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This is nothing but good news as the digital payment giant, PayPal set to allow the buying, holding, and selling of cryptocurrencies by early 2021. Although Skrill and CashApp have this feature in their product it’s not as popular enough as PayPal.

PayPal boasts of 26 million customers across the world, where most of these customers are cryptocurrency enthusiasts but they had no choice but to stick to their cryptocurrency wallet apps.

PayPal Holdings, Inc. gladden the hearts of its users when they announced on the 20th of October, 2020 that we can be able to buy, sell, or HODL cryptocurrencies on our PayPal accounts without connecting or linking to an external crypto exchange service.

Just in case you don’t know;

PayPal is an American company offering online payment systems for its users since 1998. The company allows its users to send, receive money, and also buy or pay for something online.

Since the company has been actively operating, they deal with currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, and other popular currencies spend in different countries of the world, but since cryptos are not used popularly as means of exchange of goods and services, PayPal hasn’t added cryptos to its platform.

You might be thinking…

Will this Cryptos Features Be Available on Nigeria PayPal Accounts?

Well, I’m not sure until when PayPal finally offers the Cryptos services by early 2021 as they’ve announced. But the chance that we will have this Cryptos feature in our Nigeria PayPal accounts is very lean.

Recall that PayPal itself is not 100% available in countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, etc… Nigeria’s PayPal can only be used to purchase something online, it cannot send out funds not to talk of withdrawing money to your local bank account.

RELATED: How to Create and Verify PayPal Account in Nigeria

But if this PayPal cryptos service really works in our PayPal, then, that will be the best thing that has ever happened in Nigeria’s global payment sector after the acquisition of Nigeria’s fintech startup, Paystack by Stripe.

But let’s just hope for the best, as PayPal said they plan to make sure its crypto service is available as a source of funds to its 26 million users across the world (They haven’t made any exemption yet).

But why is PayPal venturing into Cryptos all of sudden?

That’s one of the questions people may need to find answers to.

Of course, PayPal has been existing since two decades ago, and Crypto is neither a new thing as well. But according to a press statement quoted by Nairametrics, the president and CEO of PayPal, Dan Schulman said the reason why Paypal is going into cryptocurrency is that:

“The shift to digital forms of currencies is inevitable, bringing with it clear advantages in terms of speed, the ability for governments to disburse funds quickly, resilience, efficiency, financial inclusion, and access.”

The PayPal CEO further said they’re working with central banks and financial regulators around the world to offer their support in shaping the impact of digital currencies globally.

The digital payment company has been granted conditional Bitlicense by the NYPDFS, the New York State Department of Financial Services in other to encourage or support New York consumers through a partnership with the city authorized virtual currency companies.

How PayPal is going to achieve this Cryptos’ Feast?

A licensed and regulated crypto services provider company known as PAXOS Trust Company made it possible for PayPal to achieve their dream of offering crypto services to its 26 million (and new users) across the world.

CONCLUSION:

This is a great development and we are expecting to see this amazing feature soon! Even if PayPal will not allow Nigeria’s PayPal accounts to enjoy this crypto service, I believe it will still be of benefit to those currency exchangers in Nigeria – provided they play along smartly.

Since you’re here;

#EndSARS #PoliceBrutalityinNigeria #BadGovernance

I feel so disturbed seeing unarmed protesters being killed by Nigerian security agencies just for protesting peacefully against the bad omens in the country.

Everywhere is risky and in chaos, war is subtly escalating!

I really wish I can call every and each reader of my blog, pertaining to this our dear country – Nigeria.

A lot has been happening in the country which has negatively affected us democratically. Nigeria is the world poverty capital of the world but yet, we have the richest politicians in the world. Our reputation is not good globally and the whole Nigeria system (Education, infrastructure, employment, government, and everything)  is a SCAM.

….and, it’s time things change for the better.

For example, we need a country where foreign investors and company will be glad to work with. That’s why thousands of patriot Nigerian youths are protesting against Bad governance, Police brutality, and other bad things happening in the country.

But right now, as your brother, friend or son, kindly stay INDOOR for now. This is not the right time to REVENGE, let’s stay SAFE and come back stronger.

World powerful organizations such as the UK parliament etc., are interfering. And hopefully, the ICC and the United Nations won’t ignore us.

Please stay INDOOR, that’s the best precaution to stay SAFE, this is not Corona Virus, this is more brutal than COVID-19.

Stay at HOME, Stay SAFE!!!

