Terms & Services

1 About Us

Heritage Microfinance Company Limited is a privately owned Tanzanian microfinance institution headquartered in Arusha, providing accessible, innovative and customer-focused financial solutions to individuals, entrepreneurs, farmers, salaried employees, groups and businesses across Tanzania. We operate in accordance with the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania and applicable microfinance regulations.

2 Use of the Website

You may use the Website for lawful purposes only. When using the Website, you agree that you will not:

• Use the Website in any way that breaches applicable laws or regulations;
• Submit false, misleading or fraudulent information;
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Website, its servers or any connected systems;
• Introduce viruses, malware or other harmful material;
• Copy, reproduce or exploit Website content for commercial purposes without our written consent.

Information on the Website is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute financial advice or a binding offer of credit.

3 Products and Services

We offer a range of financial products including SME Business Loans, Individual Business Loans, Group Lending, Salary Loans, Chap Chap Loans, Agricultural Finance and Corporate Finance Solutions, together with financial advisory support.

Product descriptions on the Website are summaries only. The specific terms of any facility — including loan amount, interest rate, fees, repayment schedule, security and conditions — are set out in the individual loan agreement signed between you and Heritage Microfinance. In the event of any inconsistency between the Website and a signed loan agreement, the loan agreement prevails.

We may modify, suspend or discontinue any product or service at any time, subject to existing contractual obligations.

4 Loan Applications and Approval

• Submission of an application does not guarantee approval. All applications are subject to credit assessment, affordability analysis and verification.
• We reserve the right to approve or decline any application at our sole discretion, in accordance with our responsible lending policies and applicable law.
• Approved amounts, terms and conditions may differ from those requested.
• You must provide accurate, complete and current information. Providing false information may result in rejection, termination of a facility and/or legal action.

5 Eligibility and KYC Requirements

To access our products you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into a binding contract;
• Provide valid identification (e.g. NIDA, passport or other accepted ID) and any documents we reasonably request;
• Satisfy our Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML) and credit assessment requirements;
• Meet any product-specific criteria (e.g. proof of employment for Salary Loans, group registration for Group Lending).

6 Interest, Fees and Repayment

• Interest rates, fees and charges applicable to each facility are disclosed transparently before you sign your loan agreement.
• You agree to repay your loan in accordance with the agreed repayment schedule.
• Early repayment may be permitted in accordance with the terms of your loan agreement.
• Late or missed payments may attract penalties as specified in your loan agreement and may be reported to credit reference bureaus, which can affect your credit record.

7 Customer Obligations

As a customer, you agree to:

• Use loan proceeds for the purposes stated in your application;
• Keep your contact information up to date and notify us promptly of any changes;
• Inform us as early as possible if you anticipate difficulty meeting a repayment;
• Maintain any collateral or security in good condition, where applicable;
• Cooperate with reasonable requests for information during the life of your facility.

8 Default and Debt Recovery

If you fail to meet your repayment obligations, we may take steps permitted under your loan agreement and Tanzanian law, which may include contacting you and your guarantors, restructuring discussions, realization of security, reporting to credit reference bureaus, and legal proceedings.

We are committed to fair debt recovery practices. We encourage customers experiencing difficulty to contact us early — in many cases, practical solutions can be found before formal recovery action becomes necessary.

9 Intellectual Property

All content on the Website — including the Heritage Microfinance name, logo, text, graphics, page designs and layout — is the property of Heritage Microfinance Company Limited or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may view and print content for personal, non-commercial use only. Any other use requires our prior written consent.

10 Disclaimers

• The Website is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. While we strive for accuracy, we do not warrant that Website content is complete, current or error-free.
• Website content is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or professional advice. You should assess your own circumstances or seek independent advice before making financial decisions.
• We do not guarantee that the Website will be uninterrupted, secure or free of viruses. You are responsible for your own device security.
• Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience; we are not responsible for their content or practices.

11 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Heritage Microfinance shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss arising from your use of the Website or reliance on its general content. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded under the laws of Tanzania, and nothing in these Terms limits your statutory rights as a consumer or the obligations we owe you under a signed loan agreement.

12 Privacy and Data Protection

We handle your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Personal Data Protection Act, 2022. By using our Website and services, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed as described in that Policy.

13 Complaints and Dispute Resolution

We value your feedback. If you have a complaint about our products, services or staff, please contact us first using the details in Section 16 — we aim to acknowledge and resolve complaints promptly and fairly.

If a dispute cannot be resolved directly, it may be referred to the relevant regulatory authority or resolved through the courts of the United Republic of Tanzania, or through such alternative dispute resolution mechanism as may be agreed or required by your loan agreement.

14 Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology or legal requirements. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. Changes do not affect the terms of loan agreements already signed.

15 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. The courts of Tanzania shall have jurisdiction over any dispute arising from these Terms, without prejudice to any dispute resolution provisions in individual loan agreements.