Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Ezemali Loans (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your Personal Information is collected and used properly, lawfully, and transparently.

This Privacy Policy outlines how we process your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the National Credit Act (NCA). By using our website (www.ezemali.loans) or applying for a loan, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

To assess your loan application responsibly and provide our services, we collect the following categories of personal information:

• Identity Information: First name, surname, South African ID number, and date of birth.
• Contact Information: Email address, mobile phone number, physical address, and postal address.
• Financial Information: Bank account details, bank statements, payslips, employer details, income and expense information, and credit history.
• Technical Information: Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, device information, and data collected via cookies (see Section 7).
• Marketing Data: Your preferences in receiving marketing from us and your communication preferences.

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information directly from you when you:

• Fill out an application form on our website.
• Contact us via email, phone, or WhatsApp.
• Visit our branches.

We also collect information from third parties, including:

• Credit Bureaus: To perform credit and affordability checks.
• Lead Generation Partners: If you clicked on one of our advertisements on a partner site.

4. Purpose of Processing

We process your personal information for the following specific purposes:

• Credit Assessment: To verify your identity, assess your affordability, and perform credit checks as required by the National Credit Act.
• Contractual Performance: To pay out your loan, manage your account, and process debit order collections.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with the NCA, FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act), and other regulatory requirements.
• Communication: To send you transaction alerts, statements, and updates regarding your application.
• Marketing: To inform you of new loan products or special offers (only if you have opted in or are an existing customer).
• Analytics: To analyze website traffic and improve our digital services.

5. Sharing of Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. However, to operate our business, we share your data with trusted third-party “Operators” under strict confidentiality agreements:

• Credit Bureaus: We share data with registered bureaus (e.g., TransUnion, Compuscan) to report on your payment behavior as required by the NCA.
• Payment Processors: To facilitate loan payouts and collections (e.g., PayPocket, Banks).
• Service Providers: IT, cloud hosting, and software providers who manage our secure systems.
• Regulatory Bodies: The National Credit Regulator (NCR) or legal authorities if required by law.

6. Data Security

We employ industry-standard security measures to protect your data. This includes:

• Encryption: Your data is encrypted in transit (using SSL technology) and at rest.
• Access Control: Only authorized employees and operators have access to your personal information.
• Firewalls: We use secure servers and firewalls to prevent unauthorized access.

7. Digital Marketing, Tracking & Cookies

To provide you with a seamless experience and relevant offers, we use advanced digital technologies.

• Cookies: Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users. This helps us provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and allows us to improve our site.
• Third-Party Analytics: We use tools like Google Analytics to measure traffic and usage trends.
• Conversion Tracking (Advanced Matching): When you submit a form on our website, we may share hashed (securely encrypted) personal information (such as your email address or phone number) with advertising platforms like Meta (Facebook) and Google Ads. This is done strictly to:
  1. Accurately measure the success of our advertising campaigns.
  2. Exclude you from seeing ads for products you have already applied for.
  3. Show you relevant ads for future products.
• Opt-Out: You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies. You can also opt-out of targeted advertising via the privacy settings on Facebook and Google.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected.

• NCA Requirement: Please note that under the National Credit Act, we are legally required to retain records of credit applications and agreements for specific periods (typically 3 to 5 years), even if you request deletion.

9. Your Rights

As a Data Subject, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that we update or correct any inaccurate information.
• Objection: Object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
• Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe we are not complying with POPIA.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact our Information Officer here.