Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Onwards Swift Company Limited is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) as a Digital Credit Provider (DCP), and is a member of the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kenya (AMFI-K).

We are located at IPS Building, 4th Floor, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. You can also reach us by phone on 0718 330000 or by email at info@onwardsswift.co.ke.

Our offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays and public holidays.

We offer two main product categories: Trade Finance (Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Advance Payment Guarantees, LPO Financing, Invoice Discounting, Cheque Discounting, and Import Duty Financing) and Loan Facilities (Logbook Loans, Civil Servant Loans, SME Business Loans, Motor Import Financing, Insurance Premium Financing, Women Empowerment Loans, Development Loans, Emergency Advances, and School Fees Loans).

A bid bond is a surety bond submitted alongside a tender application. It guarantees to the procuring entity that if your bid is selected, you will honour the contract under the terms submitted. It is typically set at 1–5% of the total project value.

To process a bid bond, you must provide: (1) the procuring entity/beneficiary/employer and their address, (2) the bidder/tenderer name and address, (3) the tender number, (4) the tender name and description, (5) the bond amount, (6) the closing date, (7) the tender validity period, and (8) the required format for the bond.

We issue bid bonds within 30 minutes of receiving complete documentation, with a focus on government tenders. Our team understands tender deadlines are non-negotiable — contact us as early as possible to avoid last-minute pressure.

You pay a small premium on the bond amount — 0.5%–1% of the bond value — not the full bond amount. This preserves your working capital while meeting the tender requirement.

Yes. Onwards Swift specifically supports SMEs and growing contractors. We assess each case individually and we assess each case individually based on the bond size and track record.

Both products require: (1) the award letter, (2) certificate of incorporation, (3) copy of company KRA PIN, (4) directors' national ID cards and KRA PINs, (5) 6-months recent bank statements, (6) on-going and completed certificates of previous jobs, (7) CR-12, (8) company profile, (9) duly filled application form, and (10) board resolution.

A bid bond is submitted before you win a tender — it secures your participation. A performance bond is issued after you win — it guarantees to your client that you will complete the contract as agreed. Typically covers 10–20% of the contract value.

An Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) allows you to receive mobilisation funds from your client before project commencement. The guarantee protects your client's advance payment while freeing you to use the funds to begin work.

LPO Financing provides the capital needed to execute verified Local Purchase Orders from government institutions and corporate bodies. We fund up to 70–80% of the LPO value, with disbursement within 24 hours of approval.

If you have delivered goods or services and hold a verified unpaid invoice, we advance you up to 80% of the invoice value within 24 hours. The remaining balance (less our fees) is remitted once your client settles the invoice directly with us.

Cheque Discounting converts your current cheques into immediate working capital. Instead of waiting for a cheque to clear, we pay you the funds today against the cheque — enabling you to keep operations running without cash flow interruptions.

Import Duty Financing covers your KRA customs duties, excise duty, and VAT to clear goods at the port. This prevents demurrage charges and port delays by ensuring your goods are cleared promptly even when you do not have the full duty amount available.

Salary-backed loans are designed for employees whose employers have an active Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Onwards Swift. This includes Civil Servants (GoK), TSC Teachers, County Government Staff, and employees of approved private corporations and NGOs.

Repayment terms are as per the T&Cs indicated in your offer letter. For salary-backed products, repayment is automated via check-off — your monthly instalment is deducted directly from your payroll by your employer and remitted to us.

Disbursement is within 24 hours once approval and check-off (where applicable) are confirmed.

Document requirements vary by product. Visit the relevant product page (Logbook Loan, Civil Servant/Salary Loan, SME Loan, Women Empowerment Loan, etc.) for the full list applicable to that facility.

No. All our loan facilities are secured. Security requirements vary by product — speak to our team to find a structure that works for you.

A facility for financing businesses owned by women, subject to the T&Cs in the offer letter. Open to women entrepreneurs and Chama/women's groups, with free financial literacy training and group lending options. Visit the Women Empowerment Loan page for eligibility and required documents.