Nearly all users of South African earned-wage access (EWA) fintech Paymenow say the service has improved their quality of life, according to the company’s latest independently verified impact report.
The 2026 Impact Performance Report, prepared by impact-measurement firm 60 Decibels, found that 94% of users reported an improved quality of life after using Paymenow, with 59% describing the improvement as significant. That figure is well above the 60 Decibels Africa Financial Inclusion benchmark of 40% and represents a marked increase from 2024, when 49% reported significant improvements.
Record satisfaction and financial wellbeing
Paymenow’s Net Promoter Score climbed to 77, up from 72 in 2024, marking the highest score in the company’s 5-year history. Users cited convenience, quick access to funds and low interest rates as key satisfaction drivers.
The report also showed strong financial wellbeing outcomes: 89% of users reported better financial management, 88% experienced reduced financial stress and 90% said they felt more in control of their finances. Paymenow’s financial education modules received an average usefulness rating of 8.8 out of 10, with 56% of those surveyed accessing financial education for the first time through the platform.
Reaching financially vulnerable groups
The data highlighted Paymenow’s reach among financially vulnerable South Africans. Some 60% of users are female and 52% fall within the bottom 60% of the wealth distribution. More than 60% of users reported spending their accessed wages on work-related expenses, followed by food (39%), emergencies (38%) and utilities (34%).
EWA is a financial technology that allows employees to access a portion of their earned wages before the regular pay cycle, providing an alternative to high-interest credit. The company expanded its services into Namibia in 2024.
What the leadership says
Deon Nobrega, CEO of Paymenow, said: “The 2026 Impact Performance Report confirms the quality of the role we play in empowering workers and businesses. Our users are clearly articulating the value of greater financial freedom and a better quality of life, alongside their appetite for well-made financial-education resources.”
Bryan Habana, the former Springbok wing who serves as Paymenow’s Chief Client Officer, said: “Behind every statistic there’s a person who doesn’t go to bed as stressed, who doesn’t need to resort to predatory lending practices, who knows they have options if a loved one gets sick. That’s something the whole team takes a huge amount of pride in.”
Some 95% of users said they could not easily find a good alternative to the service, underscoring the limited availability of affordable EWA options in South Africa.
Leave a Reply