User Manual v1.0

VantageCoop Platform

Complete guide for Members and Vendors — everything you need to make the most of your cooperative or investment experience.

Platform Roles

Members

Individuals participating in cooperatives or investment houses. Access loans, marketplace, investments, and contribution tracking.

Loans Marketplace Investments Savings

Vendors

Business sellers managing products and fulfilling customer orders through the cooperative marketplace.

Products Orders Analytics Wallet

Organization Categories

Organization Type Primary Focus Available Features
Cooperative Savings, loans, and mutual aid Loans, contributions, target savings
Investment House Investment opportunities Special investments, investment portfolio

Quick Navigation

Member Dashboard

Overview and quick access to all features

Navigate to your dashboard by logging in as a member. The dashboard type adapts based on your organization type.

Dashboard Features

Account Balance

Quick view of your current balance at a glance.

Recent Activity

Latest transactions, notifications, and account events.

Quick Actions

Shortcuts: Apply for Loan, Browse Marketplace, and more.

Account Status

Current KYC status, pending approvals, or account alerts.

Dashboard by Organization Type

Cooperative

Loans-Focused Dashboard

  • • Loan application shortcuts
  • • Repayment tracking widget
  • • Contribution summary
  • • Guarantor request alerts
Investment House

Investments-Focused Dashboard

  • • Special investment opportunities
  • • Portfolio performance
  • • Dividend payment dates
  • • Investment growth tracking

Reading your balances

Wallet balance

Money you can spend now — on the marketplace, on airtime, or towards a savings plan.

Savings

What the cooperative holds for you from contributions and investments. Not directly spendable.

These are different things

A contribution moves money out of your wallet and into your savings. Your wallet goes down while your savings go up — nothing has been lost.

Recent transactions

The dashboard shows your latest entries with a green plus for money in and a red minus for money out. Use View All to open the full transactions page, where you can filter and export.

Loans Management

Apply, track, and repay loans

Navigate to Members › Loans in the sidebar menu to access the loans section.

Applying for a Loan

1
Start Application

Click "Apply for Loan" on the dashboard or loans page and select the desired loan product.

2
Loan Details

Enter loan amount, select term duration, review calculated interest and total repayment amount.

3
Purpose & Terms

State the loan purpose, review and accept terms, confirm your understanding of the repayment schedule.

4
Guarantor Selection

Select active members in good standing as guarantors. The system sends requests to selected guarantors.

5
Review & Submit

Review all information, submit application, receive confirmation and reference number.

Loan Information Displayed

Loan Amount
Total borrowed
Interest Rate
Applicable rate
Loan Status
Current stage of the loan

Loan Status Reference

StatusWhat it means for you
PendingSubmitted and waiting to be looked at
Under ReviewAn administrator is assessing it
Guarantor Approval PendingWaiting for your guarantors to accept — chase them if it is taking time
ApprovedAgreed, but the funds have not been released yet
DisbursedRecorded in the cooperative's books, awaiting release
ActiveReleased — your repayments are running
CompletedFully repaid, nothing further owed
RejectedDeclined at review — the reason is shown
CancelledWithdrawn before the funds were released
DefaultedRepayments missed beyond what your cooperative allows
Written OffRecovery stopped and removed from the active books
Approved is not the same as paid

Approval agrees the loan; release is a separate step by your cooperative. The money reaches you through their normal payment process, so your wallet balance does not change when the loan is released — the loan and its repayment schedule are recorded on your account.

Guarantor System

Support other members' loan applications

As a guarantor you agree to back the loan obligation if the borrower defaults. Funds are reserved against the guarantee.

Guarantor Requirements

Must be an active member in good standing
Must have sufficient account balance
Must not have active defaults or serious violations
Must explicitly accept the guarantor request

Guarantor Request Tabs

TabDescription
PendingAwaiting your validation and decision
ActiveAccepted guarantees currently in effect
CompletedSuccessfully repaid guarantees
DeclinedRequests you rejected

Guarantor Status Reference

StatusMeaning
PendingYou have been asked, and have not yet responded
Code GeneratedA validation code has been issued to confirm it is really you
ApprovedYou accepted — the loan can proceed
DeclinedYou refused the request
ExpiredThe request timed out before you responded
ReleasedThe loan was repaid — your obligation has ended
LiableThe borrower defaulted and you may be called on
Understand what you are agreeing to

Standing as guarantor is a real commitment. If the borrower stops repaying, your status becomes Liable and the cooperative may recover from you. Only accept for someone whose circumstances you know.

Your obligation ends automatically

When the loan is fully repaid your status moves to Released. You do not have to do anything to be let off — but it is worth checking the tab occasionally to confirm.

Marketplace & Shopping

Browse, cart, and order from partner vendors

Navigate to Members › Marketplace to access the member shopping experience.

Checkout Process

1
Review Order

Confirm all items, quantities, total price including shipping and taxes.

2
Payment Details

Choose from account balance, bank transfer, or card payment (if enabled).

