Get with the program: lending is not just about disbursing money—it involves calculated risk, smooth operations, and trust. Today, it is a symphony of services working in perfect harmony.
Without credit bureaus, how do you gauge whether someone is likely to repay their loan? Without payment providers, how do you ensure the funds get to borrowers instantly, and repayments come back just as seamlessly? And without ID verification systems, how do you sleep at night knowing your borrowers are who they claim to be?
Zambia’s lending market isn’t just growing—it’s transforming, fueled by technology, data, and collaboration. As a lender here, you shouldn’t just be looking to lend; you should want to lend smartly, efficiently, and with the least possible risk.
But the truth is, no lender does this alone. The strength of a lender is not only in their capital but also in their partners—the service providers who ensure every loan disbursed is a calculated decision, every repayment is processed flawlessly, and every borrower is a verified entity.
In this article, we’re going to connect the dots to show why these service providers for lenders in Zambia matter, how they impact your business, and what sets the best apart from the rest.
Service providers for lenders in Zambia: Payment providers
1. DPO Pay
DPO Pay started back in 2006 with a simple mission: to make payments easier across Africa. Today, they’re one of the leading payment service providers, working in over 20 African countries, including Zambia.
In the beginning, they aimed to fix a major problem—many places just didn’t have a reliable way to handle digital payments.
By teaming up with local banks and mobile money services, DPO quickly became a key player in helping businesses manage payments smoothly in countries that needed it most.
Services offered:
DPO Pay has a lot to offer lenders in Zambia. They make it easy to accept payments in different ways—whether it’s with credit and debit cards, mobile money, or bank transfers. This is really important because in Zambia, borrowers use all sorts of payment methods, and having options means more people can pay back their loans in a way that works for them.
Mobile money, for instance, is huge in Zambia, especially for those without bank accounts, and DPO helps lenders tap into that. Plus, DPO can be integrated directly into the lender’s system, which means borrowers can make repayments easily without jumping through hoops.
Recent developments:
In September 2024, DPO Pay announced its rebranding as Network, aligning more closely with its parent company, Network International. This strategic move aims to unify their brand identity and expand their payment solutions across Africa and the Middle East. The rebranding is part of a broader effort to offer innovative, localized payment services to merchants in over 21 markets across Africa.
Earlier in the year, DPO Pay partnered with FinMont, a travel payment management platform, to integrate its payment gateway into FinMont’s ecosystem. This collaboration provides FinMont’s clients with access to a wide range of payment capabilities, enhancing their ability to connect with customers globally through a seamless payment experience.
In May 2024, DPO Pay strengthened its executive team by appointing Isabella Marira as Group Head of Operations and Daisy Shipwoni as Head of Marketing. These appointments are part of DPO Pay’s strategy to drive growth and innovation in the digital payments sector across Africa.
2. ZynlePay
ZynlePay is a homegrown Zambian payment gateway developed by Zynle Technologies Limited. Founded to provide a local solution tailored to the unique needs of Zambia’s financial ecosystem, ZynlePay’s mission has always been to simplify digital payments for businesses and individuals alike.
Using its deep understanding of the Zambian market, ZynlePay aims to bridge the gap in payment infrastructure, offering services that cater specifically to both formal and informal sectors.
Services offered:
ZynlePay offers a versatile suite of payment solutions that make it easier for businesses, including lenders, to manage financial transactions. Lenders can accept payments via debit and credit cards, including major international cards such as VISA, Mastercard, and American Express.
This wide card acceptance capability allows lenders to cater to borrowers who prefer more traditional banking methods.
More importantly, ZynlePay also supports mobile money transactions, which is crucial for Zambia, where mobile money is a key tool for financial inclusion.
Many borrowers, especially in rural areas, rely on mobile money instead of traditional banking services, and integrating ZynlePay helps lenders tap into this market effectively.
ZynlePay also facilitates bank-to-bank transfers, providing additional flexibility for payments and repayments.
Recent developments:
In 2024, ZynlePay has made significant strides to enhance its services and expand its reach within Zambia’s financial sector:
The platform is working on incorporating electronic cheque processing, providing users with additional payment options. ZynlePay is also broadening its mobile money integrations to ensure seamless transactions across various operators, thereby improving accessibility for users.
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3. Tingg Africa
Tingg Africa is a digital payments platform developed by Cellulant, a pan-African technology company established in 2004. Cellulant’s mission has been to connect financial institutions, mobile network operators, and businesses to their increasingly mobile customers across Africa.
Tingg was introduced as an all-in-one, multi-functional consumer super app, aiming to revolutionize the way customers interact with digital payment services on the continent.
Services offered:
Tingg provides a unified platform for payments, enabling businesses to accept payments via mobile money, cards, and bank transfers across multiple African countries, including Zambia.
For lenders, Tingg offers the ability to collect payments through various channels such as USSD, SMS, web, mobile apps, and social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. This omni-channel approach ensures that borrowers can make repayments using their preferred method, enhancing accessibility and convenience.
Recent developments:
In recent years, Tingg has expanded its merchant network and enhanced its platform to support various industries, including retail and utilities.
The platform has been instrumental in providing interoperability envisioned by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), facilitating seamless movement of money for a more connected Africa.
Tingg’s digital payments ecosystem serves more than 34 countries in Africa, enabling digitization across many sectors by providing a platform with a single API and settlement point for collections and payouts.
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Service providers for lenders in Zambia: ID verification and KYC providers
1. ShuftiPro
Established in 2017, ShuftiPro is a UK-based company specializing in identity verification services. It offers solutions to businesses worldwide, including those in Zambia, to meet KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance requirements.
