HELB Portal: The Ultimate Guide 2023

Loans for college are intended to bridge the gap between the cost of attendance and other forms of financial help.

The days of working part-time while in school to pay for education are long gone. As higher education expenses rise, college students must borrow more money to pay for school.

If you want to learn how to use HELB’s Student Portal Online in Kenya to apply for a student loan, look no further!

We’ll show you how to do it! Stay tuned as we lead you through registering, logging into your account, and applying for a HELB loan online from anywhere you have an internet connection.

Creating an account on the HELB Student Portal

To access HELB’s services, you must first create an account. To establish a user profile and gain access to your Innovative workplace, follow the steps below.

1. Go to the webpage for the HELB Portal.
2. Please fill up the form under Applicants Account Creation and submit it.
3. Select “Sign Up” from the drop-down menu.
4. You have successfully made an account on The HELB Portal; please verify your email address to activate your account.
5. Go to your email account and find the HELB Portal Activation link.
6. Return to the HELB Portal and log in using the same credentials.
7. Fill up your personal and residential information, then click the Save button.

Under the Loans tab, you may select a suitable loan product to apply for.

9. Save two copies of your completed loan application form on your computer.
10. Obtain signatures and stamps from the appropriate authorities and guarantors (for first-time applicants only and by your dean at the University for subsequent applicants)
11. If prompted to establish a new account, follow the procedures outlined above.
12. Click the Biodata Tab, then under personal information, click next, modify your Country/Constituency/Employment status and save 13.

You may now apply for a loan from your county or congressional district.

14. In the fields below, you must submit correct information about yourself.

Non-Salaried Applicants HELB Loan Products

• First-time undergraduate applicants.
• Second and subsequent years of undergrad.
• Loan Reconsideration and Appeals for Undergraduates.
• Embu Constituency Loan Application Forms
• Tinderet Constituency Loan Application Forms
• Naivasha Constituency Loan Application Forms
• Igembe Constituency Loan Application Forms
• Karachuonyo Constituency Loan Application Forms
• Awendo Constituency Loan Application Forms
• TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) for Tertiary Institutions.
• Tertiary Institutions Second and Subsequent Television Education and Training (TVET).
• Subsequent Loan Application for the Afya Elimu Fund (AEF).
• Afya Elimu Fund Preservice for the First Time and Subsequently
• Visa Oshwal Scholarship (Visa Oshwal Scholarship)

Salaried Applicants HELB Loan Products

• Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies
• Training Revolving Fund (TRF) for Civil Servants
• Alternative Loans for Undergraduates and Salaried Applicants
• Alternative Loans for Postgraduate, Salaried Applicants
• KRA Staff Loan Application Form

How to Obtain a HELB Loan

Before applying for a HELB loan, you must have the following items:

1. A photocopy of your driver’s license or national identification card. To identify an application, HELB utilizes your ID number. When creating an account, you will also enter your national ID number.
2. A current bank account. Before each semester, students who qualify for loan awards will have their bank accounts credited. Students should open accounts with the participating banks: Kenya Commercial Bank, Kenya National Bank, Kenya Post Office Savings Bank (Post Bank), Kenya Cooperative Bank of Kenya, and Equity Bank.
3. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) pin. The Pin assists the Board in keeping track of its loanees. As a result, it’s an important part of the application process.
4. Information on your parent(s) or guardian(s). Name, a copy of their National ID, marital status, education level, source of income, employee information, current payslip, and employee number are all included (If employed).
5. A death certificate for your parents ( If not existing).
6. A copy of the university/acceptance college’s letter.
7. Photocopies of two guarantors’ identification.
8. Three recent passport-size color photographs
9. KCSE and KCPE results are strewn around.
10. Three currently employed guarantors (You should have a copy of their ID)

The HELB Portal, Loan Status, Loan Repayment History, and Loan Statement

1. ON THE NEW WEBSITE, ALL USERS ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE NEW ACCOUNTS (Launched on 4th February 2014)
2. Check that your email address is valid and that you can access your inbox. (You will get all HELB notifications to your email address.)
3. Before you join, double-check that your National ID Number is correct.
4. Once you’ve finished registering (making an account), it’ll show you all the loan options.
5. Please select the loan package for which you intend to apply.
6. You will not be able to access the specific loan for your county or constituency in the list of loan products to apply if you do not correctly state your county and constituency of origin.
7. You will not be able to examine loan products related to either category if you do not correctly state your job status (employed/unemployed).
8. To edit your county/constituency/employment status details, go to personal information, update your county/constituency/employment status, and save.
9. Return to the loan application page, and the application form for your county or constituency will appear; click utilize and proceed.

How to Check the Status of Your HELB Loan

There are two ways to verify HELB Status:

Option 1:

Go to https://www.helb.co.ke/ and look at the HELB website. Select Loan Status from the drop-down menu.

