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v1.0 · Live course · Circl Academy

T1 Community Treasurer Certification

Status: v1.0 live. The entry-level Treasurer certification. On completion: manage 1 circle, up to 15 members.

Course at a glance

| Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Fee | GBP 25 one-time | | Format | Self-paced; 4-6 hours across multiple sessions | | Modules | Six | | Assessment | 5 scenario-based questions | | Pass mark | 80% (4 out of 5) | | Retake policy | Score 60-79%: retake after 7 days. Below 60%: revisit modules first. | | On completion | Manage 1 circle, up to 15 members | | Prerequisite for | T2 Intermediate Treasurer |

Module 1: Understanding Savings Circles

1.1 What is a savings circle?

A savings circle is an agreement between a group of people to contribute a fixed amount of money at regular intervals. Each period, one member receives the total contributions — called the "hand." The cycle continues until every member has received their hand. Then the cycle either ends or restarts.

This is the simplest financial arrangement in human history. No bank. No interest. No credit check. No application form. Just people who trust each other enough to pool their money and take turns.

A typical circle works like this:

Ten friends agree to contribute GBP 100 each per week. Every week, the group collects GBP 1,000. One member receives the full GBP 1,000. The following week, another member receives it. After ten weeks, every member has contributed GBP 1,000 and received GBP 1,000. Nobody has gained or lost money — but every member has had access to GBP 1,000 at a time when they might not have been able to save it alone.

This is the power of the circle. It is not a savings account. It is a commitment device — a social contract that makes saving easier because other people depend on you.

1.2 A tradition with many names

This practice exists in every culture that has ever formed a community. It predates banking by thousands of years. Across the world, it carries different names:

Caribbean: Pardna (Jamaica), Susu (Trinidad, Guyana), Box Hand (Barbados, Eastern Caribbean), Partner (various)

West Africa: Susu (Ghana), Ajo (Nigeria, Yoruba), Osusu (Nigeria, Igbo), Tontin (Senegal, West Africa), Djanggi (Cameroon)

East Africa: Chama (Kenya), Hagbad (Somalia), Ekub (Ethiopia), Likelembá (Democratic Republic of Congo)

South Asia: Chit Fund (India), Kameti (Pakistan), Dhukuti (Nepal)

Southeast Asia: Paluwagan (Philippines), Arisan (Indonesia), Hui (Vietnam)

Latin America: Tanda (Mexico), Juntas (Peru), Cundina (Mexico, alternative), Pandero (Peru, alternative)

Southern Africa: Stokvel (South Africa), Chiperegani (Malawi)

Middle East: Gameya (Egypt), Sanduk (Sudan, Arabic-speaking regions)

These are not variations of a Western financial product. Western banking is the variation. Community savings circles are the original.

1.3 Why circles work — the behavioural economics

A savings account lets you deposit when you feel like it. Most people do not feel like it often enough. A savings circle requires you to deposit on schedule because other people are counting on your contribution. Miss a payment and you do not just fail yourself — you fail your community.

This is called a "commitment device." The social pressure of the group makes saving automatic. Research consistently shows that people in savings circles save more consistently than people with individual savings accounts — not because the financial product is better, but because the social structure removes the option of skipping.

The circle also solves the "lumpy expenditure" problem. Many families need large sums occasionally (school fees, home repairs, medical bills, business stock) but earn small amounts regularly. A savings account accumulates slowly. A circle delivers a lump sum early in the cycle to some members and later to others. The member who receives in week 2 gets access to capital 8 weeks before they would have saved it individually.

1.4 Why formalisation matters

If circles already work, why does Circlworld exist?

Because circles work — but they are invisible. A woman who has contributed faithfully to a pardna for ten years has demonstrated extraordinary financial discipline. She has never missed a payment. She has honoured every commitment. She has managed money alongside others with perfect reliability.

When she walks into a bank and applies for a loan, none of that exists. The bank sees a thin file. No savings history. No credit signal. No evidence of the decade of discipline she has demonstrated every single week.

Circlworld makes that discipline visible. Every contribution is recorded. Every cycle is documented. Every payment is timestamped. The result is a Financial Reliability Record — a verified history of savings behaviour that proves to any institution what the community has always known: this person keeps their word.

Formalisation does not change how the circle works. Members still contribute the same way, on the same schedule, to the same group. The Treasurer still governs the cycle. The traditions are preserved. What changes is that the behaviour is now on the record — and the record opens doors.

