Reviews
Salary Advance Loans Updated: 14. 04. 2026

Stawi Loan – review 2026

4,0 / 5

Stawi is a mobile business credit product backed by the Central Bank of Kenya and offered in partnership with KCB, Co-operative Bank, NCBA and DTB. It targets SME owners with M-Pesa merchant accounts and offers loans of between KES 500 and KES 250,000 at rates that are lower than typical app lenders. Stawi is part of Kenya's government-backed effort to expand SME financial inclusion.

Pros

  • Lower interest rates than most app-based lenders
  • CBK-backed initiative with participating commercial banks
  • Available via M-Pesa menu without downloading a separate app
  • Loan amounts up to KES 250,000 for qualifying businesses
  • Repayment over up to 12 months

Cons

  • Only available to M-Pesa merchant account holders
  • Credit limit determined by M-Pesa merchant transaction history
  • Limited to registered SME operators
  • Not suitable for personal salary advance needs
  • CRB listing on default

Requirements

  • Active M-Pesa merchant (Lipa Na M-Pesa) account
  • Kenyan national ID
  • Minimum age of 18 years
  • At least 6 months of M-Pesa merchant transaction history
  • No active loan defaults with participating banks

Company information

Name
Stawi (KCB Bank Kenya / Co-operative Bank / NCBA / DTB consortium)
Address
Nairobi, Kenya
Web

Information in this review is based on publicly available sources and is for informational purposes only. Finatino.com is not a financial product broker. Before signing any contract, we recommend reading the provider's terms and conditions.