Helb Portal: how to Check your Helb Loan Status

With an interest rate of 4%, the HELB portal is the first point of action for Kenyan students seeking financial support to pursue their higher education aspirations.

At the heart of this digital platform lies the vital function of checking one’s loan status—a fundamental task for students relying on assistance from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

In an era where access to education hinges significantly on financial aid, understanding how to navigate the HELB portal to check loan status becomes paramount.

In this post, we’ll be reviewing the ways that students or Helb Users can effortlessly monitor the status of their HELB loans.

What is Helb?
How to Access the Helb Portal
5. Activate Your Account:
How to check your Helb Loan Status
What are the Obligations of a Helb Loanee?
How to check your outstanding HELB loan balance via SMS
How to register for HELB mobile services
How is the HELB Loan Shared?
The Available HELB Loan Products
Requirements for HELB Application on the HELB portal
FAQs
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

What is Helb?

HELB stands for the Higher Education Loans Board. It is a statutory body established in Kenya to provide affordable loans, bursaries, and scholarships to Kenyan students pursuing higher education in accredited institutions.

The loans offered by HELB cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other related expenses for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

HELB also administers the loan disbursement process and manages repayment schedules for the beneficiaries. It plays a crucial role in facilitating access to higher education for students who may not have the financial means to pursue their academic aspirations independently.

How to Access the Helb Portal

Before going into the process of accessing the HELB portal to apply for a loan, it’s important to ensure you have the necessary tools at your disposal.

You’ll need a device with internet access and a modern web browser, such as Mozilla Firefox, for optimal performance. Once you’re equipped, follow these simple steps to navigate the HELB portal seamlessly and efficiently.

1. Use a Web Browser:

Start by opening a web browser on your computer or smartphone. Just sd stated before,it’s best to use a modern one like Mozilla Firefox and ensure it’s updated to the latest version for the best experience.

2. Visit the HELB Website:

Visit the official Helb Website. This will take you to the homepage of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) website.

3. Apply for a Loan:

On the homepage, look for an option that says “Apply for a Loan” and click on it. This will likely take you to a page where you can start the loan application process.

4. Register for an Account:

If you’re new to the HELB portal, you’ll need to register for an account. Look for a button or link that says “Register” and click on it.

You’ll be asked to provide some basic information such as your first name, last name, ID number, valid email address, and create a password. Once you’ve filled in all the required fields, click on “Sign Up” to complete the registration process.

5. Activate Your Account:

After you’ve signed up, HELB will send an activation link to the email address you provided during registration. Go to your email inbox, find the email from HELB, and click on the activation link to activate your account.

6. Log In:

Once your account is activated, return to the HELB website and log in using the credentials you just created.

7. Update your Personal Details:

Upon logging in, you may be prompted to update your personal and residence details. Make sure all the information is accurate and up to date, then click on the “Save” button to save your changes.

8. Choose a Loan Product:

Finally, look at the loan products available on the HELB portal and choose the one that best suits your needs. Follow the instructions provided to complete the loan application process.

How to check your Helb Loan Status

To see if your Helb loan has been sent to you, you need to have signed up and asked for a loan.

Then, you wait for HELB to decide on your loan. Here’s how you can check online:

1. Visit HELB Website:

First, you need to go to the official website of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

2. Log in to Your Student Account:

Once you’re on the website, you’ll need to log in to your student account. This requires entering your email address and password that you used during the registration process.

3. Access Loan Status:

After logging in, navigate to the section or option that allows you to check your loan status. This is usually labeled as ‘Loan Status’ or something similar.

4. Check Disbursement Status:

Within the loan status section, there should be an option specifically for checking the disbursement status of your loan. Click on the option.

5. Review Loan Details:

Once you’ve accessed the disbursement status section, you’ll be able to see whether your HELB loan has been disbursed or not. You’ll also be able to view the date when the loan was disbursed and the amount that has been awarded to you.

What are the Obligations of a Helb Loanee?

When you borrow money from Helb, you have certain responsibilities to fulfil. Within a year of finishing your studies or as soon as HELB asks for it back:

1. Inform Helb about your contact address:

After you finish your studies or when HELB asks, you need to tell them where you live so they can contact you.

2. Start loan repayment:

You have to begin paying back the money you borrowed, plus any extra money you owe because of interest.

3.Authorize employer deductions:

If you have a job, you need to allow your employer to take money from your salary to pay back Helb. They will send it directly to HELB as instructed.

4. Signing the loan agreement:

When you take a loan from HELB, you sign a paper saying you understand the rules.

This is like a promise that you’ll pay back the loan as agreed. You have to provide accurate information when applying for the loan and update HELB if anything changes, like your contact details.

5.Continuous updates:

You need to keep them informed about any changes in your information from the time you apply for the loan until you finish paying it off.

Basically, by taking a loan from Helb portal, you agree to follow these rules and keep them updated about your situation.

How to check your outstanding HELB loan balance via SMS

Now, you can easily check how much money you owe to HELB using a text message service. This service lets you see your loan balance on your phone, so you can keep track of what you owe or just find out for yourself.

To use this service, you first need to sign up. Send a text message with the word “REGISTER#” followed by your ID number (like this: REGISTER#12345678) to the number 5122. This will add your details to the HELB database.