1.5 The Treasurer's role in the tradition

In every savings circle tradition, there is a person who organises. In Jamaica, they are called the "banker" or the "head." In Nigeria, the "baba ajo." In Kenya, the chairperson of the chama. In South Africa, the stokvel convenor.

On Circlworld, this person is the Treasurer. The title is deliberate. It carries the weight of financial stewardship — the responsibility of governing other people's commitments. A Treasurer is not a volunteer managing an informal group. They are a certified professional operating within a structured governance framework.

As a Treasurer, you are the bridge between the tradition and the platform. You understand the cultural context — why members save together, what the hand means to them, why trust is the currency of the circle. You also understand the platform — how to form a circle, confirm contributions, process payouts, handle disputes, and build your members' Financial Reliability Records.

Neither skill alone is sufficient. Cultural competence without platform skills leaves the circle informal. Platform skills without cultural competence creates a product that members do not trust. You need both.

1.6 Check your understanding

Before moving to Module 2, consider these questions. They are not graded — they are for your own reflection.

  1. A member asks you: "How is this different from a savings account?" How would you explain the difference in one sentence?

  2. A prospective member says: "I have been doing pardna for years without a platform. Why do I need Circlworld?" What is your answer?

  3. A member from a different cultural background asks what "pardna" means. How do you explain it in a way that connects to their own tradition?

Module 2: The Circlworld Platform

2.1 Your Treasurer dashboard

When you log in as a Treasurer, your dashboard shows you everything you need to manage your circles. It is designed to be cleared in 10 minutes — not studied for an hour.

The daily briefing: Circa Briefings (included with your Treasurer subscription) greets you with what needs attention. Who has paid. Who is late. What is coming. Your estimated settlement. You read the briefing, clear the actions, and close the laptop. That is a good day.

The circle overview: Each circle you manage shows its current state — which week of the cycle, how many contributions confirmed, the Circle Health Score, and any attention items. Green means healthy. Gold means needs attention. Red means urgent.

The action queue: Contributions waiting for your confirmation. Payouts ready to process. Disputes requiring your response. These are your tasks for the day.

2.2 Creating a circle

To create a circle, you need four things:

A name. This is what members see. "Harbour View Savings Circle." "Staff Pardna." "Liguanea Ladies." The name should mean something to the group — it is their identity.

A contribution amount. How much each member pays per period. This should be affordable for every member of the group. If one member cannot comfortably afford GBP 50/week, set the amount lower. A circle where members struggle to contribute is a circle that will fail.

A frequency. Weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Weekly circles complete faster but require more frequent management. Monthly circles are easier to manage but take longer to complete a cycle.

A member count. How many members in the circle. A T1 Treasurer can manage a circle of up to 15 members. Smaller circles (8-10) complete cycles faster and are easier to manage. Larger circles (12-15) build larger hands but take longer and require more governance.

The platform guides you through creation step by step. You set these four parameters and the circle is formed. Members receive invitations to join.

2.3 Inviting members

You invite members by sharing an invite link or entering their email addresses directly. Each invited person receives an email with a link to join the circle. They create a Circlworld account (if they do not have one), complete identity verification, and confirm their membership.

Important: A member must complete KYC verification before joining a circle. This protects the group — every member is a verified identity, not an anonymous account.

When a member joins, you see them on your circle's member list. You can see their name, when they joined, and their contribution status for the current period. You cannot see their Standing score, their financial details, or their activity in other circles. That information belongs to them.

2.4 Configuring the rotation

The rotation determines who receives the hand and in what order. You have three options:

Fixed order: You set the order at the start. Member 1 receives in week 1, Member 2 in week 2, and so on. This is the traditional pardna model.

Random draw: The platform randomly assigns the rotation at the start of the cycle. Each member knows when they will receive before the first contribution.

Bidding (future feature): Members bid for earlier positions. This introduces a time-value element and is common in chit fund traditions. This feature is not yet available on the platform.

Most circles use fixed order. The Treasurer typically assigns positions based on member needs — a member saving for school fees due in September receives their hand before September. This is a governance decision, not a platform decision. You know your members' needs.

2.5 What members see vs what you see

Members see:

You see everything members see, plus:

You do NOT see:

This separation is deliberate. You govern the circle. You do not surveil the members.

2.6 Practical exercise

In the simulation environment, you will:

  1. Create a test circle called "Module 2 Practice" with GBP 50 weekly contributions and 10 members
  2. Invite 3 test members using the provided test email addresses
  3. Configure a fixed rotation order
  4. View the circle from a member's perspective (the simulation lets you switch views)
  5. Confirm that the member sees only their own data

Complete all five steps to pass this module's practical exercise.

