Last Call for December Funding: Don’t Miss Out Before Lenders Close

As we move deeper into December, many businesses are finalising their year-end plans, but if you still have a pending loan application or haven’t yet applied for funding to carry your business through the shutdown period, there’s still time. Just not much. This week's TuesdayTip breaks down what you need to do if you have an open application and what your focus should be if you need funding now.Most lenders in South Africa close their funding pipelines around the 19th of December, with approvals and payouts only resuming in the new year. That means the next few days are crucial for securing the capital your business may need for December operations, stock, payroll, or cash flow support. If you’re waiting for approval or still gathering documents, acting now is the only way to ensure you’re funded before lenders shut down.

What you need to do right now:

Finalise and submit all outstanding documents. Lenders will not process incomplete files. Make sure you’ve submitted:

3–6 months bank statements

Latest financials or management accounts

ID & CIPC docs

Supplier/customer contracts (if relevant)

Updated debtor/creditor lists (for invoice discounting)

Respond quickly to any requests from Your funder. If an analyst needs clarification, additional documents, or signatures, reply the same day. Delays at this stage can push your application into January.

Apply now if you haven’t yet. Even if you weren’t planning to, securing a buffer before year-end can protect your business from:

Delayed customer payments

Unexpected December expenses

Stock shortages

Holiday-season demand

Consider faster-turnaround funding options. If your need is urgent, explore solutions with quick approval times, such as:

Merchant cash advances

Invoice discounting

Revolving credit facilities

These can fund in 24–72 hours if your documents are ready.

Communicate with your accountant or bookkeeper. They can help you pull the documents lenders need quickly and accurately which is essential if you're racing the deadline.

Final Thought! If you’ve started an application, finish it. If you haven’t applied yet but know you’ll need support, now is the moment. Once lenders close funding around the 19th of December, approvals pause until the new year, so take action while funding pipelines are still open.Your business will thank you in January! If you need to start a new application, simply click on Apply Now.