngari, MD & Chief Executive Officer, Kenya and Africa for Standard Chartered.

Over the last month, SC Juza has been offered to a small segment of customers to enable testing and feedback. Initial use indicates that over 13,346 clients have attempted to register on the app, with 88 percent being able to secure loans, and the average loan ticket size being KES 10,000.

Users will need to download the ‘SC Juza App’ to access credit upon meeting minimal requirements such as a proven track record of loan repayments and a six-month M-PESA subscriber history. Loan requests will then be processed and disbursed speedily into clients’ mobile wallets.

To ensure clients have access to a transparent and inclusive service, the app will provide users with full transparency when it comes to loan service charges. The processing fee for each approved application is set at 5.5 percent, 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 percent per month, translating to a monthly interest of KES 10.80 on a KES 1,000 loan. To further assist borrowers, the loan tenure is 60 days (approximately two months), providing an extended period for consumers to fulfil their financial obligations without the stress of immediate repayment.

Notably, the service fee is applied only after the first 30 days, adding a layer of flexibility for early repayments. Moreover, interest is accrued daily, meaning that each day adds a small, calculated interest amount to the individual’s outstanding balance, ensuring that the cost of borrowing is clear and accumulative.

Other benefits of SC Juza include:

• Minimum loan amount: KES 1,000
• Maximum loan amount: KES 100,000
• Display of the entire cost on the app
• Fully digitized chat support platform

Furthermore, the bank has implemented several measures within its app to safeguard consumers from fraud, leveraging built-in technology. These measures include technology specifically designed to detect sim swaps, verifying identities through the Integrated Population Registration Services (IPRS), and confirming with Safaricom that a number is legitimate and has been registered for a period exceeding six months. Additionally, the app incorporates checks with Credit Reference Bureaus to enhance security further.

Standard Chartered Kenya has invested heavily in digital and innovation to support its clients’ emerging needs. Last year, the bank launched SC Shilingi, the first “100 percent digital only” platform offering money market funds in Kenya. Currently, 74 percent of the bank’s client base is digitally active with 87 percent of its sales and 85 percent of client servicing done through its digital platforms.

By: Anne Nyambura