3
Delivery Information

Confirm address, select delivery date preference, add special instructions.

4
Order Confirmation

Submit order and receive your unique order confirmation number.

Order Status Reference

StatusMeaning
PendingPlaced, not yet picked up by the vendor
ProcessingThe vendor has begun working on it
ConfirmedAccepted by the vendor
PreparingBeing packed
Ready to ShipPacked and awaiting dispatch
ShippedOn its way to you
DeliveredReceived
CancelledStopped before delivery
RefundedMoney returned to you

Wishlist and cart

Wishlist

Save items you are considering. Nothing is reserved — a wishlisted item can still sell out.

Cart

Items you intend to buy now. Quantities are checked against stock again at checkout.

Delivery codes

Where your cooperative uses them, a code is shown on the order. Give it to the person delivering only when you actually have the goods — it is what confirms handover.

Buying on credit

Some cooperatives allow marketplace purchases funded by a loan. That order also creates a loan you repay on the agreed schedule, so it appears under both My Orders and Loans.

Special Investments

For Investment House members

Available exclusively for Investment House members. Navigate to Members › Special Investments.
Investment Cards Show
  • • Expected annual return rate
  • • Investment period
  • • Minimum investment amount
  • • Number of current investors
  • • Total capital raised
My Investments Summary
  • • Total invested across all opportunities
  • • Total expected returns
  • • Total returned to date
  • • Next dividend/interest date
  • • Portfolio health status

Making an Investment

1
Amount Selection

Enter desired amount — must meet minimum and not exceed maximum. Review minimum returns calculation.

2
Review Terms

Confirm investment period, understand lock-in restrictions, review payment schedule.

3
Confirmation

Review investment summary and confirm terms and conditions.

4
Completion

Receive investment confirmation and reference number. View first payment date.

Topping up an investment

If a scheme is still inside its funding window you can add to an investment you already hold. Open it from My Investments, choose to top up, enter the additional amount and confirm. Your stake and its current value both increase.

Once the window closes

Top-ups are no longer accepted. The scheme still runs and you still receive your share of any profit, but you cannot add to your stake.

Profit and withdrawal

1
Profit is declared

Your cooperative declares a return and shares it across investors by stake. Your share appears on your transactions.

2
Request a withdrawal

Submit a request with a reason. It sits as Pending until an administrator reviews it.

3
Approval and payment

Once approved it is recorded on your account and paid to you through your cooperative's normal payout process.

These do not land in your wallet

Profit shares and approved withdrawals are recorded against your account, not credited to your spendable wallet balance. Check your transactions to confirm the entry, then expect payment through your cooperative's usual method.

Contributions & Savings

Track your cooperative contributions and savings goals

Contribution Types

Regular Contributions

Ongoing periodic contributions — monthly or quarterly.

Special Contributions

One-time or irregular contribution payments.

Savings

Voluntary personal savings kept in your account.

Target Savings

Goal-based savings with a target amount and date.

Creating a Savings Goal

1
Name your goal

E.g. "Emergency Fund" or "Home Renovation".

2
Set target amount & date

Define how much you want to save and by when.

3
Configure regular savings

Optionally set automatic recurring savings contributions.

4
Activate & track

Monitor progress, add ad-hoc contributions, view completion timeline.

Account & Profile

Manage your personal information and settings

Basic Information
  • • Full name & Member ID
  • • Date of birth & Gender
  • • Contact details (email, phone)
  • • Physical address
Account Settings
  • • Theme preference (light/dark)
  • • Notification preferences
  • • Two-factor authentication
  • • Default payment method

KYC Verification

KYC StatusMeaning
PendingDocuments under review
VerifiedApproved — all features available
RejectedDocuments invalid — resubmission required
Password should be at least 8 characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. Change every 3–6 months.

Completing KYC

1
Enter your identity details

Your BVN and NIN, as held by the issuing bodies.

2
Upload the documents requested

Clear, uncropped images. Blurred or partial photographs are the most common reason for rejection.

3
Submit and wait for review

Your status shows Pending while an administrator checks it.

4
Resubmit if rejected

The reason is given. Correct it and submit again — there is no limit on attempts.

Why identity numbers appear masked

Once saved, your BVN and NIN are shown only partially. This is deliberate — it confirms the record is on file without exposing the full number on screen.

Until KYC is verified

Some features stay locked. If a loan application or withdrawal is unavailable, check your KYC status first — it is the usual cause.

Dashboard & Analytics

Your storefront at a glance

The dashboard is the first thing you see when you sign in. It answers three questions: what needs my attention, how am I trading, and how much money do I have.

The summary cards

Wallet balance

What is available to you right now. Money still held against unsettled orders is not counted here.

Orders

How many orders you have, and how many are waiting on you to act.

Products

How many you have listed, and how many are live and sellable.

Revenue

What you have earned over the period, with the trend against previous periods.

What to check daily

1
New orders

Anything Pending needs confirming so the buyer knows it is being handled.

2
Stock levels

Products that have sold out stop appearing to buyers until restocked.

