Get breaking business news on WhatsApp
LOOP BIZ+, a new platform from NCBA Group’s digital financial services arm LOOP DFS, puts card and mobile money payments, stock tracking and business credit in one system for small businesses. It was launched in Nairobi on Thursday, October 29, 2026, The Star reported. Visa is a partner on the card side.
What LOOP BIZ+ does
1. Payments
Merchants get a LOOP PDQ point-of-sale device that accepts:
- Visa cards;
- contactless (NFC) tap payments from cards and phones;
- mobile money;
- LOOP wallet payments.
Payments can also be taken through the LOOP BIZ mobile app and a web portal.
2. Inventory intelligence
Through the web platform, the tool monitors stock, forecasts demand, recommends when to restock and flags slow-moving products. For a shop owner who tracks stock in a notebook, this is the most useful part.
3. Product marketing
Merchants can list and promote products online to reach more customers.
4. Working capital
LOOP says merchants can access financing within the same system, using their transaction history. Loan limits, rates and fees were not published at launch, so ask for the full cost before borrowing and compare it with other options in our guide to starting a business with small capital.
Who it is for
The target is retail shops, pharmacies, salons, restaurants and other small merchants who now juggle a till number, a card machine from a bank, a stock book and an informal lender. One system that ties sales to stock and credit can save time and give the business a track record lenders can see.
Things to check before signing up
- Fees: ask for the merchant discount rate on cards, the cost of the PDQ device and any monthly charges. These were not part of the launch announcement.
- Settlement time: how quickly card and mobile money takings reach your account.
- Tax invoices: whether sales link to KRA’s eTIMS. If not, you still need a separate route; see eTIMS vs ETR and how to generate an eTIMS invoice.
- Data: who sees your sales data and how it is used for credit scoring.
Why banks are chasing SMEs
Banks and telcos are competing to own the small-merchant relationship because payment data is the best predictor of who can repay a loan. M-Pesa dominates with till numbers; card networks are pushing tap-to-pay; and banks are bundling tools to win back the merchant. Other launches this week include the KenSwitch and Wipmo card processing deal.
How it compares with what merchants use now
Most small Kenyan shops take M-Pesa through a Buy Goods till, and only a minority accept cards because bank card machines come with paperwork and fees. Stock is often tracked by hand. Platforms that bundle these jobs are not new, but a bank-backed one can offer credit at a scale fintech apps struggle to match. The real test will be pricing and how easy the device and app are to use on a busy counter.
FAQ
What is LOOP BIZ+?
A platform from NCBA’s LOOP DFS that combines payment acceptance, inventory tools, online product marketing and working capital for small businesses.
What payments can a LOOP PDQ accept?
Visa cards, contactless NFC payments, mobile money and LOOP payments.
How much does LOOP BIZ+ cost?
Pricing was not published at launch. Ask LOOP or NCBA for device costs and transaction fees.
Updated October 31, 2026.
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