Module 3: Managing the Cycle

3.1 The contribution period

Each week (or fortnight, or month), every member is expected to make their contribution. The platform shows each member their obligation — the amount, the due date, and the payment method.

Members make their contributions through their own bank accounts — by bank transfer, standing order, or mobile payment to the circle's designated account. Circlworld does not move the money. We record that it has been paid.

This is the non-custodial principle in action. The money moves between members and their banks. Circlworld's only role is to record, verify, and govern. The Treasurer confirms that contributions have been received. The platform records the confirmation.

3.2 Confirming contributions

When a member makes their contribution, you receive a notification. Your job is to confirm that the payment has been received. This confirmation is the critical act — it is the moment the contribution becomes part of the member's Financial Reliability Record.

To confirm a contribution:

  1. Verify that the payment has been received (check the circle's bank account, cash received, or payment confirmation)
  2. Open the contribution confirmation page for that member and period
  3. Click "Confirm"

The platform records the confirmation with a timestamp. The member's Standing score updates. Their Financial Reliability Record grows. This is the data that will one day help them access credit, housing, or employment.

Never confirm a contribution you have not verified. A false confirmation corrupts the member's record and undermines the integrity of the entire platform. If you are unsure whether a payment has been received, wait until you can verify. A late confirmation is better than a false one.

3.3 When a contribution is late

A contribution is "late" when it has not been confirmed by the end of the due date. Late is not the same as missed — the member may have paid but the Treasurer has not yet confirmed, or the bank transfer may be processing.

When a contribution is late:

  1. Check first. Has the member actually not paid, or is the confirmation delayed? Check the circle account before assuming a default.

  2. Communicate privately. Contact the member directly — not in the group chat. Ask if everything is okay. Many late payments have simple explanations: a bank processing delay, a forgotten transfer, a temporary cash flow issue.

  3. Be human. The member's pardna is part of their community identity. Being late feels like a personal failure, not just a financial one. Your tone matters. "I noticed your contribution has not come through yet — is everything alright?" is different from "You are late. When are you paying?"

  4. Document the communication. Note on the platform that you reached out and what the member said. This documentation matters if the situation escalates.

  5. Give a reasonable window. If the member says they will pay by Wednesday, accept that. Mark it as pending and follow up on Wednesday.

The platform sends automated reminders — 3 days before due, 1 day before, on the day, and 1 day after. These are informational, not aggressive. The Treasurer's personal contact is always warmer and more effective than an automated email.

3.4 When a contribution is missed

A contribution is "missed" when the member has not paid and has not communicated a plan to pay. This is different from late — late means delayed but expected. Missed means the member has not engaged.

When a contribution is missed:

  1. Contact the member again. This time by phone if possible, not just message. They may be going through something that makes it hard to respond in writing.

  2. Understand the situation. Is this a one-time issue (unexpected expense, medical emergency, family crisis) or a pattern (second or third late/missed payment)?

  3. Assess the impact on the circle. If the next member is due to receive their hand and a contribution is missing, the hand is short. The circle may need to decide how to handle the shortfall. This is where the Circle Protection Reserve (CPR) comes in — the 2-5% deducted from every contribution that builds a reserve for exactly this situation.

  4. Follow the governance rules. The circle's bylaws define what happens when a member misses a contribution. The platform enforces the Standing score impact automatically. Your job is to manage the human situation while the platform manages the record.

  5. Escalate if necessary. If the member is unresponsive after multiple attempts, you can escalate to the platform's dispute resolution process. This is a last resort — most issues are resolved through direct Treasurer-member communication.

The Standing score impact: A missed contribution affects the member's Standing. One miss in an otherwise perfect record is a small impact. Repeated misses cause significant decline. The system is designed to be forgiving of occasional human moments while identifying patterns of disengagement.

3.5 Processing payouts

When all contributions for a period are confirmed, the next member in the rotation receives their hand. Processing a payout involves:

  1. Verify all contributions are confirmed — the platform shows you the status of every contribution for the current period
  2. Calculate the hand amount — total contributions minus the CPR deduction minus the platform fee minus your governance fee (if you charge one)
  3. Initiate the payout instruction — the platform generates a payout instruction showing the amount and the receiving member
  4. The payout is executed — depending on the circle's setup, this is a bank transfer from the circle account to the member, or cash distribution, or institutional processing
  5. Confirm the payout — once the member has received their funds, you confirm on the platform

The member's record shows the payout received, the amount, and the date. This completes their "hand" for this cycle.

