Did you know that you can check HELB loan balance via SMS? Are you also aware that you can easily start your HELB loan repayment using M-Pesa? Lastly, have you heard of the HELB app?
HELB has made moves to make services acquisition by customers a little easier using SMS technology, mobile payments and phone apps. Although the only sure way of getting fully served involves visiting their offices, the means below add to your convenience
How to check HELB loan balance via SMS
HELB introduced an SMS service back in October 2012 which enabled customers to not only check their HELB balances on the phone but also perform a number of other activities.
You simply create a message with the keyword corresponding with the matching query followed by # and your ID number and send the message to 5122.
Unfortunately, the service doesn’t seem to be working and the only record available is this Facebook post made on 22nd October 2012
The keywords were as listed below
| KEYWORDS | NATURE OF QUERY |
| BALUG | Your undergraduate loan balance |
| BALPG | Your undergraduate loan balance |
| CERTCLEAR | Your clearance certificate status |
| APPSTATUS | Your loan application status |
| SEMESTER | Whether your last loan Semester is paid |
| SSP | whether your tuition is paid for SSP |
| NEWS | Latest news about HELB |
| LASTPAY | Latest disbursement from HELB |
| REGISTER | Register |
For Instance, if you wanted to check HELB loan balance, you simply had to type
“BALUG#30000007” and send it to 5122. Replace 30000007 with your real ID.
But before anything, your name and ID needed to be registered in the HELB database in order to receive services through this SMS method.
This service costs Ksh 10 for every SMS. However, as earlier mentioned, it seems not to be working currently.
Alternative method to check HELB Loan balance using your phone
If you have ever tried logging into the HELB portal before using a phone browser, you must have noticed that the website isn’t responsive.
By this I mean, words and pictures are not well distributed on the page, hence you can’t easily access information.
HELB however, decided not to deal with their unresponsive website and instead developed a simple HELB app for that purpose. The app isn’t as powerful as it should be since most features aren’t available.
To download the app, visit google play store and search HELB App, or simply click HERE
Once you have installed the app, you will be prompted to input your phone number to enable validation.
Then set a pin, input your details which include your First name, Id number Email Address and KRA number in order to log in.
To check your loan balance simply tap the Repayment section and select loan balance. Also, you will see a Repay Loan button below your loan balance through which you can pay your loans.
Why you should start paying your HELB loan, seriously,
While playing around with the HELB app, I accessed the provisional mini-statement of my HELB loan status and realized why I really had to start paying my loans.
First, every beneficiary has a required amount of money they must pay per month as soon as their last academic year elapses. The monthly charge seems to be slightly above 10 percent of your yearly disbursement.
For instance, if you were getting Ksh 40,000 per academic year, your minimum HELB repayment amount per month is Ksh 4,100. Failure to do this attracts a penalty which by the way is a whooping Ksh 5000 for every month failed, according to a credible source.
Also, you get blacklisted in the CRB.
The whole story about loan beneficiaries being given a one year grace period before being required to pay their loans might just be faux. Personally, my outstanding penalty stands at 4998 and only graduated last year in December. This is early February.
Secondly, the monthly interest which although seems minimal is compounding very first. HELB interest rate is currently at 4% per annum.
Considering these factors, If you extend your repayment period over decades, you are very likely to pay more than twice the amount of loan you received.
So it is very advisable to at least make a payment every month to expedite your race to freedom from HELB loans.
How to pay your HELB loan using M-Pesa
You can start paying your student loan through M-Pesa which is pretty straight forward
- Go to M-Pesa
- Select Lipa na M-Pesa
- Choose Pay Bill
- Enter HELB Pay bill number: 200800
- Enter your national ID number as your account number
- Enter amount: 100
- Enter PIN number
- Confirm the transaction and send
Finally
HELB loans were fun back in university because for most it was free money for no particular use. Many didn’t use it to add value. Personally, I don’t even remember how I used HELB loans for the whole time.
However, when you are released to the world, HELB loans if not well managed will stalk you for life. Most of our parents are finally becoming HELB debt-free today; more than 20 years since they graduated.
Would you want to pay a loan for 2 decades?
IF I REACHED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HELB APPLICATION IN MY CERTIFICATE LEVEL AND AM ENROLLED TO DIPLOMA HOW CAN I BE HELPED?
