For every friend you successfully invite to Kiva, you can earn a $25 free credit!

With the Kiva free credit program, for every new user you successfully invite to join Kiva, you’ll earn a $25 free credit, which can be used to make a free loan to a borrower of your choice. Supplies are limited, so invite your friends to join Kiva today!

How to earn a free credit

There are lots of ways to invite your friends to join Kiva -- send an email, post on Facebook, tweet about it, or share your personal invite URL anywhere you want! Check out the Invite Friends page of your portfolio for all the ways you can invite your friends to Kiva.

When someone joins Kiva through your invitation link, we’ll add a $25 free credit to your account, and you’ll be notified via email. It’s our way of saying thank you for spreading the word about Kiva! A free credit expires 7 days after your invitee joins Kiva, so make sure to put your free credit to use while you have it.

How to redeem a free credit

If you have a free credit, it will automatically be applied to the next loan you make. All you have to do is sign into your Kiva account, select a loan, and proceed through the checkout process -- it’s that easy! Please note, free credit funds cannot be applied to loans with repayment terms over 21 months or with Lending Partner risk ratings below 3 stars. You’ll be able to see if a loan is ineligible for free credit redemption on both the borrower profile and in your basket.

The Fine Print:

Free credits can be earned on a "first claimed" basis for as long as funds remain available to be awarded. In the event that funds for free credits are fully distributed and no further funds remain at a particular time, then no further free credits will be eligible to be earned and no replacement reward shall apply. Free credits you earn expire seven (7) days after being added to your account. If a free credit expires, the expired credit cannot be reinstated. Free credits can only be used to make loans on the www.kiva.org platform that have terms of 21 months or less and are managed by a Lending Partner with a risk rating of 3 stars or higher. You cannot withdraw free credits or transfer free credits for lending by others. If you make a loan with a free credit, any repayments on that loan are not returned to you, but instead are returned to the account of the sponsor for the free credit.

FREE CREDIT FAQs

How does my free credit differ from Kiva credit?

Any free credit received is funded by a sponsor and can only be used to make loans. Unlike Kiva credit, a free credit expires 7 days after your invitee joins Kiva and cannot be withdrawn, used to purchase a Kiva Card, or donated to Kiva’s operating expenses. Also, any repayments of loans made using a free credit will go back to the sponsor, not to you as the lender.

Is there any maximum free credit I can earn?

No, there is no limit to the amount of free credit you can earn. However, supplies are limited and will be made available on a "first claimed" basis.

Will I earn a free credit for friends who’ve joined Kiva in the past?

A free credit can only be earned for new users joining Kiva. This means that you will not receive a free credit for any friends you’ve successfully invited in the past.

What loans can I make with my free credit?

Most loans on Kiva can be funded with your free credit. However, free credit funds cannot be applied to loans with repayment terms over 21 months or with Lending Partner risk ratings below 3 stars.