3.6 The Circle Protection Reserve (CPR)

The CPR is a mandatory deduction of 2-5% from every contribution. It builds a reserve fund that protects the circle if a member defaults.

If someone misses a contribution and the next member's hand would be short, the CPR covers the shortfall. The receiving member still gets their full payout. The defaulting member's CPR balance reduces.

On a clean cycle — where nobody misses a contribution — the accumulated CPR contributions are returned to members pro-rata at the end of the cycle, or rolled into the next cycle by member vote.

The CPR is not a fee. It is refundable mutual insurance. The members own it. You, as Treasurer, manage it. The platform tracks it.

3.7 Check your understanding

  1. A member messages you at 11pm saying they cannot make this week's contribution because their child is sick. What do you do?

  2. You notice that a member's bank transfer arrived but for GBP 45 instead of the GBP 50 contribution amount. How do you handle this?

  3. A member who received their hand in week 3 has now missed contributions in weeks 7 and 8. What is the situation and what are your options?

Module 4: Governance and Disputes

4.1 The circle's governance rules

Every circle operates within a governance framework. Some rules are set by the platform (non-negotiable). Others are set by the Treasurer and members at formation (configurable). Understanding the distinction is essential.

Platform rules (cannot be changed):

Circle rules (set at formation, changeable by vote):

Changing a circle rule requires a member vote. You, as Treasurer, can propose a change. The members vote. The threshold is a simple majority (more than 50%) for operational changes, and a two-thirds supermajority for structural changes (contribution amount, member exits).

4.2 Initiating a vote

To propose a change to the circle:

  1. Create a proposal on the platform — describe what you want to change and why
  2. Set a voting window (minimum 48 hours, maximum 7 days)
  3. Members receive a notification and can vote through the platform
  4. The platform tallies the votes and records the outcome
  5. If the vote passes, the change takes effect from the next contribution period

Your role in voting: You can vote as a member of the circle (you contribute like everyone else). But you should not pressure members to vote a particular way. Present the facts. Explain the reasoning. Let the members decide.

4.3 Handling disputes

Disputes are inevitable. Members disagree about whether a payment was made. A member feels the rotation order is unfair. Someone believes the CPR should be refunded early. These are normal human conflicts within a financial arrangement.

Your role as Treasurer in a dispute:

You are the first responder, not the judge. Your job is to:

  1. Listen to both sides
  2. Gather the facts (what does the platform data show?)
  3. Attempt to facilitate a resolution between the parties
  4. If you cannot resolve it, escalate to the platform's dispute resolution process

What you should NOT do:

4.4 The dispute resolution process

When you cannot resolve a dispute directly, the platform's dispute resolution process activates:

Stage 1 — AI Triage. Circa analyses the dispute, reviews the evidence, checks the platform data, and produces a preliminary recommendation. This is not a binding decision — it is a starting point.

Stage 2 — Evidence Disclosure. Both parties submit their evidence through the platform. Each side sees the other's submission. Transparency is the foundation of resolution.

Stage 3 — Member Vote (if applicable). For disputes that affect the whole circle (e.g., changing the rules, removing a member), the circle votes. 60% quorum required, two-thirds supermajority to act.

Stage 4 — Platform Resolution. If voting does not resolve the dispute, or if the dispute is between two individuals (not a circle matter), the platform's resolution team reviews the case and issues a binding recommendation.

Stage 5 — Exit. If a member cannot accept the outcome, they may exit the circle. Their contributions to date are handled per the circle's exit rules (typically, they forfeit the hand they have not yet received but retain their Standing score for contributions already made).

4.5 Member exits

A member may leave a circle voluntarily or may be removed by vote. Either way, the exit has financial implications that must be managed carefully.

Voluntary exit:

Removal by vote:

Your responsibility during exits: Manage the human element. An exit can feel like rejection. Handle it with dignity, clear communication, and strict adherence to the rules. The process protects everyone — including the exiting member.

4.6 Check your understanding

  1. A member wants to change the contribution amount from GBP 50 to GBP 75 because they got a pay rise. What is the process?

  2. Two members are in a dispute about whether a cash contribution was made. One says yes, the other (who was collecting cash that week) says no. What do you do?

  3. A member has missed three contributions in a row and is not responding to messages. The circle wants them removed. Walk through the process.

Module 5: Compliance Essentials

5.1 Know Your Customer (KYC)

Every member of every circle must be a verified identity. This is not optional. It protects the group — every person contributing and receiving money is who they say they are.

Members complete KYC through the platform's verification partner. The process takes 2-3 minutes and involves:

What you need to know as Treasurer:

5.2 Data protection

You have access to member data within your circle — names, contribution status, payment confirmations. This data is governed by data protection law (UK GDPR, Jamaica Data Protection Act 2020, and equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions).

