Fido is built around one idea: getting a loan shouldn't require a branch visit, a stack of documents, or a payslip you don't have. The entire journey — from downloading the app to money in your bank account — happens on your phone. Here's exactly what that journey looks like in South Africa, step by step, including the parts that can slow things down and what happens after you repay.

What you need before you start

• A smartphone (iOS or Android)
• Your South African ID number
• A bank account in your name
• A way to show your income — connecting your bank account in the app, or uploading a bank statement

Notice what's not on the list: a payslip. Fido assesses affordability from your bank statement, which is why the app works for self-employed people, freelancers, and gig workers as well as salaried earners. More on that in our guide to loans without a payslip in South Africa.

Step 1: Download the app and register

Get the Fido app from the Apple App Store or Google Play — those are the only two places it's officially distributed. Don't install it from a link someone sent you. Open the app and register with your phone number and South African ID number. Registration takes a few minutes and costs nothing.

Step 2: Verify your identity

Next, the app guides you through identity verification — confirming your ID details and taking a quick selfie check. This step protects you as much as it protects us: it stops someone else from borrowing in your name. Good lighting and a steady hand make it go faster.

Step 3: Connect your bank or upload a statement

This is the heart of how Fido works. Instead of asking for a payslip, Fido reads your income and spending patterns from your bank statement. You can connect your bank account through a secure connection inside the app, or upload a statement. A complete, recent statement gives the assessment the clearest picture of your finances — this is the step where accuracy matters most, and the step where most delays happen when something is missing.

Step 4: Review your offer — with the full cost shown

Once your information is assessed, you'll see a personalised offer: the amount you qualify for, the term, and the full cost in rands — interest, the initiation fee, the service fee, your total repayment, and the dates it's due. All of it appears before you accept anything. Fido's pricing sits within the National Credit Act's caps for short-term credit: loans from R500 to R8,000 over 30 to 90 days, interest of up to 5% per month, an initiation fee of up to R165, and a service fee of up to R69 per month.

Two honest notes. First, your first loan will sit at the smaller end of the range — larger amounts unlock as you repay (more on that below). Second, approval is never guaranteed: if the affordability assessment shows a loan would strain your finances, you'll be declined, because the National Credit Act requires it and because lending you money you can't repay helps nobody. There's no obligation either way — you can look at your offer and walk away.

Step 5: Accept and receive your money

If the offer works for you, accept it in the app and the funds are paid directly into your bank account. There is no upfront payment of any kind at any point — no “release fee”, no “processing fee”. Anyone asking you to pay money to receive a Fido loan is a scammer, not Fido.

How repayment works

Repayment runs through a DebiCheck debit order — South Africa's bank-verified debit order system. You authorise the mandate with your own bank (usually a quick approval through your banking app or USSD), which means no one can set up the collection without your say-so. On your due date, the repayment is collected from your account, so make sure the money is there. If you can see trouble coming — a late payment from a client, an unexpected expense — talk to us through the app early rather than letting the date pass quietly. Early conversations always end better.

What happens after you repay

Two good things. First, your Fido Score grows. Repaying on time unlocks larger loan amounts and better terms over time — your first loan is the smallest you'll ever be offered if you keep repaying well. Second, Fido reports to the credit bureaus, so every on-time repayment helps build your credit record — a benefit that follows you well beyond Fido, to any credit you apply for in future.

Ready to see your offer?

The whole journey is designed to be done in one sitting, from your couch. You can read more about the product on our personal credit page, or download the app and see your own offer — looking is free, and you commit to nothing until you accept.