Student loan repayment

HELB – Higher Education Loans Board is a state owned corporation established in 1995 and have grown to become the leading financiers of higher education in Kenya. Our mandate is to source funds and lend them as affordable loans, bursaries and scholarship to students pursuing higher education in recognized institution; which we have successfully done for the past 2 and a half decades.

When to start paying back the loan

TVET and Undergraduate Loans are due for repayment upon completion of studies. The Board may offer one financial year moratorium or recall the loan whichever is earlier. However, one can make voluntary payments which will reduce his/her balance in good time. Postgraduate loans and Undergraduate loans for salaried students are required to be serviced immediately upon disbursement of the loans. It is important to read the loan agreement form as certain loan schemes have specific terms and conditions.

Interest and other charges

The Government of Kenya subsidises the actual cost of interest on student loans, the rate of interest charged is relatively lower as compared to commercial loans. This interest is indicated on the loan agreement form. Other charges include:

• Ledger (Administrative) Fee
• Penalties charged for non-repayment of student loan
• Insurance for specific loan products

How do I repay my loan?

Upon maturity of a loan, the loanee shall be required to begin repayment of his/her loan together with any interest accrued thereon. HELB offers various loan payment options [see page 7]. For loanees who are formally employed, the employer is expected to deduct the loan instalments from the wages or remuneration as shall be directed by the Board.

Monthly Deductions

In deducting a loanee, the monthly instalments should not exceed 25% of a loanees’ basic pay. Loans to salaried students are expected to be repaid within 48 months upon disbursement. One may wish to pay at higher monthly instalments which will then reduce the repayment period and the loanee will clear much earlier than the anticipated period. If one has benefited from more than one loan product and the loans are still in existence, he/she is required to repay all the loans concurrently.

Keeping track of your payments

Upon completion of loan repayment, a clearance certificate is issued. One is also encouraged to notify HELB once the loan payment is completed so as to fast track the clearance process. Please contact contactcentre@helb.co.ke in the event of further queries.

Completion of Repayment

Upon completion of loan repayment, a clearance certificate is issued. One is also encouraged to notify HELB once the loan payment is completed so as to fast track the clearance process. Please contact contactcentre@helb.co.ke in the event of further queries.

Impact of lack of payment

Legally, you are obligated to repay your loan in line with the contract and regulations. Any loanee who fails or neglects his/her obligations may be charged a penalty which will be added to your loan account. and where necessary, ask you to repay the full amount of loan, plus interest and penalties in a lump sum as well as negatively list you on CRB. HELB may also outsource collection of your loan to professional debt collectors at your own cost.

Employers have a responsibility, by law:

• Upon the employment of any loanee to inform the Board in writing within a period of three months of such employment;
• Upon confirmation by the Board that such a person so employed is a loanee, to deduct from the wages or remuneration of the loanee, the amount of any loan as instructed by the Board.

The employer shall remit every deduction from the loanee’s wages or remuneration in the prescribed manner to HELB within 15 days after the end of each month. The employer may be penalised if they do not comply.

Payment options

Loan repayment can be made directly by the loanee or through check-off (employer). The available options for repayment are illustrated below:

Note: The Loanees National ID must be clearly indicated for all payments to facilitate smooth update of loan statement.

1. Bank Deposit (by Employer or Self)

All payments should be made by direct transfer (EFT), standing order or cash deposit to the HELB collection bank accounts in any of the following banks:

2. Mobile Payment Services: M-PESA

Using M-PESA (Safaricom) Money Transfer:

• • • Select pay bill option
    • Enter HELB business number as 200800
    • Enter your National ID number as your account number
    • Enter amount you want to pay
    • Enter your secret PIN number
    • Confirm transaction and send
  • Note: The transaction may take up to 2 business days to reflect in your statement

3. Credit Card or Debit (ATM) Card

Give authority to HELB to make monthly debits or lump-sum payments directly from your bank account or credit card. This is done by signing the Credit Card Authorization Form (download from HELB website) and forwarding the same to HELB. VISA branded credit cards or debit (ATM) cards can also be swiped at HELB offices.

4. Diaspora Loan Repayment Options:

• • • Using “Wave” online

    You can make payments instantly from the US and Canada through Wave via KCB account number 1103266314. Go to www.sendwave.com to update/download the app and then make transfers immediately. Once you complete the transaction, you will get a wave message like this; Your money transfer has arrived in HELB Revolving Account’s KCB account! It may take up to 48 hours to appear in your statement. Here’s a receipt of the transaction for your records:
    Sender: A.N. Other, 1111 Mallison, Mc Leansville, NC 27301
    Recipient Name: HELB Revolving Account
    Recipient Number: •••4523
    Amount Sent: 400.00 USD
    Amount Received: 39732 Ksh
    Exchange Rate: 99.33 Ksh/1 USD
    Transaction Time: 12:25 PM ET on July 16, 2016. Funds are immediately available. It may take up to 48 hours to appear in your statement.
    Confirmation Number: BAN-1170352-L54367
    Email us at help@sendwave.com if you have any questions about this transaction!

  • Equity Direct

Equity Direct is a pan-European regulated online money transfer service operated exclusively by VFX Financial PLC in the UK in partnership with the Equity Bank Group in Kenya.
How to sign up: You can register at www.equitydirectafrica.com which is a quick and simple process. There is a dedicated customer service team on hand to help. To use PayLoan simply select HELB from the drop down PayLoan list in “ADD BENEFICIARY”. Then add your Student name, and your National ID in the Reference field and “CONFIRM”. You can then make a payment to your new Beneficiary and your payment to HELB is processed instantly and you will receive confirmation email and SMS too.
Support Contacts: +44 (0) 207 959 6995 |support@equitydirectafrica.com | www.equitydirectafrica.com

• • • Chase Bank – Simba Pay

  How to Login/ Register:
  Login or register on the Simbapay website https://www.simbapay.com/ , using your email and a password, your
  account will be set up; choose a mode of payment (Debit or Credit)
  Payment:
  Navigate to the payment menu, input the Paybill number, Input the amount and reference (ID or name). The funds will
  be sent to a Chase Bank (IR) account then settled with HELB. *The payment will be picked in Sterling Pounds – GBP.