Your obligations as Treasurer:

5.3 Record-keeping

The platform records everything automatically:

What you need to record manually:

These manual notes are stored on the platform and become part of the governance record. They are visible to you and to the platform in case of dispute review.

5.4 The non-custodial principle

This is the most important compliance principle on the platform:

Circlworld does not hold, move, or lend member money. Neither do you as Treasurer — unless you are the designated account holder for the circle.

In most circles, members contribute to a dedicated circle account (at a bank or credit union) or directly to each other. Your role is to confirm that contributions have been made and payouts have been received. You do not handle the money unless the circle has specifically designated you as the account holder.

If you ARE the account holder (common in informal circles transitioning to the platform):

5.5 What you must never do

Violation of these rules can result in certification suspension or revocation.

5.6 Check your understanding

  1. A member asks you to share their contribution history with their landlord as a reference. What do you do?

  2. You discover that a member's KYC expired two months ago but they are still active in the circle. What is the correct action?

  3. A family member asks you to let them join the circle without completing KYC "because you know them personally." What is your response?

Module 6: Circa AI

6.1 What Circa is

Circa is Circlworld's AI assistant. She is available to every user on the platform — members and Treasurers alike. For Treasurers, Circa operates with four capabilities:

Navigator: Circa takes you to any page on the platform with one click. Tell her what you need and she opens it. No menus. No hunting. "How do I process a payout?" — she opens the payout page for your circle.

Briefings: Every time you log in, Circa briefs you on what needs attention across your circles. Who has paid. Who is late. What payouts are coming. Your estimated Treasurer Partnership Programme settlement. You clear your actions in 10 minutes.

Coach: Circa shows your TPP rate, what is driving it, and exactly what to do to earn more. "Your effective rate is 18%. If you improve retention by 22 days, you gain +0.5%. That is an extra GBP 23/month." Specific numbers. Specific actions.

Advisor: Circa guides you through operational decisions — disputes, payouts, member exits, governance changes. She prepares the facts. You make the call.

6.2 What Circa knows

Circa has access to the Circlworld Knowledge Base — the complete set of platform rules, governance procedures, pricing, and operational information. When a member or Treasurer asks a question, Circa answers from this knowledge base.

As a Treasurer, Circa also sees your circle data — contribution statuses, Circle Health Scores, member activity within your circles. She uses this data to give you specific, personalised guidance.

What Circa does NOT know:

6.3 When to use Circa and when to use human judgement

Circa is excellent at:

Circa should NOT replace your judgement for:

The rule: Use Circa for information and operations. Use yourself for relationships and judgement.

6.4 AI Agent Packs — the intelligence layer

Beyond the four included capabilities, Circa can be enhanced with AI Agent Packs that add predictive intelligence:

Circle Intelligence (GBP 29/month): Churn prediction, contribution forecasting, health trajectory analysis, settlement projections with milestone targeting. This is Circa telling you what WILL happen, not just what IS happening.

Growth Engine (GBP 49/month): Outreach drafting, campaign management, referral tracking, content generation. A marketing team for GBP 49/month.

These packs are optional. Your included Circa capabilities handle day-to-day operations. The packs add strategic intelligence for Treasurers who want to grow and optimise.

6.5 Check your understanding

  1. A member messages you at 2am asking "when is my next payout?" Could Circa handle this? Should she?

  2. Circa tells you that a member's churn probability is 74%. What do you do with this information?

  3. A member says "I do not want to talk to an AI. I want to talk to you." How do you balance Circa's capabilities with the member's preference?

T1 Assessment

The T1 assessment presents you with five realistic scenarios. For each scenario, describe what you would do, in your own words. There is no multiple choice. There is no trick. The assessment is testing your judgement, your communication, and your understanding of the Treasurer's role.

You need 80% (4 out of 5) to pass.

Scenarios are drawn from these categories:

How it is assessed: Circa evaluates your response against a rubric that checks for:

Responses scoring within 5% of the pass threshold are flagged for human review.

If you score 60-79%: You receive specific feedback on which areas need improvement and can retake after 7 days.

If you score below 60%: You need to revisit the relevant modules before retaking.

On passing: Your T1 Community Treasurer certification is issued. A formal certificate is generated with the Circlworld seal, verifiable at circlworld.com/verify. You can now create and manage one circle with up to 15 members.

End of T1 Curriculum — Community Treasurer Circlworld Treasurer Certification Programme