December 13, 2024
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African Bank CEO: Basani Maluleke

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by Thelma Koorts

All new personal loans taken out in South Africa since August 2017 are covered by extended credit life insurance.

Basani Maluleke is the CEO of African Bank.

The Covid-19 lockdown has placed unprecedented pressure on the economy.

It is anticipated that many people have, or will, suffer partial or complete loss of income during the lockdown or over the coming months.

The consequent impact is that many South Africans may not be able to keep up their monthly debt instalments on their credit card, or personal loan.

Ask your bank if your personal loan or credit card payments are covered by credit life insurance.

Basani Maluleke, CEO at African Bank, said this is when the loan agreement, which includes credit life insurance, comes into play.

She explained that all new personal loans taken out in South Africa since August 2017 are covered by extended credit life insurance.

Credit life is an insurance cover that a consumer is compelled to take up when applying for a credit card or a loan.

For employed people, it covers the monthly instalments of up to 12 months in the case of loss of income or retrenchment, short-time and compulsory unpaid leave.

It also provides cover of instalments for up to 12 months in the case of temporary disability. In the case of permanent disability and death, the outstanding balance of the credit facility is settled.

Loan or credit card customers who qualify should use their credit life insurance policy to cover their full monthly repayments on their loan for up to 12 months.

These are the people who qualify:

• Credit card holders and personal loan customers will benefit, provided their instalments are up to date.

In terms of personal loan and credit card customers, you will be covered:

• If you have been retrenched

• If your employer has reduced your salary by 20 per cent or more through short-time or compulsory unpaid leave

• Most banks insist that your credit repayments must be current and up to date for credit life cover to be active at the time of a credit life claim.

“It is important to note that any credit card transactions made after the date of an insurable event are not covered and confirm that if a claim is granted, you will not be able to use your credit card facility during the period that your instalments will be covered by insurance,” Maluleke said.

Here is what you need to do:

Employed people who have been retrenched, put on short-time or compulsory unpaid leave by their employers, need to ensure they have written communication from their employer to be able to claim credit life benefits.

“We urge employers to act responsibly around this issue and provide employees with the necessary documentation,” said Maluleke.

For a valid credit life insurance claim, it is important to visit your bank’s website to see what documents are required for the claim.

These are the most common documents required for assessment and validation of credit life claims:

Short-time documents required:

• Letter from employer stating short time

BRAKPAN HERALD

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