3
Payouts released

Confirm settled orders have paid through to your wallet.

Why revenue and wallet balance differ

Revenue counts sales you have made. Your wallet holds only what has actually been released after settlement, less any commission. A gap between the two is normal and usually means orders are still inside their settlement window.

Product Management

Create, edit, and manage your product catalog

Creating a New Product

1
Basic Information

Product name, description, short description, SKU, and category.

2
Product Images

Upload up to 5+ images, set thumbnail, add alt text, drag to reorder.

3
Pricing & Stock

Set cost price, selling price, compare-at price, stock quantity, and reorder point.

4
Product Details

Weight, dimensions, specifications, materials, care instructions, warranty.

5
Categorization

Primary/secondary categories, search tags, collection assignment.

6
Shipping & Delivery

Shipping category, weight, restrictions, estimated delivery time, free shipping toggle.

7
Publishing

Submit the product for review. It stays Pending and hidden from members until your cooperative approves it.

Product Status Reference

StatusVisibilityWhat to do
PendingHidden until approvedWait for your cooperative to review it
ApprovedVisible to membersNothing — it is live and sellable
RejectedHiddenRead the reason, correct it and resubmit
Sold OutHidden from buyersRestock to bring it back
ExpiredHiddenPast its listing period — relist if still selling it

Order Management

Fulfill, track, and communicate customer orders

Order Fulfillment Steps

1
Review Order

Check all order details and customer information.

2
Verify Inventory

Confirm all items are in stock and available to ship.

3
Pick & Pack

Pick items, package securely, add packing slip.

4
Mark Processing

Update order status to "Processing" in the system.

5
Ship & Add Tracking

Enter tracking number and carrier; customer is notified automatically.

6
Mark Delivered

Confirm delivery. This starts the settlement clock — funds reach your wallet once that window passes.

Order Status Reference

StatusWhat it means for you
PendingNew order — confirm it so the buyer knows you have it
ProcessingYou have started work on it
ConfirmedAccepted and committed
PreparingBeing packed
Ready to ShipPacked, awaiting dispatch
ShippedDispatched to the buyer
DeliveredReceived — this starts the settlement clock
CancelledStopped before delivery
RefundedMoney returned to the buyer
Keep the status current

Buyers are notified as the status changes, and it is the first thing an administrator looks at when a buyer queries an order. An order left on Pending after you have shipped it causes avoidable disputes.

Delivery affects when you are paid

Settlement is counted from delivery. Marking an order delivered promptly is what starts the clock on your payout.

Financial Management

Wallet, transfers, and transaction history

Wallet balance = your available earnings. Funds are added when orders are completed/delivered. Deductions apply for fees or refunds.

Fund Transfer Process

1
Bank Account Setup

Ensure a verified bank account is registered under Bank Details.

2
Initiate Transfer

Click "Request Withdrawal", select bank account, enter amount.

3
Review

Confirm amount, applicable fees, expected arrival time, bank account accuracy.

4
Submit

Submit request; receive confirmation number and estimated delivery date.

5
Processing

Typically 1–3 business days. Notification sent when funds arrive in your bank.

Weekend or public holiday transfers may experience delays. Always confirm bank account details before submitting.

Available versus held

You can only move money that has actually been released. Amounts still held against orders inside their settlement window are shown but cannot be withdrawn until those payouts are paid.

Withdrawing to your bank

1
Check your bank details

Withdrawals go to the account saved in your settings.

2
Enter the amount

It must be within your available balance.

3
Confirm and track it

History shows the request and its status until it is processed.

Transfers

A transfer moves money to another account on the platform rather than to a bank. Add a remark so the entry is recognisable later — both sides are recorded immediately.

Account & Onboarding

Complete setup to activate your vendor store

1
Payment Setup

Configure billing, agree to payment terms, provide tax information if required.

2
Password Configuration

Set a secure password (min 8 chars, mixed case, numbers, special characters).

3
KYC Verification

Upload government ID, proof of address, business registration, and tax ID.

4
Pending Approval

Admins review all information. Approval typically within 24–48 hours. Notified when approved.

Once approved, your store becomes active. You can start listing products and receiving orders immediately.

What you need before you start

Business details

Trading name, contact email and phone, and your address.

Identity documents

Your BVN and NIN, plus any documents your cooperative asks for.

Bank account

Where withdrawals will be paid. The account name should match your registered name.

A password of your own

You will be asked to replace the one you were issued.

Until onboarding is approved

Your account shows as pending and you cannot list products or receive orders. If it is taking longer than expected, check whether any document was rejected — the reason is shown against it.

Get the bank details right first time

These are what your payouts are sent to. A withdrawal to a wrong account number is difficult to recover, and your cooperative may require verification before your first payout.

Notifications

Staying informed with real-time alerts

NotificationTrigger
Loan ApprovalLoan application approved
Loan DisbursementLoan funds transferred
Repayment ReminderUpcoming payment due
Guarantor RequestYou're requested as guarantor
Order ConfirmationOrder placed and confirmed
Order ShippedOrder in transit
Order DeliveredOrder delivered to you
Payment ProcessedTransaction completed
Account AlertNew login, profile change, etc.

