HELB Portal Online Loan Application Guide

We are going to take you through steps on how to access the HELB Student Portal Online in Kenya. We will show you how to register online, how to log in and how to apply for a HELB Loan. So stay here for more and let’s get started right away.

What is HELB?

So if you don’t know yet, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), is the leading financier of higher education in Kenya. It is a State Corporation that was established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 213A) in 1995.

The mandate of the Board is to disburse loans, bursaries, and scholarships to students pursuing higher education in the recognized institution. The Board provides affordable loans bursaries and scholarship to Kenyans seeking higher education.

How do you create an account?

To access the services from HELB, you need an account first. Follow the following steps to get registered on the Portal.

1. Visit the HELB Portal website
2. Fill in the form provided under Applicants Account Creation
3. Click the Sign-Up Button
4. Congratulations, you have created an account on The HELB Portal, please check your email address to activate your account.
5. Login to your email address and click on HELB Portal Activation link
6. Once back at the HELB Portal, log in with the credentials provided earlier.
7. Update your Personal and Residence details, and Click Save Button
8. You can now choose the appropriate loan product to apply under the Loans tab.
9. Download and print two copies of your filled loan application form
10. Have them signed and stamped by the relevant authority and guarantors(for first-time applicants only and by your dean at the University for subsequent applicants)
11. If asked to create a new account, repeat the steps above.
12. You can change details about your County, Constituency or Employment status, click the Biodata Tab, under personal information, click next, then change your Country/Constituency/Employment status and save
13. Now you can apply for a loan from your County/Constituency.
14. You need to provide accurate information about you in the following fields.

HELB loan products – Non-Salaried Applicants

1. Undergraduate First Time Applicants.
2. Undergrad Second and Subsequent.
3. Undergrad Loan Review/Appeals.
4. Constituency Loan Application Forms – Embu.
5. Constituency Loan Application Forms – Tinderet
6. Constituency Loan Application Forms – Naivasha.
7. Constituency Loan Application Forms – Igembe
8. Constituency Loan Application Forms – Karachuonyo
9. Constituency Loan Application Forms – Awendo.
10. TVET for Tertiary Institutions.
11. TVET for Tertiary Institutions Second and Subsequent.
12. Afya Elimu Fund (AEF) Subsequent Loan Application.
13. First Time and Subsequent Afya Elimu Fund Preservice
14. Visa Oshwal Scholarship

Must Read: HELB Loan Repayment Procedure

HELB Loan Products: Salaried Applicants

• Postgraduate Scholarship
• Alternative Loans for Undergrad, Salaried Applicants
• Training Revolving Fund (TRF) for Civil Servants
• KRA Staff Loan Application Form
• Alternative Loans for Postgrad, Salaried Applicants

How to apply for a HELB Loan

The following items are required before applying for HELB loan:

1. A copy of your National Identification card. HELB uses your ID No. to identify an applicant. You will also use your national ID No when creating an account.
2. A valid bank account. Students who qualify for loan awards will have their bank accounts credited before the beginning of each Semester. Students  should open accounts with the following collaborating banks:
   • Kenya Commercial Bank
   • National Bank of Kenya
   • Kenya Post Office Savings Bank (Post Bank)
   • Cooperative Bank of Kenya
   • Equity Bank.
3. KRA pin from the Kenya Revenue Authority. Click here how to apply for one. The Pin helps the Board to track its loanee’s. It is, therefore, an essential element in the application process.
4. Your Parent (s)/ guardian particulars. This includes name, a copy of their National ID, marital status, the level of education, a source of income, employee details, current payslip, and employee No. (If employed).
5. Your Parents Death certificate( If not existing).
6. A copy of a letter of admission to the university/college.
7. Copies of two guarantors’ ID.
8. Three Recent coloured passport size photograph
9. KCSE and KCPE results slip at hand
10. Three guarantors who are already employed (You should have a copy of their ID)

Online services are available on the Portal, Loan Status, Loan Repayment History, Loan Statement.

