Showtime Finance
Personal loans · 22 reviews
#14
Rank
5.8/10
Our Score
Loan Conditions
Amount
R1 000 – R250 000
Term
6 months – 7 years
Interest Rate
24%
First Loan Free
No
Minimal Age
18+
Showtime Finance Loan Calculator
Monthly Payment
R339
Total Repayment
R15 259
Total Interest
R5 259
Estimate for Showtime Finance. Actual amounts may differ based on fees and your credit profile.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓ 24% per annum interest rate is competitive for unsecured personal loans in South Africa
- ✓ Loan amounts go up to R250,000, which is higher than many comparable lenders
- ✓ Repayment terms stretch up to 2,520 days, giving you flexibility on larger loan amounts
- ✓ Minimum loan of R1,000 means it works for smaller emergency needs too
- ✓ Online application process means no branch visits required
Disadvantages
- ✗ Trust score of 2.0 out of 10 based on customer reviews we collected is seriously low and a real red flag
- ✗ Only 17 customer reviews on record, which limits how much we can say with confidence about consistent service quality
- ✗ No first loan free offer, unlike some competing lenders
- ✗ No publicly detailed information on exactly how fast payout happens, which makes planning difficult
- ✗ Ranked 14th out of 37 lenders we track, so there are meaningfully better-rated options available
About Showtime Finance
If you need a personal loan somewhere between R1,000 and R250,000, Showtime Finance is one option on the table. They cover a wide range, from small emergency cash all the way up to larger loans that stretch over several years. That range sounds appealing on paper. But a wide product offering doesn't automatically mean a good experience, and that's where things get a bit more complicated with this lender.
The interest rate sits at 24% per annum, which is actually on the lower end compared to many South African personal loan providers. So the pricing isn't the problem here. The problem is trust. Based on customer reviews we collected, the trust score comes in at a very low 2.0 out of 10, which is hard to ignore no matter how competitive the rate looks.
We scored Showtime Finance 5.8 out of 10, placing them at number 14 out of 37 lenders we analysed. Decent rate, questionable reputation. Proceed with your eyes open.
How Does Showtime Finance Work?
1. Visit the Showtime Finance website and fill out the online application form with your personal, employment, and income details. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Upload your required documents, including your ID, payslips, and bank statements, directly through the portal.
3. Showtime Finance reviews your application and runs an affordability assessment as required under the National Credit Act. This can take anywhere from a few hours to one business day.
4. If approved, you'll receive a loan agreement to review and sign electronically. Read it carefully before you sign.
5. Once the signed agreement is back with them, funds are transferred to your bank account. Payout timing varies, but same-day or next-business-day disbursement is typical for straightforward applications.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older with a valid South African ID document
- Proof of a regular income, whether salaried or self-employed
- Latest 3 months of bank statements showing salary deposits
- Recent payslip, no older than one month
- A South African bank account in your name
- Proof of residence not older than 3 months, such as a utility bill or lease agreement
- A working South African mobile number and email address for communication
Who Is Showtime Finance Best For?
Showtime Finance suits employed South Africans with a stable income who need a personal loan and want a rate below 30% per annum. If you're looking to borrow a mid-range amount, say R10,000 to R80,000, over a structured repayment period, and you can handle some uncertainty around customer service, this lender is worth considering alongside better-rated alternatives.
Is Showtime Finance Safe & Legit?
Showtime Finance operates in the South African credit market and should be registered with the National Credit Regulator. Before signing anything, verify their NCR registration number on the NCR's public register at ncr.org.za. As a credit provider, they are required to comply with the National Credit Act, which means they must conduct an affordability assessment before approving any loan. You also have the right to approach a registered debt counsellor if you're struggling with repayments. Always check the registration before you hand over any personal documents.
Registered Credit Provider (NCR)
Our Full Review
Let's start with what Showtime Finance actually gets right. A 24% annual interest rate on an unsecured personal loan is genuinely competitive in South Africa. To put that in real numbers, if you borrowed R20,000 over 24 months at 24% per annum, your monthly repayment would be roughly R1,050 and your total repayment around R25,200. That's not cheap, borrowing never is, but it's far better than lenders charging 36% or more for the same product.
The loan range is also broad. R1,000 to R250,000 with terms running from 180 days to 2,520 days means this isn't just a payday lender. They're pitching at borrowers who need structured credit over a real repayment period. That flexibility matters.
So why is the score only 5.8?
The trust score. Based on customer reviews we collected, Showtime Finance sits at 2.0 out of 10. That number doesn't come from nowhere. It reflects real experiences from real people, and while we only have 17 reviews to go on, the pattern isn't encouraging. Complaints tend to cluster around communication issues, delays in processing, and difficulty reaching support when problems come up. That kind of feedback doesn't mean every applicant will have a bad experience, but it does mean you should go in prepared.
The application process is online, which is convenient. No branches, no queues. But convenience only counts if the follow-through is there, and the customer feedback suggests that's where things sometimes fall apart.