Airtime Services

Purchase mobile airtime for any network

1
Select Network Provider

Choose from available major telecom networks in your region.

2
Enter Phone Number

The number to recharge — can be your own or someone else's.

3
Select Amount

Choose from available denominations or promotional bundles.

4
Confirm & Pay

Review total, confirm payment method, complete purchase.

5
Receive Confirmation

Airtime delivered instantly with a transaction reference.

Access Airtime from Members › Airtime or Vendors › Airtime. View full purchase history under Airtime › Records.

Transaction Status Reference

StatusMeaningWhat happens next
SuccessfulThe top-up reached the phoneNothing — it is done
PendingStill with the networkChecked again automatically; your money is held, not lost
FailedThe network rejected itRefunded to your wallet automatically
Before reporting a problem

Check the record first. A failed purchase is refunded without you doing anything, and a pending one is re-checked on its own. Open the transaction to see the network's own reference and message.

Commission

Some cooperatives pay a small commission back on airtime and data. Where that applies it appears as a separate credit on your transactions, shortly after the purchase.

Bank Details Management

Add and manage bank accounts for transfers

Required Information

Bank Name
Account Number (10-digit)
Account Holder Name (exact)
Account Type (Savings/Current)
Bank Code / Routing Number
Branch Name (if required)
Account numbers are partially masked (e.g., ****1234) for security. Never share bank details via email or message. Report suspicious activity immediately.

Adding an account

1
Select your bank

Choose from the list rather than typing it.

2
Enter the account number

Check it digit by digit before saving.

3
Confirm the account name

It should match the name on your account with the cooperative.

Check carefully before saving

This is where your money is sent. A payment to a wrong but valid account number is difficult to recover, and your cooperative may not be able to reverse it.

Changing details later

You can update them at any time, but a change may need to be verified before the next payout. Update well before you expect money, not on the day.

My Transactions

Every payment recorded on your account

Your complete history of money moving in and out — contributions, loan repayments, purchases, dividends and anything else your cooperative has recorded against your name.

Reading the list

Green, with a plus sign

Money coming in — your balance went up.

Red, with a minus sign

Money going out — a contribution, repayment or purchase.

Tap any row to expand it. You will see the reference number, payment method, bank, who processed it, and your balance immediately afterwards — useful when quoting a transaction to your administrator.

Finding a specific transaction

FilterWhat it does
SearchMatches description, reference, payment method, teller name or bank
Payment ModeWallet, Bank Transfer, Source Deduction, Direct Deposit, Manual Credit and others
StatusActive, Completed, Reversed or Inactive
Start / End DateEither one works alone — set only a start date to see everything since then
Per PageShow 10, 20 or 50 records at a time
ClearAppears once a filter is active, and resets everything
Tip

Results are paged. If you cannot find an older transaction, move to a later page or raise Per Page — the newest entries appear first.

Other tabs

Wallet History

Only movements of your wallet balance, filterable by increase or decrease.

Owes

Anything outstanding against your account, with your monthly obligation.

Exporting

Use Export for a spreadsheet of the transactions currently loaded — date, reference, description, method, type, amount and status. A PDF statement is also available for a chosen date range.

Target Savings

Save towards a specific goal

A target savings plan lets you set money aside for something specific — rent, school fees, a project — separately from your ordinary contributions.

Creating a plan

1
Name the goal

Give it a title you will recognise later.

2
Set target amount and date

How much you want to save, and by when.

3
Choose the frequency

How often you add to it, and whether it is deducted automatically.

4
Save and track

Progress is shown against the target. Open the plan to see every deposit.

Withdrawing

Request a withdrawal from the plan. Your administrator reviews and processes it.

Withdrawing early may attract a penalty

The rate is set by your cooperative and shown before you confirm. The penalty is recorded as a separate line so you can see exactly what was deducted.

How you receive the money

An approved withdrawal is recorded against your account, and paid to you by your cooperative through its normal payout process rather than landing in your wallet.

Security & Settings

Protecting your account

Change password

Under Settings → Password. Enter your current password, then the new one twice.

Two-factor authentication

Settings → Two-Factor. Once on, a code is required at each sign-in as well as your password.

Devices and sessions

Settings → Security lists what is signed in. Sign out anything you do not recognise, then change your password.

Monthly savings amount

Settings → Savings sets what you commit to save each month. It applies to future deductions only.

Password re-confirmation

Some sensitive actions ask for your password again even while signed in. This is deliberate, and protects your account if a device is left unattended.

Activities

A record of what has happened on your account

The activity log shows actions taken on your account — by you, and by administrators acting on your behalf. Use it to confirm when something was done and by whom.

Each entry records what happened, when, and whether it succeeded. Sign-ins, profile changes, loan submissions and payment postings all appear here.

