We enable people without access to traditional banks (including many women) to expand their businesses, educate their children, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, you choose a borrower to support with a loan of just $25. Similar loans by other lenders are combined until the required total is reached. As your money is repaid you can withdraw it or lend it to someone else. Money that is loaned over and over again does more good than a one-time donation. Join 'Genealogists for Families' - together we are making a difference!

15 August 2020

Kiva's Auto Lending - How and Why

This is an updated version of advice that I originally posted years ago. It reflects recent changes to the way Kiva operates.

If you haven't set an inactivity preference, Kiva may be required to send your funds to a state government if your account becomes inactive. It's therefore important to check your account's settings for 'Repayment', 'Inactivity' and 'Auto-Lending'.

Many Kiva loans are repaid in monthly installments, but if you are travelling, unwell or just very busy, you may not be able to check your Kiva credit after repayment day (which is usually about the 18th of the month). To avoid leaving money sitting idle when it could be used for another loan, and to control what happens to your Kiva credit when you depart this life, you can, as a precaution, set up Auto-Lending.

Auto-lending only happens if you fail to sign in within a certain number of days, which you specify. It can be up to 120 days. If you have $25 in credit but don't sign in, Kiva can act for you to allocate that credit to a new loan. You can control the choice of loans by setting criteria such as countries, sectors, risk rating, repayment term, gender, etc.

Here's what to do.

1. Sign in to Kiva, and (in the dropdown list near your profile photo) select 'Settings'.



2. At 'Credit Settings', click 'Edit'.



3. Choose your preferences for 'Repayment settings' and 'Inactivity settings', then click 'Save settings'.



4. Check and adjust your Auto-Lending settings. Click on a link to change that particular setting (days, donation etc).



5. Choose when your balance would be auto-lent.



6. Specify what type of loans would be allocated if you don't log in to do it yourself within the time that you specified. Here's an example.



As I said, auto-lending only happens if you fail to sign in within the number of days that you specify. Please check your account settings! Do they suit the way you use Kiva now, and what you want to happen in the future?
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Join Genealogists for Families. Together we can make a difference!


28 January 2020

How to turn off annoying emails and choose low-risk loans

Some of you may have seen today's Kiva team message from Gill, who is concerned about the possible negative impact of Kiva's promotional emails. I understand the point that Gill is making, but... please, people, do NOT quit Kiva...

If the emails annoy you, just turn them off!

I've explained this many times and in many places, but here are the details again.
  1. If Kiva's promotional emails include an 'unsubscribe' link, use it. Or...
  2. Sign in to Kiva, go to 'Settings' and then 'Email preferences', and un-tick 'News, inspiration and promotions'.
Also...

If you're unhappy with your repayment rate or delinquency rate, choose shorter loans, and loans that are lower risk. I've made 610 loans during the past 8 years, and my delinquency rate is only 0.71%. Yes, really!

Use this link to see a list of short-term, low-risk loans. Or...

To choose a borrower, use check boxes to filter the loans by any combination of criteria, including country, gender, groups or individuals, and sector (which often refers to the borrower's business - agriculture, arts, manufacturing, services etc). Use the 'Sort by' drop-down menu to display the loans in various ways. 'Loan length' sorts them with short-term loans at the top.

If you intend to search for similar loans in the future, set your filters and sort order, then create a bookmark in your browser.

At 'Risk rating', 'Delinquency' and 'Default', drag the circles left or right to set your preferred ranges. For example, if you are a cautious lender you might set the Risk rating at 3-5, Delinquency rate at 0%-5% and Default rate at 0%-1%.

This image shows some of the advanced settings in Kiva's 'classic view'; but you can switch to 'category view' if you wish.

Most of us 'recycle' our investment by relending the $25 each time it's repaid. By doing so, we have made a huge difference in the lives of many hard-working families who just needed a loan (not a handout). Please join us!