The Fundi app has continued to evolve, helping students across South Africa manage their bursaries, student loans, accommodation allowances, and textbook payments more efficiently.
With each new update, including the April 2025 rollout, the app introduces smarter features to enhance the student experience. One such feature is real-time notifications, which alert users about balance changes, banking detail updates, application statuses, and more.
But not everyone prefers constant notifications. Some users find them distracting, others want more control over when and how they receive alerts. This brings us to the important question: Can you turn off real-time notifications in the Fundi app?
What Are Real-Time Notifications in the Fundi App?
Real-time notifications are instant messages sent to your mobile phone from the Fundi app. They keep you informed about key activities on your account such as:
- Successful loan or bursary payments
- Changes to your balance
- Updates on application status
- Banking detail upload confirmations
- Fundi merchant locator suggestions
These alerts aim to help you stay updated without opening the app constantly. However, depending on your preferences, these notifications might feel overwhelming.
Can You Turn Off Notifications in the Fundi App?
Yes, But With Limitations
The Fundi app does allow you to manage your notification settings to some extent. However, it’s important to note that while you can reduce or mute certain notifications, you may not be able to completely disable all real-time alerts, especially for critical account actions (like money disbursement).
How to Manage Notification Settings in the Fundi App (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Open the Fundi App
Ensure you’re using the latest version of the Fundi app (April 2025 update or newer). Older versions may not have the updated settings panel.
Step 2: Go to Settings
Once inside the app, tap the menu (☰) or profile icon in the top right corner. Scroll down and select ‘Settings’.
Step 3: Tap on ‘Notifications’
In the settings menu, choose ‘Notification Settings’ or something similar depending on your device model or app version.
Step 4: Customize Alerts
Here, you can:
- Toggle off notifications for general updates
- Choose to receive only high-priority notifications (e.g. payment confirmation)
- Enable or disable sound and vibration for alerts
- Schedule “Do Not Disturb” hours
Step 5: Save Your Changes
Always click on ‘Save’ or ‘Apply’ to activate your changes. You may need to restart the app to see the updates reflected.
Alternative: Control Notifications from Phone Settings
If the Fundi app doesn’t offer enough control within the app settings, you can also manage notifications directly from your phone.
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications
- Tap Fundi
- Select Notifications
- Disable or customize them by category
On iPhone (iOS):
- Go to Settings > Notifications
- Find and tap Fundi
- Toggle off Allow Notifications, or customize alert style and sounds
Things to Consider Before Disabling Notifications
- Payment Alerts Are Important: Turning off notifications may result in missing critical updates about payments or balance changes.
- You Might Miss Banking Detail Upload Failures: Real-time alerts often inform users when uploads fail.
- Re-enabling Later Is Easy: You can always go back and turn notifications back on when needed.
Conclusion
Real-time notifications in the Fundi app can be extremely helpful, but they’re not for everyone.
Thankfully, the app and your device both give you tools to manage what types of alerts you receive and when.
If you’re someone who values peace and quiet, or you just want to limit distractions while studying, following the steps in this post will help you take control of your notification settings.
Tip: Always ensure your Fundi app is updated to the latest version to access the most recent notification control features rolled out in 2025.