Verified 12 September 2026

NCBA loans: what is on offer and how to apply

By Arnold Ochieng · NCBA Bank Kenya hub · paybillke is an independent guide and is not affiliated with NCBA Bank Kenya.

NCBA lends across three shapes: the NOW Loan, which you apply for and receive instantly on *488#; personal unsecured loans for salaried customers, on check-off or open market; and secured borrowing against your own savings or fixed deposit. NCBA is also the bank behind M-Shwari and Fuliza.

The NOW Loan

This is the instant one, and it lives on the USSD menu: apply, receive the money, repay, and check your balance and eligibility without speaking to anyone. NCBA does not publish the pricing on the Ways to Bank page, and instant credit is exactly where the cost is easiest to underestimate, so before you take one, get the total repayable rather than the headline rate. Our guide to what a mobile loan actually costs shows why a short term turns a small-looking fee into a large annual rate.

Personal unsecured loans

For salaried customers, in two flavours. Check-off means your employer deducts the repayment from your salary and remits it, which lowers NCBA's risk and usually the rate with it, but requires your employer to have an arrangement with the bank. Open market has no employer involvement and prices accordingly. Amount, rate and term follow your income and record.

Borrowing against your own money

You can borrow against a savings balance or a fixed deposit, up to the full value. This is the cheapest credit most people can access, because the bank is lending against money it already holds, and it lets you keep a fixed deposit running to maturity instead of breaking it and losing the interest. If you have a deposit and a short-term need, compare this against any unsecured option before you sign.

Before you borrow, three checks

The total repayable, not the rate. Ask for the figure you will have paid by the end, including fees and insurance.

What happens if you miss one. Late fees, and whether the loan is reported to a credit reference bureau. A CRB listing follows you to every other lender in Kenya.

Whether you need it for a month or a year. Instant credit is priced for weeks. Using it for a year-long need is where people get hurt.

Compare across lenders on our loans hub before committing.

How to apply

NOW Loan on *488# or in NCBA Now. Personal and secured loans through the app, internet banking or a branch, with your ID, KRA PIN and proof of income. Confirm the current rate, maximum amount and fees with NCBA directly, since these are revised and we do not publish figures we have not verified.

About this guide

Independent guide. paybillke is not NCBA Bank and has no commercial relationship with it. Paybill and USSD details were checked against NCBA's own site on 12 September 2026. Rates, fees and product terms change, so confirm anything you are about to act on with NCBA directly on ncbagroup.com/ke or 0800 720 444.

Frequently asked

What is the NCBA NOW Loan?

An instant loan you apply for, receive, repay and track from the *488# menu or the NCBA Now app.

Can I borrow against my NCBA savings?

Yes. NCBA lends against a savings balance or fixed deposit, which is usually far cheaper than unsecured credit.

What is a check-off loan?

One where your employer deducts the repayment from your salary and remits it to the bank. Lower risk for the lender, usually a lower rate for you.

Is NCBA behind M-Shwari and Fuliza?

Yes, both are run by NCBA with Safaricom.

What rate does NCBA charge?

It depends on the product and your profile, and NCBA revises its pricing. Get the total repayable from NCBA in writing before you sign.