Services offered:
ShuftiPro provides a range of services, including real-time identity verification, document verification, biometric authentication, and ongoing AML screening.
These services are designed to help businesses verify customer identities swiftly and accurately, thereby reducing fraud and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Recent developments:
In May 2024, ShuftiPro partnered with .MUSIC to authenticate music identities and protect artists against AI impersonation and deepfakes. This collaboration aims to create a trusted ecosystem for the global music community.
ShuftiPro has extended its services to various sectors, including banking, crypto, fintech, gaming, healthcare, and insurance. This expansion demonstrates the company’s adaptability and commitment to serving diverse industries.
2. SmileID
Smile ID, formerly known as Smile Identity, is a leading provider of digital identity verification services across Africa. The company focuses on delivering solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the African market, including Zambia.
Services offered:
Smile ID offers services such as identity verification, user authentication, and digital KYC compliance. These services enable businesses to onboard customers securely and efficiently, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Recent developments in 2024:
In January 2024, Smile ID released the “Digital Identity Fraud in Africa” report, highlighting a significant increase in identity fraud across the continent. The report provides insights into fraudster methods, behaviors, and regional trends, offering valuable information for businesses to combat fraud.
By July 2024, Smile ID had completed over 150 million identity verifications, marking a significant milestone in its operations. This achievement underscores the company’s extensive reach and the growing demand for reliable identity verification services in Africa.
In September 2024, Smile ID partnered with Mastercard to accelerate merchant onboarding in over 50 African countries, including Zambia. This collaboration aims to streamline KYC processes and enhance financial inclusion across the continent.
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Service providers for lenders in Zambia: Credit bureau
TransUnion
TransUnion, established in 1968 in the United States, has expanded its operations globally, including a significant presence in Zambia. The company specializes in credit reporting and information management, providing insights that help businesses and consumers make informed financial decisions.
Services offered:
TransUnion Zambia offers comprehensive credit reporting services, delivering detailed credit histories and scores for individuals and businesses.
These reports assist lenders in evaluating the creditworthiness of potential borrowers, facilitating risk assessment and decision-making processes.
Plus, TransUnion provides fraud prevention solutions and consumer education resources to promote financial literacy.
Recent developments in 2024:
In 2024, TransUnion released the “State of Omnichannel Fraud Report,” highlighting a 40% year-over-year increase in suspected digital fraud attempts in Zambia. The report emphasizes the need for enhanced fraud prevention strategies among financial institutions.
The Q2 2024 Consumer Pulse Study revealed that 48% of Zambian consumers plan to seek new or refinance existing credit, indicating a growing demand for credit services amidst financial strain.
TransUnion published the “Zambia Insurance Insights Report,” providing data-driven analysis to help insurers understand market trends and consumer behaviors, thereby informing strategic decisions.
Service providers for lenders in Zambia: Technology and IT service providers
1. SARU TECH
Established in 2014, SARU TECH is a leading software development company specializing in web, mobile, and desktop applications. The company focuses on delivering user-friendly software solutions that enhance business operations, particularly in areas with limited internet and electricity access.
Services offered:
SARU TECH provides a range of services, including the development of offline and online software applications tailored for businesses in sectors such as healthcare, education, and retail. Their solutions are highly customizable and support multiple devices, ensuring seamless operation and management.
Recent developments in 2024:
In 2024, SARU TECH introduced PPMS, a versatile patient management software that enables healthcare professionals to store, monitor, and access medical records, manage appointments, handle medical billing, and send automatic reminders efficiently. This solution offers seamless integration and a user-friendly interface, streamlining patient care and practice management.
2. Linknet Zambia
Linknet Zambia Limited is a Zambian citizen majority-owned technology company based in Lusaka. The company focuses on payments technology, payment infrastructure delivery, mobile wallet solutions, enterprise messaging, and financial transactions processing.
Services offered:
Linknet Zambia offers next-generation payment solutions, including retail POS machines, mobile money, eTickets (events, cinema, buses), cross-border remittances, NFC applications, municipal and government billing, eCommerce, biometric authentication, prepaid cards, and blockchain technology.
Recent developments in 2024:
Linknet Zambia has established a strategic partnership with Capital Software of South Africa, holding exclusive rights for the Silicon Enterprise technology in Zambia. Capital Software specializes in card management technology, mobile payments, mobile communications, and blockchain development, providing systems in banking, insurance, administration, payment, and telecommunications.
3. Voxforem Technologies
Founded in 2015, Voxforem Technologies is a software development company with a presence in India, Zambia, and the USA. The company focuses on delivering high-quality, cost-effective services to cyberspace and IT outsourcing firms.
Services offered:
Voxforem Technologies offers a range of services, including web development, mobile app development, SEO and digital marketing, graphic design, e-commerce solutions, and web hosting. Their services are designed to help businesses establish a strong online presence and improve operational efficiency.
Recent developments in 2024:
In September 2024, Voxforem Technologies released a comprehensive guide on ZRA Smart Invoicing, Zambia’s electronic billing system. The guide aims to help businesses understand and implement the system effectively, ensuring compliance with tax regulations and streamlining invoicing processes. These are the providers you need to succeed as a lender in Zambia
These are the providers you need to succeed as a lender in Zambia
Think of it this way: every loan disbursed is a risk, and every repayment is an opportunity to grow. To get it right, you need payment providers that can reach borrowers wherever they are, identity verification that can catch fraudsters before they ever get through the door, and credit scores that can help you know who’s worth betting on.
Because in the end, lending is about more than just money—it’s about trust, technology, and having the right partners who know how to do their part well. That’s what sets successful lenders apart from those who get stuck in the chaos.
So, if you’re serious about being in the lending game in Zambia, now you know exactly who should be on your team.
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