• It will take you to your HELB Portal (you must be logged in to the HELB Portal) • Select Loan Reports from the drop-down menu.
• Select Disbursement and Statement from the drop-down menu.
• A form will pop up when you click on disbursement.
• The status of your loan disbursement is shown on the form.

Option 2:

You may also verify the bank account you used during registering to confirm HELB Loan Disbursement.

Following HELB approval, students reported that Family Bank, Equity Bank, Postbank, and National Bank disbursed their student loans smoothly and quickly.

Bank of the United States Students can also check their loan status using their HELB smart cards.

The smart card is divided into three sections: tuition, maintenance, and general usage. You are unable to withdraw funds from the tuition portion of your account.

For Postgraduate Students

The loan carries a 4% annual interest rate, and students must return their debts to continue their education. After graduation, the HELB allows for a one-year grace period before starting to repay the loan.

Track your HELB Loan Progress

• Go to this link to access your HELB loan portal.
• Go to the HELB loan portal and select ‘Online Services.’
• Go to ‘Clearance Certificate’ and then ‘Print.’ Select ‘Generate PDF’ from the drop-down menu to see the PDF.

SMS

Did you know you can check your HELB status through text messages? HELB supports inquiry services to accommodate a variety of people’s preferences.

Those wishing to check their HELB status through SMS must first construct a new message with a term corresponding to the matching inquiry, including the hash(#) and the ID number, and then send the message to 5122.

For example, to find out how much their undergraduate loan debt is, enter ‘BALUD’ followed by the ID number, BALUD#IDNo, and send it to 5122 as a text message.

Your phone number will only get database feedback if registered with the HELB database. As a result, unregistered beneficiaries will be asked to register by texting “REGISTER#IDNo” to 5122 from the phone numbers associated with their names.

Are you experiencing difficulties logging in?

If you’re having difficulties logging in, use this link to look for your account by entering your National ID or email address.

HELB Scholarships.

Postgraduate students pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree are eligible for HELB funding. This prize is given based on academic achievement. April through July is the application period. A processing fee of Ksh 3,000 is required of all applicants.

Errors in HELB Loan Applications

Mistakes are unavoidable, but you may choose to prevent them in your personal and professional life. So, what are the HELB loan application mistakes that might result in your application being canceled, faulty, or even rejected?

HELB receives tens of thousands of loan applications from students around the country each year. Unfortunately, most loan requests are turned down or flagged as faulty for the reasons we’ll describe.

Qualifications to Apply for a HELB Loan

One thing to keep in mind is that for your loan application to be refused, it must have failed to meet the HELB Loan Board criteria requirements.

HELB is supposed to explain and provide evidence for why they believe a student who has been denied a loan can live without it. The National Assembly passed the revisions to the HELB statute.

The Loan Board must grant all government-sponsored student loans in public colleges. If a student loan application is denied, the Board must explain why they denied it.

Some of the faults listed below might prohibit you from receiving a HELB loan. Most students make these mistakes while filling out their HELB loan applications.

Late Delivery

All HELB loan applications must be submitted within the time range specified. The HELB loan application date is generally extended; however, keep this in mind. They will not accept late forms.

Missing Stamps and Signatures

one must complete the appropriate signatures and stamps on the HELB loan form. Know that if any signatures are missing, your application will be rejected.

If any checklist papers are not properly attached or are missing, the application will be considered incomplete.

Documents of Copies Scanned

one must submit original papers to HELB, not scans of the same.

For the second and subsequent loan applications, unsigned or unstamped

The dean of students must sign and mark the following loan application paperwork. Always verify the LAF checklist to ensure you’ve covered all bases.

When your HELB Loan Application is Rejected, What Should You Do?

The offer can be appealed or rejected.

Most students are hesitant to challenge the amount assigned for fear of retaliation, such as losing the initial sum.

If you believe your loan has been underfunded, file an appeal as soon as possible so that they can reconsider your case.

It would also assist if you were willing to provide more proof to back up your assertions.

You can reject the offer and reapply for the following financial or academic year if you truly believe the amount assigned to you is insufficient.

Tips for Applying for a HELB Loan

• Before filling out the loan application form, read the HELB loan application guidelines.
• Ensure your name and other personal information, such as your date of birth, bank account information, degree, and school, are right.
• Investigate all options for determining your home costs and income. Try to be as precise as possible.
• Double-check that everyone who has to sign has done so and that their signatures are in the correct locations. You, your parents, a church priest or pastor, a magistrate or commissioner of oaths, a chief, and so on are all included.
• Double-check all the statistics with someone who has completed the form before or with someone with similar information.
• Remember that owing to the enormous number of application forms, HELB does not let you visit their offices to double-check the papers.

If other students in your academic year receive the loan or bursary and you do not, enquire at the HELB offices on the 18th level of Anniversary Towers.