1. ALL USERS are required to create new accounts on the new website (Launched on 4th February 2014)
2. Ensure your email address is accessible and you can log in to your mailbox. (All HELB communications are sent to your email address)
3. Ensure your National ID Number is correct before sign up.
4. Once you complete the process of registration (creating the account), all available loan products shall be displayed.
5. Please choose the specific loan product you wish to apply for.
6. If you do not rightly indicate your county and constituency of origin, then you will not be able to view the specific loan for your county or constituency in the list of loan products that you can choose from to apply.
7. If you do not rightly indicate your employment status (employed/unemployed), you will not be able to view loan products specific to either group.
8. To correct your details of county/constituency /employment status, kindly click to apply on the undergraduate application, go to personal information, correct your county/constituency/employment status and save.
9. Go back to apply for the loan and the application form for your county or constituency will be displayed, click apply and proceed.

How to Check for HELB Loan Disbursement.

You can check HELB Status in 2 ways:

Option 1

• Visit HELB website http://www.helb.co.ke/ Click on loan status.
• You will be directed to your HELB Portal (You must have registered with HELB portal)
• Click on Loan Reports
• Go to the drop-down menu indicating disbursement and statement.
• Click on disbursement, and a form will appear.
• The form indicates your loan disbursement status.

Second Option

To confirm HELB Loan Disbursement, You can also check the bank account that you used during registration. Students have noted that Family bank, Equity Bank, Postbank and National bank dispense their student loans efficiently and quickly upon approval by HELB.

National Bank Students can also use their HELB smart cards to check their loan status. The smart card is divided into three parts; tuition, upkeep, and general use. You cannot withdraw money that is available in the tuition part.

For postgraduates

The loan attracts an interest of 4% p.a and the students are required to repay their loans on completion of their studies. HELB provides a one year grace period after graduation before one can start repaying the loan.

To check on your progress:

• Login in to your HELB loan Portal from this link HELB loan Portal
• Click on ‘Online Services’
• Click on ‘Clearance Certificate’
• To Print Click on ‘Print’, to view PDF Click on ‘Generate PDF.’

SMS

Did you know that you can also check you HELB status via SMS? HELB facilitates inquiry services to complement the preferences of different people.

For those checking their HELB status by SMS they are required to create a new message with a keyword corresponding with the matching query followed by the hash(#), then the ID number and finally send the message to 5122.

For example, one wishing to inquire about their undergraduate loan balance will type ‘BALUG’ followed by the ID number, that is BALUD#IDNo then send it as a text message to 5122.

Database feedback will only be received if your number is registered on the HELB database. Unregistered beneficiaries will, therefore, be required to register by SMS-ing the words “REGISTER#IDNo” using the phone numbers registered on their names to 5122.

Are you having trouble signing in?

If you are having trouble accessing your account, click this link to search for your account by either using your National ID or email address.

HELB Scholarships.

HELB awards scholarships to postgraduate students pursuing their Masters or Doctoral studies. This award is based on academic merit. The application period is April to July Applicants are required to pay a processing fee of Ksh 3,000. Click here to apply.

HELB loan application mistakes

Mistakes are bound to happen, but you can choose to avoid them when it comes to matters relating to your life and career. So what are the Mistakes that could get your HELB loan application cancelled, defective or even rejected?

Every year HELB receive tons of thousands of loan application from students countrywide. Unfortunately, most of the loan request end up being rejected or marked defective for a specific reason we are about to explain.

HELB Loan Application Rights

One thing you should know is that for your loan application to be rejected, it must not have met an unquestionable requirement as stipulated by the HELB Loan’s Board.

HELB is expected to show course why and produce evidence why they think a student whose loan was rejected can do without it. This is after the National Assembly approved amendments to the law on HELB.

It is also mandatory for the loan’s Board to give loans to all government-sponsored students in public University. In the case that a students loan application is rejected, the Board is again required to explain the rejection.

Below are some of the mistakes that could prevent you from getting a HELB loan. Note that, these are errors that most students commit while filling their HELB loan forms.

Late Delivery

All HELB loan application should be made within the stipulated time frame. HELB usually extends its loan application deadline but remember. Late delivery forms are not accepted

Missing Signatures and stamps

The required signatures and stamping indicated in the HELB loan form are mandatory. If there are any missing signatures, just know that your application will not be accepted.

Missing documents

If any of the documents on the checklist haven’t been appropriately attached or it’s missing, then the application will be termed incomplete.

Scanned copies

HELB requires submission of original documents and not scans of the same.

Unsigned or Unstamped for 2nd and subsequent loan applications

All the subsequent loan application forms must be signed and stamped by the dean of students. Always refer to the LAF checklist to ensure you have met all the requirements.

What to do when your HELB Loan Application is Rejected