Lendsqr launches offline lending to help lenders in South Africa go digital without internet barriers

July 24, 2025 | Johannesburg, South Africa – Lendsqr, the global Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) company helping institutions build, scale, and manage digital credit offerings, has launched its offline lending feature in South Africa, making it possible for lenders to reach customers without smartphones, internet access, or even digital literacy.

Across South Africa, lenders face a dilemma: go digital and leave many South Africans behind, or stick to manual processes and miss out on the efficiency and scale that technology brings. Lendsqr’s offline feature removes that trade-off. Lenders can now originate and manage loans digitally, even when their customers are offline.

“Digital lending shouldn’t exclude people who can’t afford data or don’t use smartphones,” said Adedeji Olowe, CEO of Lendsqr. “With our offline lending capability, South African lenders can serve a spaza shop owner in Mthatha or a farmer in the Free State with the same efficiency as a customer in Cape Town all from the same platform.”

With this feature, loan officers and agents can book loans on behalf of borrowers directly from the Lendsqr system, whether they’re operating in person, over the phone, or via a basic device. The platform handles the backend (credit scoring, loan processing, and recordkeeping), so customers get access to real-time credit decisions, and lenders stay in control.

Why this matters for South Africa’s lenders

While digital lending in South Africa has grown steadily, large segments of the population remain underserved due to low smartphone penetration and inconsistent internet access. This offline capability gives lenders a way to reach those excluded segments without reverting to paperwork or spreadsheets.

Beyond inclusion, the feature offers a strategic edge. Lenders can expand their customer base, deliver faster loan approvals, and reduce operational overhead all while maintaining the structure, compliance, and automation that digital systems provide.

“This is not a side tool or a manual workaround,” Olowe added. “It’s the same secure, scalable infrastructure used by our enterprise clients now designed to work in environments where the customer doesn’t have to be online at all.”

About Lendsqr

Lendsqr is a global Lending-as-a-Service (Laa) company powering digital credit for banks, fintechs, cooperatives, and non-profits. With operations in Rwanda, Nigeria, the UK, US, and the Caribbean, Lendsqr helps lenders design loan products, onboard customers, manage repayments, and make smart credit decisions. 

The platform supports both online and offline lending, offering the flexibility to reach customers wherever they are. Lendsqr integrates with key services like credit bureaus, payment processors, and KYC tools, enabling lenders to go fully digital even when their customers are not.

The offline lending feature is available to all South African lenders on the Lendsqr platform. From cooperatives and MFIs to fintech startups and traditional finance providers, any lender can begin booking loans offline. Lendsqr is also free to start, making it accessible for lenders at any stageTo learn more or get started, visit lendsqr.com or reach out to [email protected].