 

 

I am a front-end developer, part-time blogger, incoming data scientist, an enthusiastic cynophilist, and a curious introvert. I'm available for side gigs and partnerships. Contact me here: on WhatsApp or check me on Linkedin

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Banking

Chipper Cash vs PayDay — Which one should you choose?

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Chipper Cash vs PayDay – Who do you think will win?

I know that you have heard about these two platforms before now and might have used one or two of them. In this head-to-head review, we will compare the two famous dollar and virtual card providers, Chipper Cash and PayDay, to help you determine which one is better suited for your needs. 

We will examine various aspects such as usability, fees, features, and customer support to provide you with a comprehensive analysis.

Kindly note that this is just a blog post from my personal experience and what I see on social media, not sponsored content by any of the companies I’m reviewing here.

If we’re clear on that, let’s start.

#1. Usability

Of all features that make an app stand out, Usability is very important and this means how easy it is for users to navigate the app.

Chipper Cash has a very basic design and experience, while PayDay has the nicest design and it’s very easy to navigate.

A use case for why this is important:

Chipper Cash would never show you the exchange rate unless you want to “Send” or “Request” funds, which you’re not likely to see. But on PayDay, you know how much a dollar costs before a purchase.

And another use case on this usability part is the overview screen which is (normally) meant to show your recent activities or overview of what you can do. 

Winner: PayDay.

#2. Fees

Every human is a business person by nature, so in most cases, we tend to look for the cheapest option and such happens when it comes to choosing a Dollar or virtual card provider.

A lot of people complain that Chippers Cash has the most expensive exchange rate and this seems to be true.

For instance, as of yesterday, I bought a dollar on PayDay at ₦742 while it cost ₦781.

But before we agree that Chipper Cash is not the “cheaper”, let’s break down the rates.

To create a VISA or Mastercard virtual card on PayDay, you’ll pay $5 as a creation fee while you’ll pay ₦2,000 on Chipper Cash.

And before you can buy anything with dollars on PayDay, you have to swap the naira in your wallet for a dollar, then top up your card… They charge 0.5% of how much you’re swapping (maximum of $5).

PayDay Swapping Fee

While you don’t pay any swapping fee on Chipper Cash.

Let’s assume I need a virtual card of $10, here is the breakdown:

For PayDay:

  • Creation fee – $5
  • Top up – $10
  • Swapping fee – $0.075 (0.5% of $15)
  • Total ⇒ $15.075

This converted to Naira in PayDay’s rate would be: ₦742 x 15.075 => ₦11,185.65

For Chipper Cash:

  • Creation fee: ₦2,000
  • Top up: $10
  • Total: $10 + ₦2k

Let’s convert this to Naira in Chipper Cash’s rate: (₦781 x 10) + ₦2,000 ⇒ ₦9,810

It’s clear that Chippers Cash is “cheaper” but for the first time, you are creating the card.

If you already have a card but want to top up, PayDay is cheaper but the difference is not up to ₦40 (781 – 742).

In this case, there’s no winner.

Winner: Draw

#3. Customer support

Because we are human and we are not perfect, what we manufacture, create, or produce as well will not be perfect. 

That’s why there is customer support for businesses in case things go south and this is very important if you’re thinking of choosing a Dollar or virtual card provider.

PayDay has the worst customer service, although they’re active on Twitter busy creating awareness for the product, but put zero to meager effort into their customer support service.

I once had an issue on February 16, I sent them a message but they replied on March 2nd… that’s 2 weeks!

PayDay Customer Support

The recent issue I have with them which I’ll explain later took them 18 hours to send an “automated” response and since then, I’ve not heard anything from them and the issue hasn’t been solved. They immediately close the conversation without resolving it.

The evidence of their poor service is on Twitter, just visit their page to enjoy the comments.

Chipper Cash, they have a faster response rate when it comes to Customer service… I had an issue creating a dollar card and I reached out on Twitter, immediately I received a response and the issue was solved before I see the response.

And I’ve not yet seen any trend where people complain about Chipper Cash’s support.

Winner: Chipper Cash.

#4. Success Rate

Still, on the imperfection, anything can happen at any time but you definitely don’t want to put your money on a platform that’s more likely to fail.

To be frank, Chipper Cash has the highest success rate while you may need to go to the nearby mountain to pray and fast before using PayDay.

This is the top reason why a lot of people are trying to contact PayDay’s support and I think the messages are too much for their support to handle.

I personally have an ongoing issue with them. I want to renew my domain names and I decided to use PayDay, I deposited some Naira, swapped to USD, and decided to get a virtual Dollar card with $34.74.

