Resources
Guides for running a modern lending operation
Practical explainers on choosing loan management software, interest calculation, microfinance and SACCOs, collections and portfolio risk, and running a lending business.
Loan management software
What loan management software does, how to choose it, and what it costs.
Start hereWhat is loan management software? A complete guide for lendersWhat loan management software is, what it does, who needs it, the features that matter, what it costs and how to choose, explained for money lenders and MFIs.10 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026- AI in loan management: what it can do, what to check and where it goes wrongWhat AI can and cannot do in loan management software, from portfolio questions to drafting loans, and the safeguards that keep numbers correct.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- Cloud-based loan management software: benefits, risks and questions to askWhat cloud-based loan management software is, how it compares with installed software, the benefits and risks, and the security questions to ask any vendor.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- Free loan management software: your options and their trade-offsWhat free loan management software really offers: spreadsheet templates, open-source systems and free trials, and the hidden costs and limits of each.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- How to choose loan management software: a buyer's guide for lendersA step-by-step guide to choosing loan management software: requirements, a shortlist, a demo script, questions for vendors and the red flags to watch for.6 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- Loan management software features: the complete checklist for lendersA practical checklist of the loan management software features that matter, why each one matters, and the question to ask a vendor about it.6 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
- Loan management software pricing: models, costs and what to watch forHow loan management software is priced: per user, per branch, per loan or flat subscription, what is usually included, hidden costs and how to compare offers.5 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
- Loan origination vs loan servicing: what each covers and why it mattersLoan origination vs loan servicing explained: where each starts and ends, what software does at each stage, and why most money lenders need both in one system.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- How to migrate your loans from Excel to loan management softwareA step-by-step plan for moving your loan book from Excel to loan management software: cleaning data, importing, reconciling and running in parallel.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
Interest and loan calculations
Flat vs reducing balance, amortization, effective rates, fees and repayment allocation.
Start hereHow to calculate loan interest: methods, formulas and worked examplesLearn how to calculate loan interest: simple, flat, reducing balance, interest-only and compound methods, with formulas and worked examples for lenders.9 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026- Effective interest rate on flat rate loans: how to calculate the true costHow to calculate the effective interest rate on a flat rate loan, with a quick approximation, an exact method and worked examples for monthly and weekly loans.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- Flat rate vs reducing balance interest: what a borrower really paysFlat rate vs reducing balance interest: how each is calculated, why the same rate costs very different amounts, and how to compare them with real numbers.6 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- Loan amortization schedule explained: how to build and read oneWhat a loan amortization schedule is, how to build one step by step, and how to read the interest and principal columns, with a full 12-month example.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- Loan fees explained: deductible, capitalized and separate feesHow loan processing fees work: deducted from the loan, added to the balance or charged separately, with worked examples of what each does to the real cost.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- Loan repayment allocation order: what a payment pays off firstHow lenders allocate a loan repayment across penalties, fees, interest and principal, why the order matters for partial payments, and how to set it.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- How to calculate loan interest: simple vs. compound vs. flatSimple, compound and flat interest compared with one worked example: how each is calculated, how much it costs, and which suits which kind of loan.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
Microfinance, SACCOs and group lending
How MFIs, SACCOs and savings groups work, and what software they need.
Start hereHow to choose microfinance software: what MFIs needA buyer's guide to choosing microfinance software: loan, group, savings and reporting features, field and connectivity realities, and what to test first.10 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026- How SACCO share capital and dividends workHow SACCO shares, savings and dividends work: what share capital is, how dividends are calculated and approved, with a worked example and record-keeping tips.6 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
- SACCO management software: what to look for and what it should doA guide to SACCO management software: member records, savings, shares, loans, dividends and AGM records, plus the questions to ask and how to choose a system.5 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
- Village savings groups vs SACCOs vs MFIs: how they differVillage savings and loan associations, SACCOs and MFIs compared: who owns them, how money flows, regulation, scale and which model fits which community.5 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
- SACCO vs MFI: what's the difference?SACCO vs MFI explained: ownership, funding, members vs clients, regulation and software needs, with a comparison table and what each means for lending systems.5 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
- How to run a group lending programHow group lending works and how to run a program well: forming groups, meetings, loan cycles, joint liability, collections, risks and the records to keep.6 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
Collections and portfolio risk
Portfolio at risk, days past due, provisioning and reducing defaults.
Start hereLoan collections and arrears management: a practical guide for lendersHow to manage loan arrears and collections: the collections cycle, key metrics like PAR and days past due, daily routines, policies and the reports you need.10 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026- Days past due and loan aging: how to measure and report late loansWhat days past due (DPD) means, how to count it, how loan aging buckets work and how to read an aging report, with a worked example and common mistakes.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- How to reduce loan defaults: 12 practical steps for money lendersPractical steps to reduce loan defaults and arrears: better underwriting, right-sized loans, early follow-up, incentives, monitoring and honest reporting.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- Loan loss provisioning and write-offs: how money lenders account for bad loansHow loan loss provisioning works for money lenders: aging-based provisions, a worked example, loan classification, write-offs and recoveries.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- What is portfolio at risk (PAR)? Formula, PAR30 vs PAR90 and examplesPortfolio at risk (PAR) measures the share of a loan portfolio that is overdue. Learn the formula, PAR30 vs PAR90, worked examples and healthy benchmarks.5 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026
Running a lending business
Approvals, collateral, KYC and loan agreements for money lenders.
Start hereHow to start and run a money lending business: a practical guideA practical guide to starting a money lending business: licensing, capital, loan products, pricing, risk controls, records and the software to run it.9 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026- Collateral vs guarantor: which security should a lender ask for?Collateral vs guarantor explained: what each is, how they differ, when a lender should ask for one or both, and how to record and enforce security properly.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
- KYC checklist for money lenders: what to collect and verifyA practical know-your-customer (KYC) checklist for money lenders: identity, address, income, references, purpose and the records to keep on file.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- What to include in a loan agreement: a checklist for money lendersA checklist of clauses for a small lender's loan agreement: parties, amount, interest, fees, repayment, security, default and remedies. Not legal advice.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- Loan approval workflow and roles: how to control who can lendHow to design a loan approval workflow: stages, staff roles, approval limits, separation of duties and audit trails, with a worked example for money lenders.5 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026
Online and digital lending
Taking loan applications online, mobile-money repayments and digital operations.
Start hereOnline loan applications: how lenders can take and process applications digitallyA guide to online loan applications for lenders: staff-side and borrower-side models, what to capture, verification, approvals, risks and software.9 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026- Mobile money loan repayments: how lenders record and reconcile themHow lenders record and reconcile loan repayments made by mobile money: collection models, daily reconciliation, common errors and controls.5 min read · Updated Oct 1, 2026
- Peer-to-peer lending vs private lending: how they differPeer-to-peer lending and private lending compared: how each works, who takes the risk, regulation, costs and what a lender needs to run either.4 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026