Privacy
Policy.

01Information we collect

We collect information that is necessary, relevant, and proportionate to providing the Fair Cash service. The categories below describe what we collect and how.

Information you provide directly

• Full name, gender, date of birth
• Fayda National ID number and digitally captured Fayda ID image
• Mobile phone number, email address, residential address
• Income details, employment information, occupation
• Bank account details or Telebirr wallet number for disbursement
• Photographs (including selfie photographs for identity matching)
• Loan application details and stated purpose of borrowing

Information collected automatically from your device

• Device model, manufacturer, operating system, and OS version
• Unique device identifiers (such as Android advertising ID, iOS identifier for advertisers) — only where permitted by the operating system and not disabled by the user
• IP address and approximate geographic region (derived from IP, used for fraud detection only)
• App usage behaviour: screens visited, features used, time spent, in-app errors
• Crash logs and diagnostic data for debugging
• Mobile network operator (used to verify the SIM-to-phone-number binding)

Information from third parties

• National ID Authority (Fayda): when you verify your identity, we query the Fayda system to confirm your ID is valid and matches the details you provided
• Ethio Telecom / Telebirr: for wallet-based disbursements and repayments, Telebirr confirms transaction status to us
• Credit reference bureaus: we query and report to licensed credit bureaus as required under Ethiopian credit-information regulations
• Fraud prevention services: industry-standard services that help detect stolen devices, synthetic identities, or repeat fraudulent applications

Information we do NOT collect

• We do not read, collect, or upload your contact list, SMS messages, call logs, or photo gallery beyond what you explicitly submit
• We do not access your precise GPS location — only approximate region derived from IP, for fraud detection
• We do not collect biometric data beyond what is required for Fayda verification

02Mobile app permissions

The Fair Cash App requests the following device permissions. You can grant, deny, or revoke each permission through your device settings at any time. Denying a permission may limit specific App functionality, as noted below.

Camera

Used for: capturing your Fayda ID and a live selfie during identity verification. Images are uploaded to Neo MFI's secure servers and are never sold, used for advertising, or used for any purpose other than identity verification and fraud prevention. If denied: you will not be able to complete identity verification and therefore cannot apply for credit.

Storage (Android) / Photos (iOS)

Used for: optionally saving the Fayda ID image you captured to your device, or uploading supporting documents if we request them during credit review. If denied: you can still use the App but may need to re-capture documents instead of uploading saved ones.

Notifications

Used for: repayment reminders, application-status updates, and security alerts (such as a new-device login). We do not send marketing notifications without your explicit opt-in. If denied: you will still receive communications by SMS and email, but may miss real-time updates.

Internet

Used for: communicating with Neo MFI servers to process your application, check credit status, and complete transactions. This permission cannot be denied if you want to use the App.

Phone state (Android only)

Used for: verifying that the phone number you registered matches the SIM active on the device, to prevent account takeover. We do not make, monitor, or record phone calls. If denied: additional verification steps may be required during registration.

03How we use your information

Your information is used strictly for purposes connected to delivering the Fair Cash service and meeting our regulatory obligations:

• Identity verification — confirming you are who you say you are and that your Fayda ID is genuine
• Credit assessment — evaluating affordability, existing obligations, repayment history, and fraud risk to decide your credit offer
• Loan origination and servicing — disbursing funds, processing repayments, calculating interest and fees, and managing your loan account
• Customer support — responding to questions, complaints, and requests for assistance
• Regulatory compliance — reporting to the National Bank of Ethiopia, credit reference bureaus, and tax authorities as required by Ethiopian law
• Anti-money-laundering and fraud prevention — identifying suspicious patterns and protecting both you and Neo MFI from financial crime
• Product improvement — analysing aggregated, anonymised usage patterns to improve the App's features, performance, and user experience

We do not use your personal data for unrelated or unauthorised purposes, and we never sell your data to third parties.

04Data sharing & disclosure

We do not sell user data under any circumstances. We share limited information only with the specific parties listed below, and only as necessary for the Fair Cash service to function legally and correctly.

Regulatory authorities

• National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE): periodic supervisory reports, audit access, and incident notifications, as required under the MFI Business Proclamation
• Ethiopian Revenue Authority (tax authorities): information required for tax compliance
• Law enforcement and courts: only in response to valid legal process (court orders, subpoenas, official investigations)

Licensed credit reference bureaus

Under Ethiopian credit-information regulation, we query and report loan performance (including positive repayment history as well as arrears and defaults) to licensed credit reference bureaus. This is a regulatory requirement that applies to all licensed Ethiopian lenders.

Service providers bound by confidentiality

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers: to store and process data securely
• Payment and wallet partners (Telebirr, bank partners): to disburse loans and receive repayments
• Fayda / National ID Programme: to verify ID authenticity
• Fraud-prevention and analytics providers: to detect suspicious patterns and improve the App

All service providers are contractually required to process your data only on our instructions, implement appropriate security measures, and not use your data for their own purposes.

Business transfers

If Neo MFI is ever involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar transaction, user data may be transferred to the acquiring party — subject to the same obligations in this Privacy Policy and prior notification to you where required by law.

05Your rights & account deletion

As a Fair Cash user, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction — ask us to update information that is inaccurate or out of date
• Deletion — request deletion of your account and associated data (see below)
• Objection — object to certain processing activities, where permitted by law
• Withdrawal of consent — where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time

How to delete your account

You can request account deletion in one of two ways:

• In-app: Settings → Profile → “Delete my account” — then confirm
• Email: send a request from your registered email to info@neo.et

Upon a deletion request, we will:

• Close your Fair Cash account within 30 days
• Delete or anonymise personal data that is not required to be retained by law
• Retain limited data (such as loan history, identity records, and transaction logs) for the minimum periods required under Ethiopian financial and anti-money-laundering law — typically 10 years from account closure
• Notify you in writing when your deletion request has been completed

You cannot delete your account while you have an outstanding loan balance. Please first repay any active loans, then request deletion.

06Cookies & tracking

The Fair Cash App itself does not use browser cookies. The faircash.et website uses essential cookies only (for session management and security). We do not use advertising cookies or third-party trackers on the website.

Inside the App, we use standard mobile analytics SDKs to measure aggregate usage (such as which screens users visit most). These SDKs are configured to:

• Collect only anonymised, aggregated metrics — no individual identification
• Not share data with advertising networks
• Respect your device's “limit ad tracking” or equivalent setting

07Data retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary:

• Active users: data is retained for the duration of your Fair Cash account relationship
• Closed accounts: data is retained for the minimum period required under Ethiopian law — typically 10 years for financial records and anti-money-laundering compliance
• Unsuccessful applications: data is retained for up to 5 years to support fraud prevention and to evaluate future applications
• Marketing consents: retained until you withdraw consent

After the applicable retention period expires, data is securely deleted or irreversibly anonymised.

08Security measures

We take security seriously. Measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS 1.2 or higher) and at rest
• Access controls that limit staff access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Multi-factor authentication for staff accessing sensitive systems
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Incident-response procedures with notification to affected users and the NBE where required
• Staff training on data protection and confidentiality

No security system is perfect. If you suspect unauthorised access to your account, contact us immediately at info@neo.et or +251 115 586 969.

09Children's privacy

Fair Cash is not available to persons under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we become aware that we have collected data from a person under 18, we will delete the data and close any associated account. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided information to the Fair Cash App, please contact us immediately.

10Policy updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App, our services, applicable law, or NBE regulations. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the App and/or by email. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page always reflects the most recent revision. Your continued use of Fair Cash after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

11Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or want to raise a concern about how your information is handled, please reach us through the channels below.