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Guide

Best time to apply — and when the money actually arrives

The application form is open 24/7, but funding depends on banking hours and the lender's automation cut-offs. Knowing this difference helps avoid weekend disappointment.

Application: any time

You can submit the loan request at any hour. The form processes immediately, an automated check runs, and offers from matching lenders appear within minutes.

Decision: working hours are fastest

Automated approval is fastest between 07:00 and 17:00 SAST (Mon – Fri). Outside those hours, automation still runs, but human reviewers — needed for edge cases — are not at their desks.

Payout: depends on the EFT cut-off

Even with an approved loan, the bank's electronic funds transfer (EFT) windows control when the money arrives:

Weekend applications

A Friday-afternoon application that gets approved may still see payout only on Monday if it relies on inter-bank EFT. To maximise the chance of weekend funding, apply earlier in the day — Friday morning is better than Friday evening.

Public holidays

Banks do not process EFTs on South African public holidays. An approved loan on the eve of a long weekend may only fund on the next working day.

Tip: keep your phone unlocked

Lenders may send a one-time PIN (OTP) by SMS to verify your phone number. Have your phone with you and unlocked when submitting — every delay there pushes payout later.

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