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FMFB-A review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

The First MicroFinanceBank-Afghanistan is a direct lender in Afghanistan, which suits individuals and microfinance businesses who can bring a guarantor and want a fixed rate loan. Borrowing runs at 16% over 6 to 24, and the easy access savings account keeps money within reach at branches and ATMs.

Key facts

Best for
A fixed-rate purchase loan in Afghanistan for someone who can bring a guarantor.
APR
16%↗
Loan amount
AFN 5,000 to AFN 1,500,000↗
Term
6 to 24 months↗
Arrangement fee
0 AFN↗
Rate type
Fixed↗
Lender type
Direct lender↗
Eligibility
Individuals and microfinance businesses; one guarantor, two if under AFN 100,000↗
Origination fee (%)
0%↗
Loan types
Personal, Car, Business, Guarantor, Secured↗
Legal entity
The First MicroFinanceBank-Afghanistan (FMFB-A)↗
Headquarters
Afghanistan↗
Founded
2004↗
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre↗
Pricing model
Fixed rate
Official website
fmfb.com.af

Savings

Minimum deposit
AFN 0↗
Access terms
Immediate access to funds at branches, FMFB-A ATMs, or by direct transfer to another bank account (Mudarabah Savings Account)↗
Account kind
Easy access↗

Mortgages

Initial rate
16%↗
Fixed period
0.5 to 2 years↗
Product fee
AFN 0↗
Purpose
Purchase↗

Debit cards

Card type
Debit↗
Card network
Mastercard↗

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 7 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App StoreGoogle Play
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaLinkedInXinstagram.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • No entry charge on the Mudarabaha finance: the origination fee is 0 AFN and the product fee is AFN 0.
  • A fixed rate loan, so repayments hold steady rather than following market rates across the life of the facility.
  • Amounts of AFN 5,000 to AFN 1,500,000 stretch from a small everyday purchase to a much larger asset purchase.
  • A easy access savings account with a AFN 0 minimum deposit and immediate access at branches, ATMs or by transfer.

Cons

  • Repayment terms are 6 to 24, well short of the 36 median term across the site.
  • Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, so questions have to go through one of those routes rather than a live chat or community forum.
  • Guarantor backing is required on the loan, and a second guarantor is asked for on the smaller amounts, which narrows who can apply.
FMFB-A

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Scored 9.2 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Individuals in Afghanistan funding a car or other purchase, and able to bring a guarantor as the terms require.
  • Microfinance businesses, which sit alongside individuals in the eligibility and can use the same personal and business lending.
  • Savers who want a easy access account with a AFN 0 minimum deposit and money available the same day.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Sofkredit, if a lower rate matters most to you, since 10.74% to 18.06% starts below the 16% charged here.
  • Creduma ES, if you need a bigger loan: from €12,000 is its lowest amount, while AFN 5,000 to AFN 1,500,000 is the whole range here.
  • Cashspace, if you want the option of borrowing at a much higher rate band, since PHP 12 to PHP 36 runs well past 16%.

Deposit protection

As a direct lender, FMFB-A keeps the credit decision and the money on its own books rather than passing applications to a broker or a marketplace. It appears on the Da Afghanistan Bank register of licensed banks under Docket No 11201. That register speaks to the banking licence, while any protection on a savings balance is a separate arrangement to confirm before depositing.

How FMFB-A compares

Where FMFB-A is available

Available
Afghanistan
Licence in Afghanistan
Da Afghanistan Bank (Docket No 11201), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What rate do I pay on a Mudarabaha finance?+

FMFB-A prices its Mudarabaha finance on a fixed basis, with an annual rate of 16%. Because the pricing model is fixed rate, the figure holds for the life of the loan rather than resetting with market rates. Budget with that rate and the repayment period you pick.

Does the loan come with arrangement or setup fees?+

The published schedule lists an origination fee of 0 AFN and a product fee of AFN 0 on the Mudarabaha finance, with an origination percentage of 0%. The cost of borrowing therefore sits in the interest rate of 16% rather than in charges made up front.

How much can I borrow, and for how long?+

Amounts run AFN 5,000 to AFN 1,500,000, and repayment is arranged over 6 to 24. The stated purpose is purchase, so treat this as buying finance rather than a general facility. Compare the term with the 36 median across the site: it is shorter, so anything expensive has to be repaid quickly.

Who can apply, and will I need a guarantor?+

Eligibility covers individuals and microfinance businesses, and a guarantor is required, with more of them asked for on smaller loans. The lending covers personal, car and business work, so a salaried applicant and a business owner can both apply. Individuals and businesses are treated under the same published eligibility.

Is FMFB-A a regulated bank?+

The First MicroFinanceBank-Afghanistan (FMFB-A) is listed among the banks licensed by Da Afghanistan Bank, with the docket recorded as Docket No 11201. It is based in Afghanistan and has operated since 2004. Lending runs directly from the bank rather than through an intermediary.

Can I reach my savings when I need them?+

The savings side is a easy access account, so balances are not tied away for a set period. Funds are available immediately at branches, at FMFB-A ATMs, or by a direct transfer to another bank account. The minimum deposit is AFN 0.

What card comes with the account?+

The account is paired with a debit card on the mastercard network, so spending and withdrawals draw straight on the balance in the savings account. A debit card keeps the money with the bank rather than extending a line of credit, which matters for anyone budgeting closely.

How do I get help if something goes wrong?+

Help runs on email, phone and help centre, so you can reach the bank by email or phone, or work through its help centre. Questions on eligibility, guarantor requirements and the fee schedule are worth putting to those channels before you sign, since the bank sets its own criteria as a direct lender.

Sources

  • fmfb.com.af checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Support channels

    “Email: info@fmfb.com.af | Phone: +93(0) 790 010 105 ... FAQs”

  • fmfb.com.af/bank-profile checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity

    “The First MicroFinanceBank-Afghanistan (FMFB-A) started its operation in 2004”

  • fmfb.com.af/debit-master-card checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Card type, Card network

    “Debit Mastercard - The First MicroFinanceBank of Afghanistan”

  • fmfb.com.af/faqs checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan types

    “Murabaha: Cost-plus sale for purchasing goods, vehicles, or equipment.”

  • fmfb.com.af/mudaraba-saving-account checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Access terms, Account kind, Minimum deposit

    “Immediate access to funds at our branches, through our network of ATMs, or by direct account transfer to another bank account”

  • fmfb.com.af/mudarabaha-finance checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, APR, Eligibility, Fixed period, Initial rate, Lender type, Arrangement fee, Origination fee (%), Product fee, Purpose, Term

    “Financing limit from AFN 5,000 to AFN 1,500,000 or equivalent in USD”

  • fmfb.com.af/schedule-of-charges checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Pricing model, Rate type

    “Murabaha Financing ... Profit Rate Retail/Microfinance 16% Per Annum (Flat) ... Profit Calculation Flat”

  • dab.gov.af/Licensed-Banks checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Licences

Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Credit check, Funding time, Representative example.

FMFB-A

FMFB-A

A fixed-rate purchase loan in Afghanistan for someone who can bring a guarantor.

9.2/10See alternatives