The Qardd guide
How Qardd works
Everything you need to know to borrow, contribute, lead or save with Qardd, step by step.
Everyone
Getting started
One Qardd account works on the web today and on the iPhone and Android apps when they launch.
- 1
Create your account
Sign up with your name, phone number and a password. We send a one-time code to confirm the number is yours.
- 2
Verify your identity
Add your NIN or BVN. This keeps fake accounts out of every community, and some communities require it before you can borrow or vote.
- 3
Add your bank account
Add the Nigerian account you want loans and savings payouts paid into. We confirm the account name with your bank before any money is sent.
- 4
Join or start a community
Open an invite link, enter an invite code, or start your own community in a minute.
Good to know: Keep your account safe: never share your password or one-time codes. Qardd staff will never ask for them.
For borrowers
Asking for an interest-free loan
A Qardd loan is a promise between you and your community. You repay exactly what you borrow, on a plan you agree to up front.
- 1
Tell us how much you need
Choose the community and the amount, and say what it's for: school fees, medical bills, rent, business stock, a wedding and so on.
- 2
Choose a repayment plan
Pick weekly or monthly payments, how many instalments and when the first is due. You see the full schedule before you submit. Every instalment adds up to the amount you borrowed and nothing more.
- 3
Share your situation
A few honest details about your income and commitments help your community see the plan is realistic. Only the people reviewing the request can see them.
- 4
Explain and add support
Add a short note and any documents. Some communities ask for a guarantor, someone who vouches for you.
- 5
Your community decides
Members or the committee vote privately. You'll be notified at each stage, and you can message the reviewers in the loan's own thread.
- 6
Sign and receive the money
If you're approved, read and accept the loan agreement. The money is sent to your verified bank account after two different people approve the payout.
- 7
Repay with ease
Pay each instalment by card or bank transfer from the app. You'll get gentle reminders before each due date. You can pay early or pay part of an instalment at no cost.
Good to know: Life gets hard sometimes. If you can't keep to the plan, ask for a hardship reschedule from your loan page. Your community reviews it kindly, and it never adds a kobo to what you owe.
For contributors
Funding your community
Contributions build the pool that members borrow from. Lending money and giving money are kept strictly apart.
- 1
Choose how to give
Make a one-off contribution or a regular one. Lending capital comes back to the pool as loans are repaid. Donations are recorded separately and are never mixed with it.
- 2
Pay safely
Pay by card or bank transfer through our licensed payment partner. Your contribution shows in the pool as soon as the payment is confirmed.
- 3
See where the money is
Your dashboard shows what you've contributed and what the pool holds: money available, money set aside for approved loans, and money out on loan.
- 4
Help decide
If your community gives you a vote, review requests and vote privately. If you have a conflict of interest, declare it and step back.
For community leaders
Running a community
Start a community for your family, mosque, cooperative or association and set it up the way you already work.
- 1
Create your community
Give it a name, a description and a logo. Upload your own, or describe the feel you want and let Qardd's AI design some options for you.
- 2
Invite members
Share an invite link or code on WhatsApp, by SMS or email, or add people directly. You decide whether new members need approval.
- 3
Set your lending policy
Choose who can borrow, how much, for how long, and how decisions are made: by the whole community, a committee, or a set number of approvals for each loan size. Changes are versioned, so every request is judged by the rules in force when it was made.
- 4
Appoint a committee
Give trusted members roles such as chair, treasurer or secretary. Nobody can give themselves a role, and nobody can release money on their own.
- 5
Watch the fund grow
Use the community dashboard to see contributions, active loans, repayments and anything that needs your attention.
Good to know: Separation of duties is built in: the person who approves a payout can't be the person who sends it. This protects your treasurer as much as your members.
Decisions
How voting stays fair
Fair decisions are at the heart of Qardd. These rules apply in every community.
- 1
Votes are private
You can't see how anyone voted until you've cast your own vote, so nobody is swayed or pressured.
- 2
Votes are final
Once a vote is cast it can't be changed or quietly removed.
- 3
Conflicts are excluded
The borrower, their guarantors and anyone who declares a conflict of interest are left out of the vote automatically.
- 4
Clear thresholds
Your policy sets how many approvals a loan needs, and larger loans can need more. Qardd counts the votes and applies the rules exactly.
Savings & Ajo
Saving together
Alongside lending, Qardd gives your community three ways to save.
- 1
Personal goals
Save towards something of your own, such as school fees, Hajj or a new shop, at your own pace.
- 2
Group pots
Save together for a shared goal, like an Eid fund or a building project. Withdrawals need approval from other members, so shared money is never moved on one person's say-so.
- 3
Ajo / Esusu circles
Everyone pays in the same amount each round and one member takes the whole pot in turn. The order is agreed up front and everyone can see it.
Support
When something goes wrong
We've designed Qardd to handle the hard moments with care.
- 1
A payment didn't go through
Nothing is lost. Your balance only changes when the payment provider confirms the money arrived. Try again, or use a different card or bank transfer.
- 2
You missed an instalment
There are no late fees. You'll get a friendly reminder, and your community may reach out to help. Ask for a reschedule if you need more time.
- 3
You disagree with something
Raise a dispute from the loan or payment. Your community reviews it first and can escalate it to the Qardd team.
- 4
You need us
Open a support ticket in the app or email support@qarddbank.com. We track every ticket until it's resolved.
Ready to start?
Create your free account on the web today. The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon.