USSD Codes for Loans in Kenya 2026: M-Pesa, KCB, Timiza

USSD loan codes in Kenya let you borrow money by dialling a short code on any phone - no app, no internet, no paperwork. The main codes in 2026 are 334# (Fuliza and M-Shwari), 844# (KCB M-Pesa), 848# (Absa Timiza), 254# (Hustler Fund) and *642# (HELB). Approved loans land in your M-Pesa wallet within minutes.

USSD is still how most Kenyans borrow. The Central Bank of Kenya had licensed more than 220 digital credit providers by April 2026, and the majority reach customers through a USSD short code rather than an app. This guide lists every major loan code, what it costs, and what happens if you don't repay - all verified as of July 2026.

What are the USSD codes for loans in Kenya?

Dial the code, follow the menu, and repay through the same code or M-Pesa. Here is the full list:

Rates change often and depend on your credit profile. Always confirm the total repayable amount on the confirmation screen before you accept.

What is the M-Pesa loan code? (Fuliza and M-Shwari)

Both of Safaricom's flagship credit products now live under *334#, the main M-Pesa menu. Safaricom moved Fuliza services from 234# to 334# - if you last borrowed a while ago, this is the change that catches people out.

• Fuliza: dial *334#, select option 0 (Fuliza M-PESA) to opt in, check your limit or check outstanding balance. Fuliza is an overdraft - it completes a payment you couldn't cover, then recovers the money plus a daily access fee from your next deposit. Limits run from KES 100 to KES 70,000.
• M-Shwari: dial *334#, select Loans and Savings → M-Shwari → Request Loan. One-off 7.5% facility fee, 30-day term. You need an active M-Shwari savings account with some history to qualify.

What are the KCB USSD codes?

KCB runs two separate codes, and mixing them up is the most common reason a loan request fails:

For a quick cash loan without a KCB bank account, 844# is the one you want. You can also reach KCB M-Pesa inside 334# under Loans and Savings, or in the M-PESA app. Loans disburse straight to your M-Pesa wallet.

What is the Timiza USSD code?

Absa Timiza is *848#. It works on Safaricom lines and pairs with the Timiza app. Dial *848#, register with your ID number, and your limit is scored from your M-Pesa history - no Absa account needed. Timiza consistently prices among the cheapest 30-day digital loans in Kenya at roughly 7.25% all-in for 30 days, with a 5% rollover fee if you extend.

What is the M-KOPA USSD code?

M-KOPA is different from the cash lenders above: it finances smartphones, solar systems and electric bikes that you pay off in daily instalments.

• Check balance / self-service: *685#
• Make a payment: M-Pesa paybill 333222, account number = your M-KOPA account or ID number

You don't "borrow cash" from M-KOPA by USSD - you manage an existing device loan. If a sales agent promises M-KOPA cash loans via a different code, treat it as a scam.

How do you get a Hustler Fund loan?

Dial *254# on Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom - it's the only major loan code that works identically across all three networks. First-time limits start around KES 500–1,000 and grow to KES 50,000 with on-time repayment. Interest is 8% per year (charged pro-rata), rising to 9.5% if you repay late beyond the 14-day term. Note that 5% of every disbursement goes automatically into your Hustler Fund savings account, so a KES 1,000 loan pays out KES 950.

Can you get a loan by SMS in Kenya?

Not directly - there is no legitimate "SMS loan" code in Kenya in 2026. SMS is how lenders talk to you, not how you borrow:

• Loan offers, limit increases and approval confirmations arrive by SMS.
• Repayment reminders and CRB warning notices arrive by SMS (lenders must notify you 30 days before a negative CRB listing).
• Any SMS asking you to send money, a "processing fee" or your M-Pesa PIN to unlock a loan is fraud. Licensed lenders never charge upfront fees by SMS.

If you receive a loan SMS from a sender you don't recognise, check the lender against CBK's list of licensed digital credit providers before responding.

