Three hundred and fifty thousand rand is the maximum you'll see advertised for unsecured personal loans. Only strong profiles qualify. here's the bar and the real price.
Maximum advertised, rarely maximum approved, never maximum sensible. The reality of the biggest unsecured loans in South Africa.
"Up to R350,000" is a ceiling, not an expectation. Approval amounts follow income: most lenders won't advance more than a multiple of verifiable monthly earnings after existing obligations. Realistic outcomes for strong applicants typically land between R50,000 and R200,000. R350,000 requires an exceptional file: high stable income, long clean history, low utilisation.
At 20% over 84 months, R350,000 costs roughly R7,800 per month and repays about R650,000. nearly double. The same loan over 60 months jumps to R9,300 monthly but drops total repayment to around R560,000, saving R90,000. If you need 84 months to afford it, you likely can't afford it; the term is telling you something the instalment hides.
Anyone borrowing at this scale usually owns something. A secured loan or bond re-advance typically prices several percentage points cheaper, and on R350,000 each point is worth tens of thousands. Take the unsecured route when speed and simplicity genuinely outweigh that saving. not by default.
Editorial ranking by approval odds, total cost and payout speed. *Same-day payout assumes a complete application before ~3pm on a business day.
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Expect to show R30,000+ monthly income, a long clean credit history and a low debt load. Lenders at this tier decline quickly when anything wobbles.
84 months drops the instalment but roughly doubles the interest bill. If cash flow allows 60 months, the saving is substantial. run both in the calculator.
At this amount fraudsters circle. Confirm the NCR registration number on ncr.org.za before paying any 'processing fee'. real lenders deduct fees from the payout, never upfront.
All amounts in ZAR. Confirm final costs in your loan agreement before signing.
| Lender | Amount | Term | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century | R500 to R8,000 | 5 to 180 days | ★★★★★ 4.8 | Get Offer |
| LendPlus | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Get Offer |
| Primeloans | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Get Offer |
| Creditbar | R500 to R5,000 | 7 to 45 days | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Get Offer |
| JabulaniMoney | R500 to R4,000 | Until payday | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | Get Offer |
| Cashgist | R500 to R4,000 | Short-term | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | Get Offer |
| Crediwise | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Get Offer |
| Letocredit | R500 to R150,000 | Varies by offer | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Get Offer |
| CreditGenius | R500 to R350,000 | Up to 24 months | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Get Offer |
Yes, a handful of online lenders advertise up to R350,000 unsecured. Approval is reserved for high earners with excellent credit; most approved amounts land between R50,000 and R200,000.
At ~20% over 84 months, roughly R7,500 to R8,000 per month, repaying R650,000+ in total. Small rate differences at this size are worth five figures. compare hard.
If you own property, a secured loan or bond re-advance prices meaningfully cheaper. Unsecured R350,000 is premium-rate credit. use it when speed or simplicity outweighs the extra interest.
Legally almost anything: property deposits, major renovations, business investment, consolidating expensive debt. Lenders may ask the purpose as part of affordability assessment.