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Southern Finance

4.0 (140 reviews)

Southern Finance (Southern Cross Finance (Pty) Ltd, NCRCP11981) lends R500–R8 000 over about one to three months, paid on the approval day and repaid by DebiCheck.

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This button goes straight to the lender. There is no partner link here and we earn nothing from the click. The rating on this page is an editorial score.

Southern Finance at a glance

In short: Southern Finance is a Pretoria short-term lender. The National Credit Regulator's register lists it as Southern Cross Finance (Pty) Ltd, NCRCP11981. It lends R500 to R8 000: up to R6 000 over about one month and up to R8 000 over about three months. Approved loans are paid into your salary account on the day of approval and collected later by DebiCheck debit order. Its own pages are not consistent on terms and fees, so the pre-agreement quotation is the document to rely on. Facts checked 26 October 2026.

Key facts

Southern Finance
Lender (NCR register)Southern Cross Finance (Pty) Ltd
NCR registrationNCRCP11981
Loan amountR500 – R8 000
TermAbout 1 month (up to R6 000) or 3 months (up to R8 000)
Advertised maximum APR30%
PayoutInitiated on the approval day; can take up to 24 hours to reflect
RepaymentDebiCheck debit order from your salary account
ApplyOnline at southernfinance.co.za
Contact012 534 3416, info@southernfinance.co.za

Who is behind Southern Finance

Southern Finance is a trading name of Southern Cross Finance (Pty) Ltd, a Gauteng credit provider with an NCR registration from the earlier generation of numbers (NCRCP11981), which suggests it has been lending for longer than most app-only brands. It operates online only.

What we could not confirm

Southern Finance's site gives different loan terms in different places (one page says 61–65 days, the FAQ says one or three months) and two different street addresses in Pretoria. Its terms also mention a 34% collection fee on arrears, without a clear basis for the calculation. None of this means the loan is unsafe, but it does mean you should read the pre-agreement quotation closely: it is legally binding and must state the term, every fee and the total to repay.

Is Southern Finance legit?

It is a registered credit provider: NCRCP11981 on the NCR register (search "Southern Cross Finance" on ncr.org.za). Registration means the National Credit Act applies — affordability assessment, capped fees and a written quotation before you sign.

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Southern Finance review: larger short-term loans, read the quote carefully

4.00 reviews
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Verdict: Southern Finance is one of the few short-term lenders that will consider up to R8 000 for a new client and does not decline automatically for a poor credit record. That makes it useful when app lenders turn you down. The trade-off is less clarity: its website contradicts itself on terms, so only sign once the pre-agreement quotation shows a term and total you can live with.

What we like

  • Up to R8 000, with a three-month option for the larger amounts
  • Money paid on the day you are approved
  • A poor credit record is not an automatic decline
  • Long-standing NCR registration (NCRCP11981)

What to watch out for

  • Inconsistent information on its own website about terms and addresses
  • A 34% collection fee on arrears is mentioned in its terms
  • Only for employed South African citizens
  • No app — online form only

Who it suits

  • Employed South Africans who need R4 000 to R8 000 and were declined by app lenders.
  • Borrowers who want the money paid the same day into their salary account.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who wants an app and published cost examples — PrimeLoans, LendPlus and Jabulani Money publish theirs.
  • Anyone who needs more than R8 000 or longer than three months.

Southern Finance loan conditions

Loan parameters

ParameterDetail
AmountR500 – R8 000, subject to assessment
TermUp to R6 000 over about one month; up to R8 000 over about three months
Advertised maximum APR30% (an annual figure, not monthly)
Collection fee on arrears34% is mentioned in the lender's terms
RepaymentDebiCheck debit order from your salary account

Who qualifies

  • South African citizen, 18 or older.
  • Employed, with your salary paid into a bank account in your name.
  • Your income, expenses and credit history are assessed. A poor credit record does not mean an automatic decline.
  • Not under debt review.

What the law allows on short-term loans

Loans of up to R8 000 for up to six months are short-term credit under the National Credit Act. The regulations cap what any registered lender may charge:

CostLegal maximum
Interest, first loan in a calendar year5% a month
Interest, further loans in the same year3% a month
Initiation feeR165 + 10% of the amount above R1 000, never more than R1 050 (plus VAT)
Monthly service feeR60 (plus VAT)
Credit life insurance, if the lender requires it, is capped separately. Anything in a quotation above these limits is a reason to walk away and report the lender to the NCR.

Before you sign

Because Southern Finance's published information is inconsistent, check these lines in the pre-agreement quotation:

  1. The exact term and repayment date.
  2. The initiation fee and monthly service fee.
  3. The total amount to repay.
  4. What happens — and what it costs — if a debit order fails.

