National Building Society review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Our verdict
National Building Society suits buyers and savers who want one institution for both sides of their money, with a mortgage and a transaction account in the same place. The trade-off is how far lending stretches: a maximum loan to value of 50% sits well under the site median of 90%.
Key facts
- Best for
- Buyers and savers in its home market who want one institution for the mortgage and the transaction account.
- Fixed period
- 5 to 25 years↗
- Maximum loan to value
- 50%↗
- Purpose
- Purchase, Equity-release↗
- Lender type
- Direct lender↗
- Legal entity
- National Building Society Limited↗
- Headquarters
- Zimbabwe↗
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Official website
- nbs.co.zw
Loans
Pros and cons
Pros
- Personal loan funding takes 5 working days, a stated turnaround rather than an open ended wait.
- The savings account opens instantly with an ATM and debit card, cash withdrawals and deposits, SMS alerts and digital banking.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so a help centre sits alongside email and phone.
- The stated use case is home improvement, so the secured lending lines up with renovation borrowing.
Cons
- A maximum loan to value of 50% sits well below the site median of 90%, so a deposit carries more of the purchase.
- The savings account charges a monthly fee of ZWG 50 on a minimum deposit of ZWG 180.
- Personal loan applicants need income paid into an NBS account, plus identity papers, proof of where they live and proof of earnings.
Who it suits
- Buyers who want the mortgage and the transaction account with the same institution, dealt with by a direct lender rather than a broker.
- Home owners funding renovations, since home improvement is the stated use case for the secured lending.
- Savers who want an account that opens instantly with a debit card, SMS alerts and digital banking.
Who should look elsewhere
- Prestalo, where a fixed period of 25 runs past the 5 to 25 offered here.
- Sofkredit, where a fixed period of 0.5 to 20 includes shorter commitments than this range.
- Creditilia ES, whose fixed period of 5 suits a shorter term.
Who runs it
National Building Society Limited is the legal entity behind the brand, a registered building society under the Building Society Act in Zimbabwe. It operates as a direct lender rather than a broker, so the mortgage and the savings account sit with one institution. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, covering a help centre, email and phone.
How National Building Society compares
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 8.7
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 8.7
9.5 vs 8.9
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 8.7
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.6
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.3
9.5 vs 9.5
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.9
9.5 vs 8.6
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.4
9.5 vs 8.0
9.5 vs 8.0- 9.5 vs 8.0
Where National Building Society is available
- Available
- Zimbabwe
- Licence in Zimbabwe
- Registered Building Society under the Building Society Act chapter 24:20, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much can I borrow against my home?+
Lending is capped at a maximum loan to value of 50%, well under the site median of 90%. Borrowers fund more of a purchase with a deposit, so the limit works better for existing homeowners with equity than for first time buyers stretching the full value.
What can a mortgage be used for, and how long does it run?+
The mortgages cover purchase and equity release and run for a fixed period of 5 to 25. That range suits a settled purchase or someone releasing equity against a home they already own, and the property carries the risk because the lending is secured.
What does the cash management account cost to hold?+
It sits in the cash management category, so it is built for day to day money rather than a fixed term pot. The monthly fee is ZWG 50 and the minimum deposit is ZWG 180, which keeps running costs small for anyone already banking with the society.
How fast can the account be opened and used?+
The cash management account opens instantly and comes with an ATM and debit card, so cash withdrawals and deposits work straight away. Transaction alerts arrive by SMS, and NBS Transactor digital banking handles the account once it is open.
Who qualifies for a personal loan?+
Applicants need their income paid straight into an NBS account, and must be able to show identity papers, proof of where they live, proof of earnings and bank statements covering recent months. The loans run for a term of 12, so the repayment period is set by the society.
How quickly is a personal loan paid out?+
Personal loan funding takes 5 working days. The stated turnaround is counted in working days rather than hours, and it starts once the application pack is complete, so having income paid into an NBS account and the documents ready shortens the wait.
Who regulates National Building Society?+
It is registered as a building society under the Building Society Act, and its base is ZW. The legal entity behind the brand is National Building Society Limited, so saving and borrowing stay with one institution rather than two separate providers.
Sources
- nbs.co.zw checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“To report a lost or stolen Card, please contact NBS immediately on +263 700032, You can also use our contact form ... Feel free to explore our FAQs”
- nbs.co.zw/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Lender type, Licences
“NBS is the brain child of the Zimbabwean National Social Security Authority (NSSA)”
- nbs.co.zw/about-us/bs checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Minimum deposit, Monthly fee
“Insta-Save: Initial Deposit ZiG 180.00, Minimum Balance ZiG 130.00, Monthly Service Fee ZiG 50.00 (Business Conditions June 2026)”
- nbs.co.zw/instasave-account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Access terms, Account kind
“Account opened in an instant; Get an ATM/Debit card immediately; Able to do cash withdrawals and deposits and get SMS transaction alerts”
- nbs.co.zw/mortgage-loans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Fixed period, Loan types, Maximum loan to value, Purpose, Use cases
“Equity Release: Loan tenure - minimum 5 years and maximum of 25 years”
- nbs.co.zw/personal-loans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Eligibility, Funding time, Term
“Income to be paid directly into NBS account; Proof of income; 3 months' bank statement; Copy of National Identity Document; Proof of residence”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Initial rate, APRC.
National Building Society
Buyers and savers in its home market who want one institution for the mortgage and the transaction account.