R2 500 loan
Borrowing R2 500 in South Africa costs a knowable maximum, because the National Credit Act caps every component. Over 2 months at the ceiling for a first loan, R2 500 costs R750 in interest, fees and VAT — a total of R3 250. Your own quote may be lower; it cannot legally be higher.
Lenders that advance R2 500
ordered by what each discloses · how we rank| Lender · NCR registration | Amount | Term | Interest | Basis | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boodle NCRCP5361 | R500 – R8 000 | 1–6 months | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| Atlas Finance NCRCP3994 | R500 – R20 000 | 1–9 months | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| Letsatsi Finance NCRCP895 | R500 – R7 000 | 1–6 months | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| Wonga NCRCP12875 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| Lime24 NCRCP8077 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| FinChoice NCRCP8162 / NCRCP23514 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| Barko NCRCP1764 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Up to 5%/mo capped | ✓ Lender-confirmed | View details |
| African Bank Not disclosed | R2 000 – R350 000 | 7–72 months | Annual, risk-based | Snapshot only | View details |
| Nedbank Not disclosed | R2 000 – R400 000 | 6–84 months | Annual, risk-based | Snapshot only | View details |
- Boodle✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP5361
- Amount
- R500 – R8 000
- Term
- 1–6 months
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- Boodle (Pty) Ltd
- Atlas Finance✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP3994
- Amount
- R500 – R20 000
- Term
- 1–9 months
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- Atlas Finance
- Letsatsi Finance✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP895
- Amount
- R500 – R7 000
- Term
- 1–6 months
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- Letsatsi Finance and Loan (Pty) Ltd
- Wonga✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP12875
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Term
- Not disclosed
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- Wonga Online (Pty) Ltd
- Lime24✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP8077
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Term
- Not disclosed
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- Lime Loans South Africa (Pty) Ltd
- FinChoice✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP8162 / NCRCP23514
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Term
- Not disclosed
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- FinChoice Africa Ltd / FinChoice Finance (Pty) Ltd
- Barko✓ Lender-confirmedNCRCP1764
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Term
- Not disclosed
- Interest
- Up to 5%/mo capped
- Provider
- Barko Financial Services (Pty) Ltd
- African BankSnapshot onlyNot disclosed
- Amount
- R2 000 – R350 000
- Term
- 7–72 months
- Interest
- Annual, risk-based
- Provider
- African Bank Limited
- NedbankSnapshot onlyNot disclosed
- Amount
- R2 000 – R400 000
- Term
- 6–84 months
- Interest
- Annual, risk-based
- Provider
- Nedbank Limited
Listed because the amount falls inside each provider’s published range. Whether you are approved for it depends on the affordability assessment. Last checked 10 August 2026. ZarCash may earn a commission when you apply through a partner — it never changes this order. Affiliate disclosure
What it costs — work it out
Set the amount and the term and see the instalment and the total repayable, with every fee the National Credit Act allows and VAT included. An estimate at the legal maximum — not a quote, and not an offer.
Rates and fees use the NCA caps for short-term credit agreements: interest 5%/month (3% repeat), initiation fee R165 + 10% of the amount over R1 000 (max R1 050), service fee R60/month, VAT 15% on fees.
| Principal — what you receive | R3 000 |
|---|---|
| Interest (5%/mo × 3 months) | R450 |
| Initiation fee | R365 |
| Service fee (3 × R60) | R180 |
| VAT on fees (15%) | R82 |
| Total cost of credit | R1 077 |
Check these three things before you sign — here or anywhere
- The lender’s NCRCP number is published on its own site, and it checks out in the National Credit Regulator’s register.
- The pre-agreement quote breaks out the total cost of credit: interest, initiation fee, service fee and VAT — as one figure you can compare.
- Nobody asks you for an upfront “release fee”. A registered credit provider never charges you before it pays out.
R2 500 at each term, at the legal maximum
Calculated at the National Credit Act maximums for a first short-term loan. An illustration of the ceiling — not a quote, and not an offer.
| Term | Interest | Fees + VAT | Total repayable | Monthly instalment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | R125 | R431 | R3 056 | R3 056 |
| 2 months | R250 | R500 | R3 250 | R1 625 |
| 3 months | R375 | R569 | R3 444 | R1 148 |
Interest on short-term credit is charged on the full R2 500 for every month of the term, not on a reducing balance. That is why the total climbs faster than the instalment falls.
What R2 500 over 1 month actually costs
At the NCA maximum for a first short-term loan (5% a month). An illustration, not a quote.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount borrowed | R2 500 |
| Interest (5% × 1 month) | R125 |
| Initiation fee | R315 |
| Service fee (R60 × 1) | R60 |
| VAT on fees (15%) | R56 |
| Total you repay | R3 056 |
| Monthly instalment | R3 056 |
Cost of credit: R556 on R2 500 borrowed. Figures are calculated at the statutory maximum — your own quote may be cheaper, and must be shown to you in full before you sign.
What the National Credit Act allows a lender to charge
Maximums for short-term credit under the National Credit Act 34 of 2005. A registered lender may charge less — never more.
| Charge | Legal maximum | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Interest — first loan | 5% per month | Applies to your first short-term loan in a calendar year. |
| Interest — repeat loan | 3% per month | Applies to further short-term loans taken in the same calendar year. |
| Initiation fee | R165 + 10% above R1 000, capped at R1 050 | Charged once, on the amount you borrow. Excludes VAT. |
| Service fee | R60 per month | Charged monthly for the life of the loan. Excludes VAT. |
| VAT | 15% on the fees | Added to the initiation and service fees — not to interest. |
Fee caps are published excluding VAT. With 15% VAT a R1 050 initiation fee costs you R1 207,50 and a R60 service fee costs R69 a month. Always compare the VAT-inclusive figure on your pre-agreement quote.
What R2 500 actually costs
At R2 500 the initiation fee reaches R315 before VAT. Interest at the first-loan cap runs R125 a month.
This amount often covers a specific bill — school fees, a car service, a deposit. Where the expense is fixed and known, borrowing exactly it rather than rounding up is worth doing: every extra R1 000 adds R100 to the initiation fee before VAT and R50 a month in interest.
Related
Sources and last checked
- National Credit Act 34 of 2005 and its regulations — Government, as at 10 August 2026.
- National Credit Regulator — register of credit providers — Regulator, as at 10 August 2026.
Page last checked 10 August 2026. Statutory caps and lender terms change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the provider or the National Credit Regulator. Found something wrong? Tell us and we will correct it.