Kiva Reviews 707

Releading day is a real boost to my day.

I enjoy the pictures of people ready to start a new project.

Kiva is easy to use and has a great person to person impact on improving people's lives. It is one of my favorite non-profit causes.

I like the idea. From the start it was great Helping people around the world and getting to choose who and how much you loan them is satisfying\self affirming But!!!....as is always the case it seems "all good things come top an end"
The focus has changed dramatically IMO. Not so much 3rd world financing as 1st world
This shift of focus manifests itself in the form of a complex and for anyone outside of the USA a fee laced time consuming overly complicated method of getting you money out
IE....credit cards accepted for loans......all repayments must go through Pay Pal from where I sit there are fees to
- transfer your money from Kiva to Pay Pal
- A fee to transfer your money to any currency that is not the USD
- finally a fee to transfer from Kiva to my card account
I financed loans directly from my credit card. Why cant the credit card just be reimbursed from Kiva directly? Rather than through a "partner" that i have not used in years.......It seems money is the focus..... specifically making/keeping as much of my money as possible
Why am I leaving
- loans to US citizens seeking financing seem to be being pushed to the forefront. For me it was a surprise when I saw the first US based financing recipient.
As the largest economy on the planet that IMHO is directly responsible for the misery that I am trying to alleviate in war torn countries the US has left behind backed the brutal regimes causing the suffering around the globe That economy can finance their own through their dysfunctional banking system
- Donations to Kiva are voluntary yes.....I have been repeatedly reminded that a 15% gratuity is expected. NOT GOOD
- My money seems to be "dissolving" at a faster rate than in the past. Yes loans go bad....if memory serves I have had 4 go bad. Still does not equate into what I see in my accounts balance and what I have deposited....DIRECTLY FROM MY CREDIT CARD IN CAD
As a last. I am signing into my Kiva account for the fourth time today trying to get my money out. My pass word is refused AGAIN. That after two resets
Seems I can only sign in via google FB or apple.
- is this the plan? make closing your account as difficult as possible in the hopes I will just abandon the account. I saw some change that allow Kiva to loan money from accounts that are deemed as inactive
- By forcing me to sign in via FB Google or Apple is Kiva selling my info?......seems like it to me and that is all that matters on that front

1) there are too many loans that charge very high interest rates to the borrowers ie above 25% per year
2) there are too many loans supervised by (very) unreliable field organisations
3) there are too many loans with borrowers that will repay the loan at the end or irregularly
4) there are too many loans with borrowers asking loans that exceed 1,000 €
5) there are too many borrowers from countries with currency exchange losses
6) there are too many borrowers who ask loans to increase their already excessive inventory or they lack space to the increase their inventory for which they're asking a loan for

I have ben part of Kiva lenders for many years. I am very satisfied of being able to help people in need to improve their lives and help them fulfill their dreams. You do not need to give much, 25$ is enough to start, and you can keep circulating to new borrowers. I like that I can choose among the borrowers who I want to lend too. Let us share what we can with those who are less fortunate.

I love being able to help people around the world from my computer in a small Australian town - then being repaid and lending over and over.

The website is easy to navigate. I have been a member of Kiva for a number of years now and feel honoured that I can help others out. I like being able to choose a country where I can help some citizens. I also enjoy being able to choose an area of interest that I have in order to facilitate a loan for an individual.

A great place to support borrowers around the world in need of micro loans, over and over again! Explore it yourself! After 10 years of experience, failure rates are very low!

I am a long time lender on Kiva. This is a great service, aimed at helping minorities and those that cannot go to the bank.

I love lending money to the people I choose from countries all over the world. I select folks engaged in activities that I think are important. It’s important to me that I’m making a loan and not a donation to the people I select although I also donate money to Kiva to help them support their activities.

A really fantastic Organisation. The website is easy to use, lots of options to find loans which appeal to all. Great to have the personal stories and know the impact the loans are making

There used to be more information on the individual borrowers and a way to choose how much extra to donate for overhead. Now I have $29 balance but can’t donate $25 without submitting payment to bring balance to $29.31.

Best way to throw your money away! Their commissions are so high, that your account, in long term goes on minus instead of plus.

I have been lending on kiva for years both as a $25 lender to those that I choose and as part of the Monthly Good program where you can lend automatically to borrowers on Kiva for as little as $5 in a category you can choose.

It’s a great way to do some good in this world.

Once loans are paid off you can use that money to lend again.

I like being able to pool my money with other lenders to help people who can't get loans from traditional banks. I can't do much about the poverty or harshness of their lives but if I can help in this way I am glad. I've been a part of Kiva for several years and think it is working hard to serve people.

I've been working with Keva for over ten years, it's a great origination.

I like Kiva. It helps set aside small amount that allows me to earn and help people at the same time. The idea of it is for the greater good of many.

Great variety of people and businesses in many countries with countless ways to search. Kiva handles everything else from there.

I enjoy being able to select the borrower to support. As the loan is paid back i can lend to another borrower. Helping people who don't have access to traditional loans empowers them to improve their lives

I have been lending with Kiva for a decade. It's amazing how $25 can help change people's lives. I've been able to loan that same $25 to numerous people. I loan it. They pay it back. I can reloan it, or I don't have to. But I keep re-ending because I can. I love that I get updates about the people I've loaned money to. I feel like I'm helping in some small way make somebody's life a little better.