Payouts

How and when you get paid for sales

When a member buys from you, the money is not released immediately. It is held until the order is settled, then paid into your vendor wallet as a payout.

Payout Status Reference

StatusMeaning
PendingOrder placed but not yet settled — the amount is reserved for you
ProcessingSettlement window has passed and the payout is being released
PaidThe amount is in your vendor wallet and available

What each payout shows

Order

The sale it relates to, so you can trace it back.

Amounts

Gross, any commission deducted, and your net.

Release date

When it was paid into your wallet.

Commission

Your cooperative may retain a marketplace commission before paying you. The rate is set by the cooperative, and the deduction is always shown so your net is clear.

Transactions

Everything that has moved through your account

The transactions area is split into tabs so you can look at one kind of activity at a time.

Overview

Totals across everything — what has come in, gone out, and your current position.

Wallet

Movements of your wallet balance, each with the balance immediately afterwards.

Airtime & Data

Every airtime and data sale you have processed, with status and commission.

Payouts

Sales payouts only — useful when reconciling against your own records.

Green entries with a plus sign are money in; red entries with a minus sign are money out. Open any row for its reference number and full detail.

Reconciling your own records

1
Start from Payouts

Match released payouts against the orders you fulfilled.

2
Check the commission

Gross less commission should equal the net that reached your wallet.

3
Explain any gap with Wallet

Withdrawals, transfers and airtime purchases also move your balance.

Every row has a reference

Open a transaction to see its reference number. Quote that when raising anything with your cooperative — it identifies the entry precisely.

Activity Logs

Keeping track of what happened

A record of actions on your vendor account — sign-ins, product changes, withdrawals and profile updates — each with the time and whether it succeeded.

Useful for confirming when something was done, and by whom, if a figure or a change is ever queried.

Organization Admin

Running your cooperative day to day

As an organization administrator you manage the members, money and settings of your own cooperative. What you can see and do depends on the role you have been given.

What you manage
  • • Members, vendors and fellow administrators
  • • Loans, contributions, savings and investments
  • • The marketplace and its settlements
  • • Your books and financial statements
  • • Organization settings and your public site
What you cannot do
  • • See or change another cooperative's data
  • • Alter platform-wide settings
  • • Bypass permissions set by your own role
Everything is recorded

Administrative actions are written to the activity log with your name against them — including attempts that were refused. This protects you as much as the cooperative.

Members & Registrations

Your membership, from application to active account

The members list

Each card shows the member's name, email, savings and join date. Search by name, username, email, phone, wallet number or employee number.

The Savings figure

This is the member's contributions plus their ordinary investments, calculated from posted payments. Target savings and special investments are tracked separately in their own areas.

Adding members

One at a time

Enter their details and the account is created. The password is generated and sent to them.

Bulk import

Download the template, fill it in, upload and review before confirming. Import history keeps every run.

Registrations

QueueWhat to do
PendingReview the application and supporting details, then approve or reject
RejectedPreviously declined applications — can be reverted to pending if declined in error

A member's record

Opening a member gives you tabs for their overview, orders, loans, investments, contributions, special investments and savings — everything about them in one place.

Funding a member's wallet by hand

This is deliberately separated from editing a member: it needs its own permission, asks for your password again, requires a reason and category, and is capped per transaction and per day. Both the member and your fellow administrators are notified.

Posting of Payment

Record a month of member payments at once

This is how most cooperatives record a monthly cycle — contributions, loan repayments, investments and savings for many members in one run, rather than one at a time.

Creating a schedule

1
Choose the period

The month and year the posting covers.

2
Choose what is being posted

Contribution, investment, dividend, special investment, or a credit to member wallets.

3
Choose the funding mode

Deduct from the organization wallet, or post manually as a book entry.

4
Add the members and amounts

Enter them, or upload a prepared list.

5
Review, then disburse

Check the member count and grand total against your own records first.

Backdating is normal here

A posting for January is dated January even if you run it in March. Members will find those entries under January on their statements, not on today's date — so if a member says a payment is "missing", check the period it was posted for.

After disbursing

Open the posting to see each member line and whether it succeeded. Any line that failed shows the reason so you can correct it and re-run just that item.

Accounting

The books behind every transaction

Every payment recorded anywhere in the system also writes a proper double-entry to your books. This area is where you set up and inspect them.

Chart of Account

Your list of accounts, grouped into five classes:

Assets
Liabilities
Income
Expense
Equity

Two accounts matter more than the rest: the one holding member wallet balances, and the one holding your cooperative's own funds. Head of Account defines the groupings above individual accounts, which determine how they roll up into your statements.

General Ledger

Every entry that has hit a given account, in date order, with a running balance. Choose the account and the period. This is where you answer "what made this balance what it is?"

Posting of Account

For entries the system cannot raise on its own — corrections, opening balances, adjustments. Choose the accounts to debit and credit, enter the amount and a narration.

Entries must balance

Total debits must equal total credits before a manual entry can be saved. Entries are dated to the period they belong to, which may not be today.

