Here is the whole journey, demystified. What you will do, what we will do, and roughly how long each step takes.
Approval is decided by the lender.
Each step in detail, with roughly how long it takes and what you will need.
Open our calculator on the home page and pick your amount (R500 to R8,000) and term (1 to 6 months).
The total cost updates as you go, so there are no surprises before you click apply.
Click apply to open our secure form. It asks for your SA ID number and your contact, employment and bank details.
Then upload your ID, recent payslips (or 3 months of bank statements if you are self-employed) and proof of your bank account, straight from your phone.
We share your application with our panel of NCR-registered South African lenders.
Each lender runs the affordability check the National Credit Act requires: your credit record, your income and what you already owe. A lender that can help sends its offer back through us.
You get a link to the lender’s pre-agreement quote. It shows every cost: interest, fees, the total repayable and the repayment dates.
Read it carefully. If you are happy, sign electronically with the lender. You don’t have to accept an offer.
Once you sign, the lender pays the money by EFT into your bank account: Capitec, FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, TymeBank and others.
Your bank may take a little while to show it. Loans approved after hours are usually paid the next business day.
Why applying online beats walking into a branch.
| What you compare | InstantFund | Walk-in lender |
|---|---|---|
| Application time | About 5 minutes online | 1 to 2 hours in a branch |
| Lenders you reach | Several, with one form | One per branch visit |
| Decision | Often within minutes in business hours | Same day to 3 days |
| Money in your account | Often the same day you sign | 24 to 72 hours after approval |
| Documents | Photo uploads from your phone | Printed copies and signatures |
| When you can apply | 24/7 (lender payouts in business hours) | Branch hours only |
The minimum requirements. If you meet these, the form is open to you.
Issued by Home Affairs, not expired
The minimum age for credit under the NCA
Salary, self-employed earnings or a grant
In your own name, able to receive EFTs
Have these on your phone before you start. All three are needed.
A photo of your green ID book or smart ID card. Both sides if it is the card.
Your last 3 payslips. If you are self-employed or freelance, 3 months of bank statements instead.
A bank-stamped confirmation letter, or a recent bank statement showing your account number.
How one application could play out, from a car that won’t start to money in the account.
Illustrative example, not a real customer. Decisions and payout times depend on the lender and your bank, and approval is not guaranteed.
Thabo’s car won’t start. The alternator quote is R4,200 and payday is only on the 25th.
He opens the InstantFund calculator, sets R4,500 over 3 months and checks the total before applying.
He fills in the form and photographs his ID, payslips and bank confirmation.
Application received. A decision usually follows within minutes during business hours.
A lender has approved R4,500. Tap the link to review and sign your loan agreement.
He reads the lender’s quote, sets repayment for the 25th and signs electronically.
R4,500 has been sent to your bank account. Allow 30 to 60 minutes for it to reflect.
R4,500.00 received.
An indicative example using figures within the National Credit Act caps. Your lender’s quote may differ within those caps, and you see the exact numbers before you sign.
Borrowed on the 5th. Repaid in 3 monthly instalments.
| Loan amount | R 3,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Interest (5% a month × 3) | R 450.00 |
| Initiation fee (once-off) | R 100.00 |
| Monthly service fee (R45 × 3) | R 135.00 |
| Total repayable | R 3,685.00 |
| Monthly instalment | R 1,228.33 |
Each NCR-registered lender sets its own pricing within the NCA caps. Settle early and you pay less interest: the NCA does not allow early-settlement penalties.
Repayment is between you and the lender, not InstantFund. It is set up once when you sign and runs by debit order.
When you sign with the lender, choose a debit-order date. Most people pick the day after payday.
Most lenders send an SMS or email before each collection, so nothing on your statement is a surprise.
Pay off in full at any time with no penalty. The earlier you settle, the less interest you pay.
Call your lender before a due date you can't meet. Lost their number? Email [email protected].
The form takes about 5 minutes, it’s free, and you don’t have to accept an offer.