The 20Twenty Financial Solutions is shaking up the domestic home loan market by addressing what the company describes as a critical gap in the housing market. 

The wholly owned Namibian company is regulated primarily by the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), under whose framework it operates, as it raises capital through listed investment instruments. 

“Our home loan is structured as a fixed affordability loan in contrast to the fixed-term loans typically offered in the market. What this means is that the repayment instalment is set as a consistent, affordable percentage of the client’s income, rather than fixed as a nominal amount over a set term,” said Nadja Dobberstein, head of marketing at 20Twenty Financial Solutions. 

This unique home loan structure means that, as a client’s salary increases with inflation or annual adjustments, the instalment increases proportionally. 

This mechanism accelerates repayment, shortens the term of the loan, and generates significant savings in the total cost of ownership. 

In practice, this means clients can achieve full ownership much sooner without stretching their disposable income.

“Importantly, this product design also allows access for lower-salaried individuals, provided they meet our affordability and responsibility criteria. This is reflected in the fact that 35% of our clients are new homeowners, people who might otherwise have remained long-term tenants,” Dobberstein stated. 

She added: “Currently, our product is offered only for primary residences, which positions us as a niche player that broadens the industry’s reach rather than competing directly with established banks. For investors, 20Twenty also represents a low-risk, measurable social impact investment with predictable returns, creating alignment between client benefit and investor value”. 

In response to New Era queries, Dobberstein said that 20Twenty views its product as complementary to the existing home loan industry. 

“Our solution focuses on a segment of the market that is often underserved by traditional service providers: individuals with stable incomes and financial discipline who are excluded by conventional affordability assessments. By enabling more people to transition from renting to owning, we are addressing a critical housing gap in Namibia,” Dobberstein stated. 

She pointed out that between 2002 and 2023, Namibia’s housing index increased by 63%, while inflation rose by only 34%. 

This widening gap highlights the housing shortfall as a root cause of many social challenges in the economy. 

“At 20Twenty Financial Solutions, it is in our heart to contribute to the solution by expanding access to housing finance and supporting greater financial inclusion. Our target market is salaried individuals who aspire to own their own home, want to live within their means, and are committed to repaying their loan efficiently in order to enjoy the freedom of full ownership sooner,” she elaborated. 

Founded in February 2020, 20Twenty secured its first investment in July 2022 and advanced its first home loan in August 2022. 

Since then, the company has invested N$375 million in its housing solution, which has been fully deployed for its intended purpose, namely to provide access to sustainable, affordable homeownership. 

Said Dobberstein: “We are a Namibian-owned entity, run by a lean, specialist team supported by a network of financial, legal and operational experts”. 

Meanwhile, 20Twenty does not take deposits from the public, and has had its non-banking status confirmed by the Bank of Namibia. 

Commenting on service received from 20Twenty, one approved client, preferring anonymity, noted: Since I joined 20Twenty, it has definitely given me breathing space in terms of my finances – that I cannot deny. It’s a product that most should consider”. 

The client, however, raised concern regarding what he called “a grey area”, which he said entails an increase in monthly payments to keep up to the payment terms. 

“This aspect of the agreement could be better explained, particularly to those of us who are not all the way financially literate,” said the client. 

Another client said she was initially quite sceptical about the service and did not think it could offer much value. 

“But I decided to register our company with them – and to my surprise, the onboarding process was seamless. After submitting all the required documents, we were approved within a week. The new premium calculations on my home bond came in nearly N$9 000 lower than my previous monthly premium. This significant reduction allowed me to comfortably budget for a second vehicle in our household, which has made life easier, especially for my daughter, who now drives herself to university,” the client said. 

Also preferring anonymity, she testified that what truly impressed her was the prospect of settling her bond in fewer years than originally planned. 

“That sense of financial relief and long-term satisfaction is something I didn’t expect, but deeply appreciate. I highly recommend 20Twenty to anyone even if just to request a quote. You might be surprised by how much you can save and how quickly you can reduce your repayment term compared to traditional criteria,” said the client.