Financial Statements & Analytics

Trial balance, balance sheet, profit & loss and in-flows

Trial Balance

Every account with its debit and credit totals. The two columns should agree — if they do not, investigate before relying on the other statements.

Balance Sheet

What the cooperative owns and owes at a chosen date, with retained earnings carried forward.

Profit & Loss

Income against expenses for a period, ending in the surplus or deficit.

Choosing a period

Run by year, by month within a year, or over a custom range. A custom range must fall inside a single calendar year — run each year separately if you need to compare. Final Account brings the year's figures into the closing position.

In-Flows Analytics

A breakdown of money flowing into the cooperative by source, period and member — so you can see which streams are growing and which have stalled. Everything can be exported for a board pack.

Savings & Investments

Contributions, target savings and special investment schemes

Investments & Contributions

A cooperative-wide view of member contributions and ordinary investments, with totals across all members and per member, and a period-by-period history so you can confirm a month was captured for everyone.

Target Savings

Every plan across your membership, with the member, goal, target amount, progress and target date. Withdrawal requests arrive here as pending.

1
Review the request

The amount, the reason, and whether it is early.

2
Check the penalty

If early, it is calculated at your configured rate and shown before you approve.

3
Approve or decline

Approving records the payout and closes the plan down accordingly.

Special Investments

Create a scheme with its target, minimum investment, risk level and funding window, then publish it for members. While it runs you can see who has invested, approve investments, declare profit and share it by stake, and handle withdrawal requests.

How members receive money

Declared profit and approved withdrawals are recorded against each member's account. Payment is made through your cooperative's normal payout process rather than landing in their wallet.

Marketplace Operations

Vendors, products, orders, payouts and settlements

Vendors

Onboard vendors, review their details, and see their products and sales.

Products

Everything listed, with the ability to review or remove an item.

Orders

Move orders through processing, shipping and delivery, or cancel them.

Payouts

What is owed to vendors and what has been released, with commission shown.

Settlements

Settlement controls the delay between a sale and the vendor being paid. That window gives you time to handle disputes and returns before money leaves. Categories let you apply different terms to different vendors or product types.

Buying on credit

Where enabled, a member can buy on credit and the order creates a loan they repay on schedule. Those orders appear both here and under Loans.

Product Status Reference

StatusMeaning
PendingSubmitted by a vendor, awaiting your review
ApprovedLive and visible to members
RejectedDeclined — the vendor is told why
Sold OutStock exhausted; hidden until restocked
ExpiredPast its listing period

Handling a disputed order

1
Open the order

Check its status history and whether a delivery code was used.

2
Check the settlement window

If the payout has not yet been released, you still have room to resolve it before money leaves.

3
Cancel or refund

Both are recorded against the order and appear on the member's transactions.

Settings, Access & Identity

Administrators, roles, modules, subscription and your public site

Admins & Roles

Add colleagues as administrators, each with their own sign-in so actions are traceable. A role is a named bundle of permissions — "Loan Officer", "Accountant" — assigned once and applied to everyone who holds it.

PermissionAllows
ViewSee the records in that area
CreateAdd new records
UpdateChange existing records
DeleteRemove records
Some actions are kept separate

Crediting a member's wallet by hand has its own permission, distinct from editing a member, because it moves money rather than data. A role can also be saved with no permissions at all — useful for suspending access without deleting it.

Modules

Switch whole areas on or off — contributions, loans, marketplace, airtime, target savings, self-registration — so members only see what applies. Turning a module off hides it but does not delete existing records.

Subscription & Organization Wallet

Your organization wallet holds the cooperative's own funds, separate from member wallets. It pays for your subscription and funds monthly postings when you deduct from the organization wallet. Top it up by transfer or card, then verify the payment.

Keep the subscription current

If it lapses, access is restricted until renewed. Auto-renew avoids this — and a failed renewal is usually an unfunded wallet rather than a payment problem.

Launch Organ Identity

Build a public website for your cooperative: pick a theme and apply your branding, create pages, edit them visually without coding, collect enquiries as leads, and point your own domain at it. Pages keep revisions so you can go back to an earlier version.

Building your pages

The page builder works by dragging blocks onto the page — headings, text, images, buttons, forms, galleries and sections. Select any block to change its wording, colours, spacing and links from a side panel. Nothing needs to be written in code.

Preview before publishing

See the page as visitors will, on desktop and on a phone, before it goes live.

Revisions

Every save keeps a version. If a change does not work out, restore an earlier one.

Enquiries become leads

A contact form on a published page feeds the Leads list, so enquiries do not sit in an inbox unattended.

Loans Administration

Loan types, applications, approvals and recovery

Loan Types

Before members can apply, define the products you offer. Each loan type sets the rules the application is checked against.

Amounts

The minimum and maximum a member may request under this type.

Interest

The rate applied, and how it is calculated over the term.

Repayment period

The shortest and longest terms allowed, in months.

Guarantor requirement

Whether guarantors are needed, and how many.