Please esquire with HELB customer care offices, that’s an issue beyond me.
IF I REACHED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF HELB APPLICATION IN MY CERTIFICATE LEVEL AND AM ENROLLED TO DIPLOMA HOW CAN I BE HELPED?
Please esquire with HELB customer care offices, that’s an issue beyond me.
i want to know the status of my HELB loan repayment,how can i know how much balance i owe the board.This corona has affected my job and i wanted to halt my payment until things come into normal since my salary as been reduced drastically,so whats the way of doing it.
Hey, download the HELB app and log in then head over to Loan balance and you will see your balance
i want to know the status of my HELB loan repayment,how can i know how much balance i owe the board.This corona has affected my job and i wanted to halt my payment until things come into normal since my salary as been reduced drastically,so whats the way of doing it.
Hey, download the HELB app and log in then head over to Loan balance and you will see your balance
I have tried to download the app to apply the subsequent as guided but it is not opening in my phone.
Kindly advise which is the alternative method..?
Hey Samson, Log into your HELB account using a laptop for a better experience when applying for a loan.
I have tried to download the app to apply the subsequent as guided but it is not opening in my phone.
Kindly advise which is the alternative method..?
Hey Samson, Log into your HELB account using a laptop for a better experience when applying for a loan.
I applied for my Third disbursement 2018 up-to-date I have not received response
Hello Evans, you need to contact HELB offices to explain the cause of the issue, but one thing I know is that not all subsequent loans requests are approved and disbursed. Check your HELB account on all disbursed loans to see if that 3rd application was approaved or not.
I applied for my Third disbursement 2018 up-to-date I have not received response
Hello Evans, you need to contact HELB offices to explain the cause of the issue, but one thing I know is that not all subsequent loans requests are approved and disbursed. Check your HELB account on all disbursed loans to see if that 3rd application was approaved or not.
Hi,am bonface masinde graduate from moi university. My balances are different as they appear on your portal and my payslip. What might be the problem? Id number 28******
What is the difference between the balances? Is it huge? Have you calculated the total balance of your payslip by adding all the balances there?
Hi,am bonface masinde graduate from moi university. My balances are different as they appear on your portal and my payslip. What might be the problem? Id number 28******
What is the difference between the balances? Is it huge? Have you calculated the total balance of your payslip by adding all the balances there?
I’m kelvin my I’d no is 27******.im not getting the true figure of my loan balance because I use to submit 1500 and also my employer did so.Kindly help me the way forward.
Hello Kevin. I’m not sure why you are not getting the true figure of your loan balance. Log into HELB portal and download your HELB statement. Then go and add all balances shown in the statement. Secondly, download the HELB app on your phone and log into your account then go and check HELB balance. If these two balances are the same, then that’s the true figure of your loan balance.
I’m kelvin my I’d no is 27******.im not getting the true figure of my loan balance because I use to submit 1500 and also my employer did so.Kindly help me the way forward.
Hello Kevin. I’m not sure why you are not getting the true figure of your loan balance. Log into HELB portal and download your HELB statement. Then go and add all balances shown in the statement. Secondly, download the HELB app on your phone and log into your account then go and check HELB balance. If these two balances are the same, then that’s the true figure of your loan balance.
I am an under graduate students studying attached
Masinde muliro university of science & technology and I have applied for helb but I have not received any confirmation about my loan disbursement..what could be the problem?am a first year
Hey Joseph, that’s a good question. On 21st March 2020, HELB officially announced on its twitter handle that all pending loan disbursement will be halted as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and reopen once the pandemic is brought under control and institutions reopen. This might also suggest that the office might have halted the processing of HELB loan applications until universities open. You can check the tweet HERE. Otherwise, i think you should just relax until schools open or you can send them a tweet or an email for a better explanation of the situation
I am an under graduate students studying attached
Masinde muliro university of science & technology and I have applied for helb but I have not received any confirmation about my loan disbursement..what could be the problem?am a first year
Hey Joseph, that’s a good question. On 21st March 2020, HELB officially announced on its twitter handle that all pending loan disbursement will be halted as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and reopen once the pandemic is brought under control and institutions reopen. This might also suggest that the office might have halted the processing of HELB loan applications until universities open. You can check the tweet HERE. Otherwise, i think you should just relax until schools open or you can send them a tweet or an email for a better explanation of the situation