I expect PayDay to deduct the Money, give me a dollar card with $29.74 as a balance, and remember their $5 card fee.

I tried to buy the card, no response if it failed or it’s successful, I guess it’s a service… I keep on trying until I’m tired.

So I checked my balance $15 has been deducted ($5 in 3 times).

PayDay Deducts Money

I had no idea why because up till now, no card has been issued to me… I had $19.74 left which I quickly sent to my Chipper Cash before PayDay got angrier.

I top up my Chipper cash with some Naira, purchase my dollar card and I got it immediately

Up till now, PayDay hasn’t issued the card to me or refunded me. People are complaining a lot about this same issue.

The only (trending) complaint about Chipper Cash is the fee which I’ve explained already.

Update on 16th of May, 2023

The founder of PayDay tweeted to celebrate their milestone of having over 600k customers and I replied with my complain.

 

PayDay CEO tweet to celebrate milestone

As seen in the screenshot above, he asked for my PayDay tag and immediately, the magic happened. I got my $15 refunded!

PayDay refunds customer

I hope they PayDay improves on their infrastructure instead of having multiple card creation failure and refund.

But for now, Chipper Cash wins here.

Winner: Chipper Cash

#5. Downloads & Reviews

So far, I’ve been referencing my experience with both platforms and it’s high time we see how people are reacting to both apps.

I’ve mentioned that PayDay doesn’t have good reviews on Twitter compared to Chipper Cash but let’s check the Play Store to see what the users are saying with figures.

PayDay has:

  • 100k+ Downloads
  • 3k+ reviews
  • 2.1 out of 5 average ratings.
  • Most rated 1 stars 

PayDay Play Store Review

Chipper Cash has:

  • 5M+ Downloads
  • 109k reviews
  • 4.1 out of 5 average ratings
  • Most rated 5 stars.

Chipper Cash App Review

This is evident that average people would prefer to use Chipper Cash instead of PayDay.

Now, I’m not talking about the number of downloads or reviews, but the average ratings… That shows how satisfied customers are.

Winner: Chipper Cash

#6. Downtime

Most of the time, we want to get something done as quickly as now. This is why I include this point to let you know how far.

Currently, Chipper Cash is down and I’ve updated the app maybe it’ll be resolved but still down… imagine if I need to pay for something now and Chipper Cash is my only option, my faith on candle sticks.

Chipper Cash downtime screenshot

People complain about this, but to be honest it’s not like that every day as it’s mostly working… I would say the uptime is around 95%.

I have never seen a PayDay app crash or have downtime and people don’t complain about that as well.

Winner: PayDay

Conclusion: Chipper Cash vs PayDay –Which one is the best?

In the battle between Chipper Cash and PayDay, both platforms offer impressive features and services. PayDay stands out for its user-friendly interface, app’s uptime, and lower exchange rate, while Chipper Cash excels in Customer support, success rate, and user feedback. 

Ultimately, the choice between the two dollars or virtual card providers depends on your specific needs and preferences. 

I recommend you assess the fee structures, available features, and usability of both platforms to make an informed decision that aligns with what you need the platform for.

As mentioned earlier, this is not a sponsored post but an honest review from my personal experience and the trend on social media platforms.

If you think something is missing or would like to drop any feedback regarding your experience on any of these apps, kindly use the comment box as it’ll be helpful to everyone reading this blog post.

Don’t forget to share if you think this review is good enough, for people to be informed.

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Banking

5 Best Dollar and Virtual Card Providers in Nigeria

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Are you a Nigerian but it’s quite difficult to make international payments online? What you need is one of these dollar or virtual card providers!

As the world is becoming a global village, the way we make payments is also changing, and thanks to Technology for that. We have the likes of PayPal, Square, Venmo, and gift cards that make payment so fast and easy for people in developed countries like the United States.

But in some African countries like Nigeria, it’s a very different story as nothing seems to be working for us when it comes to making borderless payments.

A few months ago, we received announcements from the banks that our Mastercard and VISA would be unable to pay for international transactions.

So, does that mean we should stop shopping on Amazon, eBay, or on any international sites?

In Nigeria, many people are turning to the dollar and virtual card providers to meet their international payment needs.

Here are the top 5 dollar and virtual card providers in Nigeria

#1. Chipper Cash

Chipper Cash is a mobile payment platform that allows users to send and receive money across Africa. The platform also offers dollar and virtual card services to its users. With Chipper Cash, users can easily create and link a virtual card to their account. 

