Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Name
• Email address
• Password (securely encrypted)

1.2 Financial & Operational Data

To support the lending workflows, Lenda may collect:

• Capital deposits and withdrawals
• Loan details (principal, interest, dates, repayments)
• Borrower information you input (e.g., names, contact details)
• Group contributions and roles (for Stokvel/Group mode)

1.3 Usage Data

We may collect technical and usage information such as:

• Device type
• Browser type
• IP address
• Actions performed within the app (This helps improve performance and security.)

1.4 AI Chat Interactions

If you use the built-in AI Assistant, your questions and the generated responses may be logged to:

• Improve accuracy
• Provide context for future queries
• Ensure platform safety and functionality

We do not use your data for external AI training.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

2.1 Provide Core App Features

• Managing loans, payments, and borrower profiles
• Enabling Group (Stokvel) governance controls
• Tracking contributions, roles, and approvals
• Maintaining an immutable financial ledger for audit purposes

2.2 Improve the App

• Enhance performance and reliability
• Provide analytics dashboards and reports
• Offer better AI Assistant answers based on your data

2.3 Maintain Security

• Detect and prevent fraud
• Monitor unauthorized access or misuse
• Perform routine backups and data integrity checks

2.4 Comply With Regulations

When necessary, we may process data to support:

• Responsible lending practices
• Guidance related to South African lending regulations (e.g., National Credit Act)

3. Sharing of Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We only share information in the following limited scenarios:

3.1 Group Members (Stokvel Mode)

If you participate in a group:

• Group admins and members can see data relevant to the group’s operations (e.g., contributions, loan applications, approvals).

3.2 Service Providers

We may use trusted third-party services for:

• Hosting and storage
• Security and authentication
• Analytics

These providers are required to protect your data and may only use it to provide their services to us.

3.3 Legal Compliance

We may disclose information if required by law or regulation.

4. Data Security

We implement strong safeguards to protect your data, including:

• Encrypted passwords
• Secure database architecture
• Access control based on group roles
• Immutable transaction records to prevent tampering

Despite this, no system can be 100% secure, and we encourage users to use strong passwords and follow safe practices.

5. Your Rights

Depending on your region, you may have rights such as:

• Accessing your personal information
• Requesting correction or deletion
• Restricting certain forms of processing
• Exporting your data in a readable format

To exercise these rights, contact us at: nyapholimokhethi85@gmail.com

6. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide the service
• Comply with legal obligations
• Maintain financial records (e.g., immutable ledgers) for auditing purposes

You may request account deletion at any time.

7. Children’s Privacy

Lenda is not intended for individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy occasionally. When we do, we will:

• Update the “Last updated” date
• Notify users of significant changes within the app

9. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact:

nyapholimokhethi85@gmail.com