Your rights

You are entitled to the quotation before signing and may settle early. Complaints go to Southern Finance (012 534 3416, info@southernfinance.co.za), then the Credit Ombud (0861 66 2837) or the NCR (complaints@ncr.org.za).

How to apply for a Southern Finance loan

Southern Finance takes applications online only — start with "Get Started" on southernfinance.co.za.

  1. Complete the application form with your ID, employment, income and bank details.
  2. Proof of income and identity are checked, together with a credit check.
  3. Assessment. Southern Finance looks at income, expenses and credit history; a poor record is not an automatic decline.
  4. Pre-agreement quotation. Check the term and total to repay.
  5. Sign and confirm the DebiCheck mandate from your salary account.

What you need

ItemDetail
IDSouth African ID (citizens only)
Proof of incomeRecent payslip or bank statements
Bank accountYour salary account, in your name

If Southern Finance declines you

A decline usually means the affordability check left too little room, or your credit report shows recent arrears. Before you apply anywhere else:

  1. Get your free credit report from TransUnion or Experian and look for errors or accounts in arrears.
  2. Wait at least a few weeks — several applications in a short time make lenders more cautious.
  3. Apply for a smaller amount, or choose a lender whose criteria fit your situation:
If you…Consider
need R4 000 or lessLendPlus or PrimeLoans
want published prices before applyingJabulani Money (fee formula and cost example)
are permanently employed and need more timeCapfin (6–24 months)

How Southern Finance pays out

Approved loans are paid into your own salary account. Payment is initiated on the day you are approved; depending on your bank it can take up to 24 hours to reflect. Approvals after hours or on weekends are processed on the next business day.

If the money has not reflected within 24 hours, call 012 534 3416 or email info@southernfinance.co.za.

From application to money in your account

StepTypical timing
Online application10–15 minutes
AssessmentSame business day
Payment initiatedOn the day of approval
Money reflectsUp to 24 hours, depending on your bank

How to repay Southern Finance

Repayment is collected by DebiCheck debit order from your salary account, usually on or after payday. Make sure the money is in the account on the collection date.

Settling early

The National Credit Act lets you settle at any time. Ask Southern Finance for a written settlement figure first.

If you cannot pay

Call 012 534 3416 before the collection date. Arrears are costly here: Southern Finance's terms refer to a 34% collection fee, and missed payments can be reported to the credit bureaus. If you have several debts, a registered debt counsellor (ncr.org.za) can negotiate with all lenders at once.

Southern Finance — Comparison with Similar Options

Southern Finance against short-term lenders with a similar loan size. Limits from each lender or the MoneyHello lender list, October 2026.

Southern FinanceJabulani MoneyPrimeLoansLendPlus
AmountR500 – R8 000R500 – R8 000R500 – R4 000 (R8 000 repeat)R500 – R4 000
TermAbout 1 – 3 months61 – 90 days62 – 90 days65 – 90 days
NCR numberNCRCP11981NCRCP22362NCRCP20937NCRCP17814
Published cost exampleNoYesPartlyYes
AppNoAndroidAndroid, iPhoneAndroid

Confirm current limits and the total cost in each lender's pre-agreement quotation.

Southern Finance or Jabulani Money?

Both lend up to R8 000. Jabulani Money publishes its fee formula and a full cost example; Southern Finance says it considers applicants with a poor credit record. If you were declined elsewhere, Southern Finance is worth a try — otherwise the lender with the clearer pricing is easier to compare.

Southern Finance — Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The NCR register lists Southern Finance as Southern Cross Finance (Pty) Ltd with registration number NCRCP11981.

R500 to R8 000: up to R6 000 over about one month, or up to R8 000 over about three months, subject to assessment.

It assesses income, expenses and credit history, and says a poor credit record is not an automatic decline. Approval is not guaranteed.

Payment is initiated on the day of approval and can take up to 24 hours to reflect in your salary account.

By DebiCheck debit order from your salary account on the agreed date.

Its terms mention a 34% collection fee on arrears, and missed payments can be reported to credit bureaus. Call 012 534 3416 before the collection date if you cannot pay.

Call 012 534 3416 or email info@southernfinance.co.za.

Sultan Kanatov, Editor-in-Chief, CreditDeals
Author
Sultan Kanatov
Editor-in-Chief, CreditDeals
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Verified by: CreditDeals Editorial Team
Published: 21 May 2026
Updated: 26 October 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Check the status of the specific company in the NCR register. Please read the contract carefully before signing. rating methodology.

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Southern Finance — Get Money Now

Southern Finance (Southern Cross Finance (Pty) Ltd, NCRCP11981) lends R500–R8 000 over about one to three months, paid on the approval day and repaid by DebiCheck.

Visit website

This button goes straight to the lender. There is no partner link here and we earn nothing from the click. The rating on this page is an editorial score.