In addition to its dollar and virtual card services, Chipper Cash also offers a range of other features, including the ability to buy airtime, pay bills, and save money. The platform is available for both Android and iOS devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Many users complain that the Chipper Cash exchange rate is higher than other card providers, but they all agree that the card works anytime and any day, which is still good, I mean, we don’t have a choice for now.

To get started with Chipper Cash, visit their website at https://chipper.cash/

#2. PayDay

PayDay is another popular dollar and virtual card provider in Nigeria. The platform offers a range of payment solutions, including virtual cards, and foreign accounts. With PayDay, users can easily create virtual cards and use them to make online purchases.

In addition to its dollar and virtual card services, PayDay offers a range of other features, including the ability to send money and receive payments. The platform is available for both Android and iOS devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Elon Musk’s company, Starlink recently choose PayDay as one of their payment processors in Nigeria which is a huge partnership proving that PayDay gat some levels too.

Oh, of all the platforms listed here, PayDay has the best User Interface, well maybe this is not valid but I love the design personally.

To get started with PayDay, visit their website at https://www.usepayday.com/

#3. Cardtonic

Cardtonic is a platform that allows users to buy, sell, and exchange gift cards, as well as provide dollar and virtual card services. The platform offers competitive rates for its services, making it a popular choice for those who need to make international transactions.

Cardtonic also offers a range of other features, including the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin, pay bills, and transfer funds.

How does it work?

Let’s say you want to buy an item that costs $200 on Amazon, you can head over to Cardtonic to buy an Amazon gift card of that amount, and you’re good to go.

The platform is available for both Android and iOS devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

To get started with Cardtonic, visit their website at https://cardtonic.com/

#4. Barter by Flutterwave

Barter is a virtual card service provided by Flutterwave, one of the leading payment platforms in Africa. The platform offers a range of payment solutions, including virtual cards, physical cards, and dollar accounts. With Barter, users can easily create virtual cards and use them to make online purchases.

In addition to its dollar and virtual card services, Barter offers a range of other features, including the ability to pay bills, send money, and receive payments. The platform is available for both Android and iOS devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

To get started with Barter by Flutterwave, visit their website at https://barter.flutterwave.com/

#5. Flip by Fluidcoin

Flip is a virtual card service provided by Fluidcoin, a cryptocurrency exchange platform. The platform offers a range of payment solutions, including virtual cards and dollar accounts. With Flip, users can easily create virtual cards and use them to make online purchases.

In addition to its dollar and virtual card services, Flip offers a range of other features, including the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin, pay bills, and transfer funds. The platform is available for both Android and iOS devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

To get started with Flip by Fluidcoin, visit their website at https://useflip.app

Enjoy Cross-border with Virtual card providers in Nigeria

The rise of digital payment platforms has made it easier for people to transact across borders. The dollar and virtual card providers listed above offer a range of payment solutions that make it easy for Nigerians to make international transactions. 

These providers offer competitive rates and a range of features that make them a popular choice for those who need to send and receive money across borders.

I will advise you to get 2-3 of these card providers in case one fvck up. I have  5.

Which of these providers have you used before? Mind sharing your opinion? Okay, you have the floor in the comment section.

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Banking

Kuda Overdrafts: Eligibility and How to Qualify to Borrow Money from Kuda Bank

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You’ve heard the popular anthem on YouTube, Streaming apps, or where that says: “No shame in borrowing when you can easily take Kuda Overdrafts” and you wonder what’s this all about? How can I qualify to borrow money?

I will quickly talk about that in this blog post. And I assume you don’t have an account with Kuda bank yet, but if you already have one, you can navigate to the right part for you by using the table of content below.

What are Kuda Overdrafts?

Kuda Overdrafts are money borrowed for a short period of time to take care of urgent issues. You can say Kuda Overdraft is a “short-term” loan, that’s how Kuda Bank describes it.

It’s not like a loan that you have to request before it’s disbursed, but the process is automatic, hence, it is called “Overdrafts” and not technically “loan”. 

How Kuda Overdrafts Work

Assuming you have N50,000 on your Kuda bank, and you need to pay school fees of N100,000, you can withdraw that N100,000 to pay your school fees and your account will be -50,000 (If you are qualified already for overdrafts).

Just understand it as the way you borrow airtime or data from MTN when you need it urgently. You don’t need to visit the MTN office or fill any form before you borrow. Once you’re a regular user of MTN, you can borrow anything on the SIM and pay on your next recharge.

How Kuda Overdrafts Work - Image Credit: Kuda bank

How Kuda Overdrafts Work – Image Credit: Kuda bank

That’s how Kuda Overdrafts work – Just like using a credit card in foreign countries).

