Terms & Conditions

1. What Chilimba is

Chilimba is a record-keeping tool for informal savings groups (chilimba, VSLA, and similar). It helps a treasurer log contributions, loans, and payouts, and lets group members view that shared record. Chilimba does not hold, transfer, or take custody of your group's money — members continue to exchange money directly, in person, exactly as they always have.

2. Your account

You're responsible for the accuracy of what you or your treasurer enter into the app, and for keeping your account credentials secure. A treasurer is responsible for the records they keep on behalf of their group.

3. What data we collect

To provide the service, we store:

• Your name, email address, and sign-in method (Google or Facebook)
• The groups you belong to, and your role in each (treasurer or member)
• Contribution, loan, and payout records entered for your group
• A log of actions taken in the app, for security and dispute resolution
• For rotating chilimba groups, basic ad impression counts (no personal targeting)

4. How we use your data

We use your data to operate the service — showing you your groups' records, letting members see the shared ledger, and processing your subscription if you upgrade a share-based group to issue loans. Rotating chilimba groups are free and supported by ads shown within the app, which are not targeted using your personal data. We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share data with service providers who help us run the platform (such as hosting and payment processing), under obligations to protect it.

5. Data within your group

Chilimba is built around full transparency inside a group: every member of a group can see that group's full ledger. Data is never shared across groups you don't belong to.

6. Your rights

You can ask us to correct inaccurate personal data, or to delete your account. Deleting your account does not remove historical group records that other members rely on for their own group's history — those remain part of the group's permanent ledger.

7. No financial advice

Chilimba is a record-keeping tool, not a bank, lender, or financial advisor. We don't guarantee, insure, or take responsibility for funds your group manages between its own members.

8. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms as the platform develops. Continued use of Chilimba after a change means you accept the updated terms.

9. Contact

Questions about your data or these terms can be sent through our Contact page.