Review Methodology

Review Methodology (How We Score Products)

When we review a loan app, bank product, insurance provider, savings app, or business tool, we use a consistent scoring rubric so it’s not “vibes”.

Our goal is simple: help Nigerians pick what fits their situation — with eyes open.

1) Our scoring scale

We score products on a 1–5 scale (with decimals), then translate that into a summary rating.

2) Category-specific scoring

We use different weights depending on the category, because what matters for loans is not the same as what matters for insurance.

Loans (personal/SME)

  • Total cost & transparency (35%): interest type, fees, penalties, how clear the terms are
  • Eligibility & fairness (15%): realistic requirements, avoids exploitative patterns
  • Speed & reliability (15%): disbursement, repayment stability, uptime
  • Customer support & collections behaviour (20%): support response, respectful collections, complaint patterns
  • User experience (15%): app flow, KYC friction, clarity, reminders

Savings / Banking

  • Safety & compliance (25%): licensing, NDIC coverage (if applicable), transparency
  • Returns & fees (25%): interest/returns, withdrawal charges, hidden fees
  • Access & control (20%): withdrawals, lock periods, limitations explained
  • Reliability (15%): uptime, transfers, settlement speed
  • Support & dispute resolution (15%)

Insurance

  • Claims experience (30%): evidence of claims fairness, timelines, exclusions clarity
  • Coverage & exclusions clarity (25%)
  • Price & value (20%)
  • Customer support (15%)
  • Regulatory standing (10%): NAICOM status and transparency

3) How we gather inputs

  • Published pricing/terms
  • Hands-on testing where possible
  • User reviews and direct feedback
  • Regulatory sources and public records where available

4) What a “Best” recommendation means

“Best” does not mean “perfect”. It means: for a defined use case, this option is among the strongest on the market based on our rubric and current information.

5) When we remove or downgrade products

If we see signs of harmful behaviour (unfair collections, unclear fees, repeated unresolved complaints, misleading marketing), we can downgrade or remove a product even if it pays commissions.

Last updated: 2026-01-27