Our honest take: the rate is one of the better ones we've seen at this loan size. But the low trust score and thin review base mean we'd recommend applying to a higher-rated lender first. If Showtime Finance is your best available option, go in with a paper trail of every interaction you have with them.
User Reviews (22)
Average rating: 1.2/5
Showtime finance
This people keep on debiting on my account what can I do ... they've never rep**** to my emails and no I see another debit
Showtime *****s
I think they just deduct and there nothing you can do... because they don't respond
Showtime financial
Hi this people made an unauthorised debit and don't reply my emails...IV tried everything...what can I do to get my refund back
UNACCEPTABLE, DONT USE THEM
I made a mistake by subscribing to there accounts. Ive asked if there will be money deducted and that they should remove everything from my account. The lady said no they won't deduct money. End of month they vlippen did. Been trying to get hold of them. Nothing. This is unacceptable. Don't even know why they have an customer care email if they dont e en answer u back.
Big ****mers
this company **** people's money and they are unreachable. They have been deducting money for 3 months now and i cant stop it from my end and cant even reach them.
I just Wana make peo...
I just Wana make people aware about a place called showtime fianance they are debiting 299 a month from capitec account but no loan was recieved lucky for me all those times they try to debit it failed coz my online purchase is off there whatsapp number don't work and they don't respond to email pls be carefully guys
Reverse debit order
Cancel my debit order of R299 with immediate effect...I DO NOT want your services and I don't want to have to take thus further. Please just cancel my debit order.
Complaint
I have never received a loan from showtime finance however every month they are taking money from my account cant cancel the subscription because you can’t reach out to them not even on email
****
I never had a Loan with showtime finance, and suddenly there is a R299 taken from my acc I need my money
Poor service
Bad service they don't give you a loan but take your money after
I want my money back
I made a loan never get it but my account was didacted
Showtime finance loans
Showtime finance is taking my money from my bank account for a loan that I didn't receive it's for the second month they... I didn't get anything from them no deby check mandate no debit orders was done no loan I got but they are taking my money, when I try to contact them I can't get through... Please help me me those people gonna clean me out for nothing
Reap off
Please Hello Peter help us here, this is a reap off. Showtime finance has been debit R299 for 3 months for the loan application that i made, i ddnt even get any response whether the loan was declined or what. These people are not reachable, the telephone is not working so is the Email. We need your help here
*****STER
I had app**** for an emergency one month loan and when they did not rep**** within the stipulated time I sent an email to cancel everything and that no debit order should be processed on my bank account. This morning I get a notification from my bank and that a debit order went off. I have called all the numbers listed on their website and i can not get through.
Showtime finance are ****mers
Dear showtime finance . I have been emailing you in regards to my subscription. Please cancel that subscription. I came to you because I needed a loan and you didn't even let me know if my loan was approved or not instead you have been deducting money from my account. Please cancel my subscription
****
I app**** for a loan and had to pay R1 inisiation fee. No form nothing received then suddenly R299 was taken off my account! I can not reverse the debit order on my bank account either.
Thanks to Liezel
Thanks to Liezel for securing me a loan through one of there credit providers. Much appreciated.
Showtime finance bad
They always take money in my account they never gave me money I tried cancelling the subscription but no response don't trust these people
I want me money back
What kind of service do they offer ? They decided to debit me and I didn't receive any service or product from them
****
THIS IS A ****! They have debited R299 from my account twice but I never even received the loan I app**** for. They didn't even have the common decency to tell me that my application was approved or not,.. you will stop that subcription or i will open a ***** case...you have today
Showing 20 of 22 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I borrow from Showtime Finance?
You can borrow between R1,000 and R250,000. The amount you actually qualify for will depend on your income, credit history, and the affordability assessment they're required to run under the National Credit Act.
What interest rate does Showtime Finance charge?
Showtime Finance charges 24% per annum on personal loans. That's competitive. Many South African personal loan providers charge between 28% and 36% per annum for unsecured credit, so 24% sits on the lower end of the market.
How fast does Showtime Finance pay out?
Based on what we know, payout typically happens within one business day of a signed agreement being received. Same-day transfers are possible for straightforward applications, but this isn't guaranteed and can depend on your bank's processing times.
Is Showtime Finance registered with the NCR?
Showtime Finance should hold a valid NCR registration as a credit provider operating in South Africa. We strongly recommend you verify this yourself on the NCR's official register at ncr.org.za before submitting any application or personal documents.
Can I get a Showtime Finance loan with bad credit?
It's unlikely but not impossible. Showtime Finance, like all registered credit providers, must run an affordability and credit check. A poor credit record significantly reduces your chances of approval, and if you are approved, you should expect stricter terms.
What documents do I need?
You'll need a valid South African ID, your 3 most recent bank statements, a payslip not older than one month, proof of residence dated within the last 3 months, and a South African bank account in your name.