Apply for a Loan at Land Bank | Options in South Africa

Land Bank is a development bank owned by the Government of South Africa. The minute you finish reading our article, you will know exactly what to do to apply for a loan at this bank. You will be given information about the different loans available, the requirements you need to meet and how to use a calculator to plan your finances.

What are the Requirements for an Agricultural Business Loan at Land Bank?

The Land and Agricultural Bank of South Africa, aka Land Bank was set up in 1912 by the South African government to promote development in the agricultural market. Although this bank is owned by the State, it is still a company that needs to generate profit in order to sustain its business. Also, Land Bank does not receive direct finance from the government. This means that, unlike what many people think, you will not find grants or subsidies at this bank.

Before we move on to listing the requirements you will need to meet to take out a loan at Land Bank, let’s make it clear that the business loans you will find at this bank are only for the purpose of helping out farmers and agricultural businesses to grow their production. So, you need to be in the agricultural market in order to apply for these loans.

That said we’re ready to continue with the requirements:

• Being a citizen of South Africa
• Having a good credit history
• Presenting a business plan
• Having enough security that can guarantee the amount to be borrowed
• Being able to repay the loan

Does Land Bank have a Loan Calculator?

Loan calculators are perfect ways of simulating the loan you are about to take out. When you use one of these financial tools, you need to enter information about the loan, such as the amount to be borrowed, the interest rates to be applied and the term in which the loan would be repaid. Then, this calculator automatically generates results showing you the approximate amount you would pay in installments. Thus, these calculators are useful since they would allow you to plan beforehand and know if you would be able to afford the loan. Unfortunately, Land Bank has not yet designed a loan calculator for their agree loans.

How does the Application Form Works for a loan at Land Bank?

If you are a farmer or an agro-processor and wish to take out a loan at Land Bank you should know how the application process works. First, it would be a good idea to read the following paragraphs to find out more about the credit facilities that can be found at this bank so that you can choose the one that fits your situation best. Second, you will have to fill in an online form with all of your personal information and providing Land Bank with all the details of your production, farm or company: where it is located, what is it you need to do with the money (buy land, equipment, livestock, etc.). Finally, Land Bank will set with you a date for an appointment to start moving forward (this appointment might be over the phone or in person).

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What Kind of Loans does Land Bank Offers for Small Business?

If you are an emerging farmer or you own a small business and need finance to start your own agribusiness, you are at the right place. Land Bank provides credit for different purposes related to the agricultural market. For instance, you could ask for a loan to buy a farm and start your own production. Another option is requesting finance to buy machinery, and farm equipment, such as tractors or conveyor belts. Another option might be asking for a loan to make some improvements on your farm.

As we explained above when we talked about requirements to access to these loans, you need to have drafted a business plan. This is a non-negotiable requirement. However, Land Bank knows that some clients, especially emerging farmers, might have difficulties in designing this plan since they might have never done such a thing. If this is your case and you need help with it, you should contact Land Bank to hand you their business plan template that you can use as a model.

Should you Provide Land Bank with Collateral for the Loan? Is Land Bank Legit?

You will need to provide security or collateral to ask for a loan with Land Bank. Collateral is an asset that you pledge as guarantee of payment. That is to say if you are unable to repay the loan, the collateral will be used to procure payment for the lender.  However, this bank is aware that some farmers might not be able to comply with this requirement and so these farmers are encouraged to contact a bank representative to find an alternative.

As regards to the question if this bank is legit… This company is owned by the Government of South Africa so of course that you would be dealing with a legit and reliable institution. Moreover, Land Bank is duly registered with the National Credit Regulator. For this reason, the bank has to abide by the rules and norms established by the National Credit Act. If a credit lending company does not comply with the rules enforced by the NCR, the company might be subject to punitive measures for the contravening action.   

Should you have any other question or concern, don’t hesitate to leave us a message below. We will be happy to help you solve all your doubts. Also, if you are a customer of Land Bank and would like to share your experience with the community, you are invited to leave us your comment.

The Land and Agricultural Bank of South Africa is a government owned bank that specializes in the provision of financial services for the agricultural sector. The aim of Land Bank is to help to finance farm production since agriculture is the basis for developing economies. In this article we discussed the types of loan that can be found at Land Bank: loans for emerging farmers and small businesses to buy a farm, machinery, livestock, and more. We also talked about requirements to be met and how to apply for one of these loans.