Learn More: What is Kuda Overdraft?

Because some Nigerians are victims of embarrassment resulting from taking loans online, you may think that Kuda Overdraft is in that caliber of embarrassing their customers. But Kuda Bank is not!

CHECK: Top Apps to Manage Your Finance in Nigeria

I’ve been using Kuda Bank for a few years and I enjoy their banking service. When I qualify for overdrafts, I took it (without shame) to see if they’ll frustrate my life but till now, I’ve never been embarrassed or stalked because I borrow money from Kuda bank.

Kuda Overdrafts Vs Other Loan Apps

  • Low interest: Kuda Bank takes a very small interest. I mean very low as 0.3% daily interest. That is just N30 daily if you borrow N10,000 – If you pay up within 10 days, you’ll pay just N300, or let’s say you pay after a month, you’ll pay just N900. Crazy. Right?
  • No Paperwork: You’re not filling any form either online or offline before you can qualify for Kuda Overdrafts.
  • No Collateral: This may sound like an invalid reason why borrowing money from Kuda Bank is the best, but it is a valid reason. Those who said they don’t take collateral are right, but they’ll use the contacts on your phone as their collateral. You gerrit?
  • No Embarrassment: As I said above, these loan apps will copy all the numbers on your contact list for special embarrassment later. Kuda bank doesn’t do this at all, you pay when you’re financially buoyant.
  • I will also say borrowing money from Kuda bank will give you peace of mind, they will never call or email you to repay. 

To borrow money from Kuda bank is not a “squid game” unlike fake loan apps that run after people’s life. If you want to know more about these loan sharks and how to avoid them, read this blog post.

How to Qualify for Kuda Overdrafts

There are steps you must take before you can be able to borrow money from Kuda Bank. They are:

  1. Become a User of Kuda Bank (Register and Verify your account)
  2. Use Kuda Bank regularly (to transfer, receive, pay bills, buy airtime)
  3. You’ll qualify automatically (Again, you don’t need to fill any form)

#1 Become a User of Kuda Bank

All you have to do is to download the Kuda Bank app on either Playstore or Appstore (for iOS), register, verify your BVN, phone number, and email address.

You may also need to upload your NIN slip, and you’re good to go. This is the first step to qualify for KUDA overdrafts.

#2 Use Kuda Bank Regularly

After becoming a user, the next step is to become a frequent user and this is what will qualify for Kuda’s “short-term” loan (overdrafts).

But you may want to ask how often or regularly should you use Kuda Bank?

Well. I don’t have a straight answer, but In my case, I use Kuda for 80% banking that I want to do. I use it to receive money, send money, bill data, and airtime. I don’t just keep N1,000 there, I keep most of my Naira in my Kuda bank account.

#3. You’ll Qualify Automatically

The system has been programmed to upgrade regular users to have access to Kuda overdrafts. So, you don’t need to request approval or whatsoever. Just use Kuda Bank regularly and you’ll get your own “lunch” from Kuda.

PS: The first time I received a notification that I’m qualified for Kuda Overdrafts, I can only borrow N30,000 but later, I think after 2 months, I can get up to N75,000.

I believe the more you keep using the Kuda for banking, the more they’ll increase how much you can borrow on the app.

How To Borrow Money on Kuda App?

On the home screen of your app, simply swipe to, or click on “Borrow”, adjust the range element to how much you need and click on “Get your Overdrafts”. That’s all.

What the video below to see how to do that:

Borrow Money Without Shame, Take Kuda Overdrafts

This is the first time I will see something like this aside from borrowing from telcos. Kuda Bank is really stepping up its game and it has been a great experience for us (customers).

I enjoy taking Kuda overdrafts without shame, no harassment, no room for getting stranded on cash. Just become a regular user, and you’ll enjoy the same experience.

But some people do ask; what if they fail or refuse to pay back the money they borrow from Kuda Bank? Well, I don’t know what will happen, but I’m sure Kuda Bank has a way to sort it out amicably or legally.

You can’t outsmart Kuda Bank if you’re thinking of taking the overdrafts “japa”. You can’t japa because security agencies will nab you. This is not a threat, remember I said Kuda Bank will never embarrass you like some loan sharks used to do. 

But don’t be like those who plan to run away with Kuda Overdrafts without payment back, it’s not fair, you know.

 

This post “Kuda Overdrafts: Eligibility and How to Qualify to Borrow Money from Kuda Bank” first appeared on https://www.gbolamedia.com – Do not copy without permission.

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