The four queues

QueueWhat it holds
Loan RequestsNew applications waiting for your decision
Loan ListsEvery loan, at any stage, with its balance and repayment progress
Rejected LoansDeclined applications, kept for reference
Loan TypesThe products you offer, as above

Loan Status Reference

StatusMeaning
PendingSubmitted, awaiting first review
Under ReviewBeing assessed by an administrator
Guarantor Approval PendingWaiting for guarantors to accept
ApprovedAgreed, but funds not yet released
DisbursedAccounting recognised — awaiting release of funds
ActiveFunds released, repayments running
CompletedFully repaid
RejectedDeclined at review
CancelledWithdrawn before disbursement
DefaultedRepayments missed beyond the agreed tolerance
Written OffRecovery abandoned and removed from active books

Approving and releasing

1
Review the application

Amount, purpose, term, the member's contribution history and existing loans.

2
Confirm guarantors

Where required, guarantors must accept before the loan can proceed.

3
Approve, then disburse

Disbursement is accounting recognition — it records the obligation.

4
Release the funds

A separate, deliberate step. The loan then becomes Active and repayments begin.

Disbursement and release are two steps

This is intentional. Disbursing recognises the loan in your books; releasing records that the member has been paid. The money reaches the member through your cooperative's normal payment process, so their wallet balance does not change when you release.

Repayments

Repayments are usually collected through the monthly Posting of Payment run, or deducted at source. Each loan shows what has been repaid, what remains, and whether any instalment is late.

Airtime & Data Oversight

Top-up activity across your members and vendors

Every airtime and data purchase made in your cooperative, with the network, number, amount, commission and outcome.

Filter by status

Find anything pending or failed quickly.

Re-check a transaction

Query the network again if a member disputes a top-up.

Commission earned

Split between the member or vendor and the cooperative.

Before escalating a complaint

Failed purchases are refunded automatically, so a member reporting a failure has usually already been refunded. Check the record first — the network's own reference and message are shown on the transaction.

Activity Logs

Who did what, and when

A complete record of actions taken in your cooperative — by members and by administrators. This is your audit trail when a figure is queried or something needs explaining.

RecordedDetail
WhoThe member or administrator who performed the action
WhenDate and time
OutcomeWhether it succeeded, and the reason if it did not
What changedBefore and after values, where relevant
Refused attempts are logged too

A blocked attempt to credit a wallet leaves the same trail as a successful one — including why it was refused. This protects administrators as much as the cooperative.

Accessing Your Account

Signing in, registering and recovering access

Registering

1
Fill in your details

Name, email, phone and the cooperative you are joining.

2
Verify your email

A code is sent to the address you gave. Enter it to confirm the address is yours.

3
Wait for approval

Your cooperative reviews the application. Until then you see the Pending Approval screen.

4
Complete your profile

Once approved, finish KYC and add your bank details to unlock everything.

Registration may be turned off

Some cooperatives add members themselves rather than letting people apply. If you cannot register, ask your administrator to create your account — you will be sent sign-in details.

Signing in for the first time

If an administrator created your account, you receive a generated password. You are asked to replace it the first time you sign in — choose something only you know.

Forgotten password

1
Choose “Forgot password”

Enter the email address on your account.

2
Enter the code sent to you

Codes expire, so use it promptly. Request another if it lapses.

3
Set a new password

You are signed in once it is saved.

Two-factor authentication

If you have turned it on, signing in asks for a code as well as your password. Keep access to the address or device the code goes to — without it you cannot sign in.

Belonging to more than one cooperative

Each cooperative is a separate account

If you are a member of several, you switch between them from the account selector. Your wallet, savings, loans and transactions are held separately for each one — a balance in one is not available in another.

If a figure looks wrong

Check which cooperative you are viewing first. It is the most common reason a balance or transaction appears to be missing.

Account Status Reference

StatusWhat it means
Pending ApprovalApplication submitted, awaiting your cooperative's review
ActiveApproved — full access, subject to KYC
Inactive / SuspendedAccess blocked; contact your administrator

Wallet & Funding

Your spendable balance and how to top it up

Your wallet holds money you can spend now — on the marketplace, on airtime and data, or towards a savings plan. It is separate from your savings, which the cooperative holds for you.

Topping up

Card or online transfer

Enter an amount and pay through the payment page. Your wallet is credited once the payment is confirmed.

Bank transfer to your account number

Some cooperatives give each member a dedicated account number. Transfers into it credit your wallet automatically.

If a top-up does not show

1
Refresh and check your transactions

Confirmation can take a moment. The credit appears on your transactions page.

2
Use Verify Payment

Enter the reference from your payment. This re-checks it with the provider and applies it if it went through.

3
Contact your administrator

Quote the payment reference. They can resolve it from their side.

Verifying twice is safe

A reference can only be applied once, so re-checking will never credit you twice.

What money enters your wallet

Top-ups you make, credits posted by your cooperative, airtime commission, and refunds. Loan releases, dividends, profit shares and savings withdrawals are recorded on your account but paid to you outside the system — they do not increase your wallet balance. If you expected one of those in your wallet, check your transactions: the entry will be there, and your cooperative pays it through its normal process.