Once you’re registered, follow these steps to get your loan balance:

Open your text messaging app.
Create a new message and type in 5122 as the recipient.
In the message box, type your name as one word without any spaces, like this: JANEDOE.
After your name, add a hash (#) sign, like this: JANEDOE#.
Then, type your ID number after the hash sign, like this: JANEDOE#12345678.
Send the message.

You’ll soon receive a text message with your HELB loan balance

How to register for HELB mobile services

In March 2021, HELB and S afaricom PLC joined forces to introduce a new way for HELB users to manage their accounts using just their phones.

This mobile service, called HELB USSD, lets users check their loan status, balances, and make payments without needing to go online. Below are the steps to follow to sign up for this service:

Dial *642# on your phone.
Choose option 1, ‘Register’.
Fill in your details like your name, birth date, and ID number.
Confirm your details and send.
Pick a unique four-digit PIN.
Confirm your registration, and you’ll get a text from HELB confirming it was successful.

How is the HELB Loan Shared?

Here’s how the HELB loan works: You could get either Ksh. 40,000 as the lowest amount or Ksh. 60,000 as the highest. But the exact sum within that range can vary.

After applying, if your application is successful (which isn’t guaranteed), the government splits the loan amount for your tuition fees and living expenses.

For tuition, Ksh. 8,000 is always set aside for two semesters and sent directly to your university. The remaining amount is then deposited into your bank account for your living expenses.

Occasionally, if you’re very needy, you might also receive a small bursary from HELB, typically between Ksh. 4,000 to Ksh. 8,000 per year. But this is only for those in extreme need.

The Available HELB Loan Products

HELB, like other lenders, offers several loan products for Kenyan citizens and students. From information on the HELB portal, here are some of their main offerings.

1. The Undergraduate Loan

This is for students entering public or private universities in East Africa. Whether you’re sponsored by the government or paying for yourself, you can apply.

The amount you get varies from 40,000 to 60,000 Kenyan Shillings per year, depending on how much you need. The interest rate is low, just 4 percent per year, and you start repaying after you finish studying.

To get this loan, it’s important to apply at least a month before your classes start, so they have time to process it. There are two types of applications:

first-time applications which is available for those students who are applying for the first time ever. You can apply for this loan through the HELB student portal.
Second and Subsequent ones which feature all second and subsequent applications as you could apply for the second, third or fourth time depending on your program duration.

The Undergraduate loan is meant to cover tuition fees, buying books, accommodation, and daily expenses. It’s not for luxury or personal spending, so make sure you use it wisely.

2. Jielimishe Loan

A Jielimishe Loan is for students who are already working and want to keep studying to get a degree. I

t’s only for people who work at certain companies and are studying for a degree in Kenya.

You can get this loan every year, and if you’re approved, the money goes straight to your school.

With this loan, you start paying it back right after you get the money. They take a bit of money from your salary every month for 4 years using a system called check-off.

There’s a 12 percent interest on the loan, and you also have to pay a fee of Ksh.1000 every year.

3. TVET loans

These loans are for students who want to do Diploma and Certificate courses in certain public universities, polytechnics, Institutes of Technology, and Technical Training Institutes.

To apply for these loans, you need to do it between January and April each year. Make sure the school you want to go to gets money from HELB, so you don’t have trouble later on.

4. HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

HELB offers scholarships for students who want to pursue master’s or Ph.D. degrees in Kenya. These scholarships are only for studies within the country.

However, these scholarships don’t cover all the costs. Master’s students get Ksh.200,000, and Ph.D. students get Ksh.450,000. You can find out how to apply and what you need to do on their website.

But, when you apply, have in mind that you have to pay a fee of Ksh.3,000 directly to HELB’s account number 1104823047 KCB University Way Branch. Make sure you don’t pay this fee to any individual.

HELB also works with other education groups, like the Kenyan government, on different programs. Some examples are:

the Training Revolving Fund
Afya Elimu Fund
Partnerships with universities, and
The Visa Oshwal Scholarships.

Requirements for HELB Application on the HELB portal

To apply for a HELB loan, you’ll need to have a few things ready. They include:

A copy of your National ID card.
A valid bank account from specific banks like National Bank, KCB, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Postbank, or Equity. This is where the money will be sent.
Your KRA PIN.
Details about your parents or guardians.
If you’re an orphan, you’ll need a death certificate.
A copy of the letter confirming your admission to the college or university.
Copies of ID cards from two people who will guarantee your loan.
Three passport-size photos in color.

FAQs

What is HELB?

What expenses do HELB loans cover?

HELB loans cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other related expenses for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

How can I check my HELB loan status?

To check your HELB loan status online, log in to your student account on the HELB website and navigate to the section for loan status. Here, you can check if your loan has been disbursed and view other relevant details.

How can I check my outstanding HELB loan balance via SMS?

To check your HELB loan balance via SMS, send a text message with “REGISTER# [your ID number]” to 5122 to register. Once registered, send another message with your name followed by a hash sign (#) and your ID number to 5122 to receive your loan balance.

How can I register for HELB mobile services?

To register for HELB mobile services, dial *642# on your phone and choose the “Register” option. Fill in your details, confirm your registration, and set a unique four-digit PIN to complete the process.

What are the different types of HELB loan products available?

HELB offers various loan products, including the Undergraduate Loan, Jielimishe Loan for working individuals pursuing a degree, TVET loans for diploma and certificate courses, and Postgraduate Scholarship for master’s and Ph.D. studies within Kenya.