2 Tiny Money Habits That Can Make or Break Your Loan Approval

After two years working side-by-side with lenders to help MESHERS land fair, affordable loans, we’ve picked up some insider tips. We’ve seen what lenders praise, what makes them pause, and yes—even the hidden “marking scheme.”

And guess what? It often comes down to two simple money habits most people overlook:

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A lot of people don’t know this, but lenders actually look at your saving habits when reviewing your loan application.

What they want to see is consistency—that you save regularly, even if it’s small amounts. Why? Because ina-show uko na financial discipline, and lenders value that.

In a lender’s eyes, msee ako na financial discipline ni safer bet because ako more likely to pay back the loan.

So ka unadai ku-increase your chances of getting a loan, anza ku-save. Si must u-save pesa mob—ta 10 bob daily ina-count.

The key is to make sure uko na transaction records to prove it. That means your piggy bank won’t cut it. Same goes for that wooden box people save in, yenye ikifika time ya kutoa lazima utumie nyundo.

So ka unadai ku-increase your chances of getting a loan, anza ku-save. Si must u-save pesa mob—ta 10 bob daily ina-count.

The key is to make sure uko na transaction records to prove it. That means your piggy bank won’t cut it. Same goes for that wooden box people save in, yenye ikifika time ya kutoa lazima utumie nyundo.

What lenders really want to see is a clear digital trail—transactions that show your saving behavior. Don’t know how to create that kind of digital trail?

Here are some options you can start using right away:

M-Shwari: iIi ukua perfect option ya kusave, na ni rahisi ku-set up. Most importantly, unaeza request full M-Shwari statements that lenders can check.

Chumz App: Ii ni app poa sana kwa wasee u-struggle na consistency. It encourages you to save with timely reminders, fun challenges, and goal-oriented saving plans. Unaeza save ata 5 bob! Plus, unaeza download reports zinashow your saving performance. Curious how it works? Check out our in-depth review of Chumz.

Locked savings bank accounts: Most banks allow you to stash money where you can’t withdraw impulsively, na kila deposit ina-recordiwa. KCB offers one such account. Inaitwa KCB M-PESA Fixed Savings Account.

Sacco deposits: If you’re a Sacco member, make sure your savings show up on your statements. That paper trail helps big time.

Bottom line? Save where it can be seen. Digital trails are your receipts—and lenders love those!

Another often overlooked factor that gets lenders to say “yes” is your transaction history. Among other things, your business transactions act as proof that biz yako ina-exist.

Hii ni muhimu ju sometimes wasee hu-apply for business loans for hustles that either closed, or weren’t established in the first place. Lenders know this all too well, and as you might have guessed, those applications always get rejected.

Ka hauna transaction records, lenders wata-assume you’re one of those fraudulent people trying to secure a loan for a biz that doesn’t exist. This is why you need to track every coin that comes in and goes out of your biz.

Usually, ii ukua rahisi ka we utumia Paybill, Lipa na Mpesa Till, ama Pochi la Biashara because they let you generate reports showing your transaction history.

By the way, we’ve got a whole guide on how to choose between the three. Check it out here: M‑PESA Payment Options for Small Businesses in Kenya.

Whatever you choose, ensure you encourage your customers to use it. It also helps to use a single Paybill, Till, or Pochi la Biashara number so you can keep track of everything from one place.

Challenge ukua kwa cash transactions. If you don’t track these, lenders will simply assume they didn’t happen. That’s why unafaa kufanya kitu inaitwa bookkeeping.

Si must ukue na accountant. You just need to get creative with the few resources you have. Here’s a handy guide to help you out: Real World Bookkeeping Tips from a MESHER.

We can’t stress this enough: gambling is a huge red flag for lenders. Even a single betting transaction can land you on a blacklist and kill your loan chances.

If you’re serious about growing your hustle, keep gambling completely out of your financial records.