Who actually builds these loan USSD codes?

Every code in the table above is a licensed short code running on infrastructure connected to Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. Banks, microfinance institutions, SACCOs and digital credit providers don't build this from scratch - they work with a USSD aggregator/platform that handles the telco connections, the menu logic, and the integration to their core banking or loan management system.

With more than 220 CBK-licensed digital credit providers now competing, riding inside someone else's menu (or app-store dependence) is a real distribution risk. A dedicated USSD code gives a lender:

• Reach: every phone in Kenya, including the feature phones that apps can't touch
• Ownership: your brand on the dial code, your data, your customer relationship
• Speed: loan origination, KYC, disbursement and repayment in one session

HelloDuty USSD powers lending menus for banks, MFIs, SACCOs and DCPs - from shared-code pilots in about 3–6 weeks to dedicated multi-network codes in 8–12 weeks, integrated with your loan book and CRM. See our guide on how USSD banking shapes loan acquisition in Kenya.

And once loans are disbursed, collections is the harder half of the business. HelloDuty's sequential dialer queues your entire past-due book and dials it automatically - agents only speak to connected calls, every outcome logs to the CRM, and repayment promise-to-pay follow-ups trigger SMS automatically. Lenders combine the USSD channel for repayment with the dialer for recovery in one platform.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for a USSD loan in Kenya?

You need a registered SIM card, a national ID, and an active mobile money account (M-Pesa for most codes). Each lender scores your limit from your transaction history, savings behaviour and repayment record. New SIM cards typically get zero limits for the first 3–6 months.

Do USSD loans affect my CRB status?

Yes. Licensed lenders report repayment behaviour to Kenya's three credit reference bureaus - TransUnion, Metropol and Creditinfo. Defaulting can get you negatively listed, which locks you out of other credit. Lenders must send you a 30-day notice before a negative listing. Repaying on time builds a positive record that grows your limits.

How do I repay a USSD loan?

Through the same code you borrowed from (e.g. 334# → Loans and Savings → Pay Loan for M-Shwari, 848# for Timiza, *254# for Hustler Fund) or via each lender's M-Pesa paybill. Fuliza repays itself - it deducts automatically from your next M-Pesa deposit.

What is the cheapest USSD loan in Kenya?

For rate alone, the Hustler Fund (254#) at 8% per year is by far the cheapest - but limits are small. Among commercial products, Timiza (848#) at roughly 7.25% for 30 days generally undercuts M-Shwari (7.5% + excise) and KCB M-Pesa (~8.85%). Fuliza is cheap for 1–3 days but expensive if it runs for weeks.

What is the Fuliza USSD code in 2026?

Fuliza now lives under 334# (option 0) after Safaricom moved it from 234#. You can also manage it in the M-PESA app under Fuliza.

Can I get a Safaricom loan without M-Pesa?

No - Fuliza, M-Shwari and KCB M-Pesa all disburse into and repay from M-Pesa. On Airtel or Telkom, your USSD options are the Hustler Fund (*254#) and lenders with cross-network codes.

Why is my loan limit zero?

Common reasons: a new or recently replaced SIM, low M-Pesa activity, an outstanding defaulted loan elsewhere, a negative CRB listing, or you opted out of the service previously. Use the line actively for 3–6 months, clear arrears, and limits typically open up.

How does a lender get its own USSD loan code?

Apply for a short code through the Communications Authority of Kenya (via an aggregator), obtain or hold a CBK licence as a digital credit provider, comply with the Data Protection Act 2019, then build and integrate the menu with your loan system. With a platform like HelloDuty USSD, a pilot on a shared code takes about 3–6 weeks; a dedicated code across all three networks takes 8–12 weeks.

Running a lending operation? Launch your own USSD loan code and automate collections with the sequential dialer - one platform for origination, repayment and recovery. Explore HelloDuty USSD or book a demo.