Save together. Borrow without losing track of who owes what.
Ikimina is the rotating savings and loan group many East African households already know members save a fixed amount each month, and can borrow against what they've saved. This is that same group's book, kept where everyone can check it.
A savings group older than any app
An ikimina is a small group of people neighbours, colleagues, relatives who agree to save a set amount together every month and lend from that pool to members who need it. It runs on trust, a shared notebook, and whoever in the group is careful with numbers.
The idea doesn't change here. What changes is who has to remember the arithmetic.
This system is that notebook, moved online for one specific group. It adds up what each person has saved, works out what they may borrow, and won't let a loan through until the President, Vice President, and Secretary have approved it in that order.
Nobody's balance depends on someone's memory of who paid in March. It's recorded once, and everyone with an account can see it.
From monthly saving to a loan in your hand
The same four moves your group already makes on paper recorded automatically instead.
Save monthly
Each member pays their fixed amount in. It's logged against their name for that month, and the group total updates on its own.
Request a loan
A member can ask to borrow up to their total savings times the group's multiplier the ledger works out the limit and won't let a request pass it.
Get approved
The President, Vice President, and Secretary sign off in order. Nobody approves their own request, and the order can't be skipped.
Repay, and share the earnings
The loan and its interest are due within the group's set window. Interest collected is shared back to members when the group decides to.
What the book couldn't do for you
Limits calculate themselves
A member's borrowing limit updates the moment their savings do no working it out by hand before a request.
Approvals can't be rushed
A loan physically cannot reach "approved" without two separate admins and a supervisor, in order.
Due dates track themselves
The repayment window starts the day money actually leaves the box, not the day it was requested.
One record, every device
Whoever opens the ledger on a phone or a laptop sees the same numbers, updated as they happen.
A paper trail for every shilling
Every payment and every approval is signed with a name and a date, kept for as long as the group runs.
Earnings, not just debts
Interest the group earns from loans is tracked separately and shared out the way members agree to.
Questions about your account or the group
If you've lost access, spotted something wrong on your ledger, or want to join, reach an admin directly.
Already a member?
Sign in to see your savings, request a loan, or check where your last approval stands.