Admin Dashboard

The health of your cooperative at a glance

Your landing page after signing in. It answers what needs attention today, and how the cooperative is performing.

The summary figures

Members

Total membership, and how many are active.

Savings & contributions

What the cooperative holds for its members in total.

Loans

Value outstanding, and how many are active or overdue.

Organization wallet

The cooperative's own balance — what funds postings and your subscription.

What needs attention

1
Pending registrations

Applicants waiting to be approved or rejected.

2
Loan requests

Applications awaiting a decision, and loans approved but not yet released.

3
Withdrawal requests

Target savings and special investment withdrawals waiting on you.

4
Wallet balance and subscription

Enough in the organization wallet for this month's postings, and a subscription that is not about to lapse.

What you see depends on your role

Figures and shortcuts for areas your role cannot view are hidden. If a colleague sees something you do not, it is a permissions difference rather than a fault.

Vendor Settings

Profile, bank details and security

My Profile

Your business name, contact details and photo. Members see this on your storefront and product listings, so keep it accurate — it is how buyers recognise you.

Bank Details

The account your withdrawals are paid into. Add the bank, account number and account name.

Check before saving

A withdrawal sent to a wrong but valid account number is difficult to recover. Update these well before you expect a payout, not on the day — a change may need verifying first.

Security

Password

Enter your current password, then the new one twice.

Two-factor

Adds a code at sign-in on top of your password.

Devices

See what is signed in; sign out anything unfamiliar.

Worth turning on

Your vendor wallet holds real balances and your bank details determine where money is sent. Two-factor authentication is strongly recommended.

Your Admin Account

Getting set up, and managing your own profile

Setting up a new cooperative

When your cooperative first joins, there is a short onboarding sequence before the platform is fully usable.

1
Change your password

Replace the one you were issued with something only you know.

2
Complete verification

Provide the identity and organization details asked for. Until this is done your account shows as pending.

3
Choose a subscription plan

Pay for it, or fund your organization wallet and let it draw from there. Verify the payment if you paid by card or transfer.

4
Configure your cooperative

Turn on the modules you use, set up your chart of accounts and loan types, then start adding members.

5
Invite your team

Create roles, then add fellow administrators against them.

Set up before you post

Loan types and your chart of accounts should be in place before the first monthly posting run. Correcting entries afterwards is far more work than configuring first.

Your profile

Your own name, contact details and photo. Colleagues see this against actions you take in the activity log, so keep it recognisable.

Notifications

You are alerted when something needs an administrator: a new registration, a loan request, a withdrawal request, a failed posting line, or a subscription about to lapse.

Manual wallet credits notify everyone

When any administrator credits a member's wallet by hand, every other coop administrator is notified as well as the member. This is deliberate — a credit only its author can see is not a controlled action.

Your security

Password

Change it from your settings at any time.

Two-factor

Strongly recommended — you can move members' money.

Devices

Sign out anything you do not recognise.

Password re-confirmation

Sensitive actions such as manually crediting a wallet ask for your password again, even though you are signed in. It is what stops an unattended session being used to move money.

Troubleshooting

Solutions to common issues

Members

Review the rejection reason in the notification, correct the required information, and resubmit your application. Contact support if the reason is unclear or you believe the rejection was in error.

Confirm the guarantor's contact details are correct in the system. Try resending the request or selecting a different guarantor. Ask the guarantor to check their notification settings and spam folder.

Check your order confirmation email for reference. Refresh the page and clear filters. Try adjusting the date range filter. Orders may take up to 24 hours to appear. Contact support with your order confirmation number if it still doesn't show.

Ensure documents are clear, current, and fully visible with no cut-off edges. Upload the correct document type as required. Verify that your personal information exactly matches what's on the documents. Resubmit if rejected and contact support for further guidance.

Vendors

Check for admin messages requesting corrections in your notifications. Update any flagged information and resubmit. If delayed more than 48 hours without communication, contact platform support with your product ID.

Verify bank account details are correct and the account is verified. Confirm you have sufficient wallet balance. Check that the transfer amount is within allowed limits. Correct the information and resubmit.

Wallet funds are added only when orders are completed/delivered. Refresh the page to sync your balance. Check for any pending transfers. Contact support with order details if balance is still incorrect after 24 hours.

General

Double-check your email and password. Use "Forgot Password" to reset via email link. Try incognito/private browsing mode or a different browser. Check if your account has restrictions. Contact support if all else fails.

Clear browser cookies and cache. Try incognito mode or a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Update your browser to the latest version. Disable browser extensions especially ad blockers. Check your internet connection stability.

When to Contact Support

  • Recurring errors that basic troubleshooting doesn't resolve
  • Suspected unauthorized access to your account
  • Discrepancies in transactions or wallet balance
  • Questions about account status or policy clarifications
In-app chat Email support Phone support Submit a ticket
VantageCoop Platform · User Manual v1.0 · Last Updated 2026