Banks Germany

Credit Loan in Germany

Are you a foreigner and looking to get a loan in Germany? It may be a small loan to furnish your new apartment after moving to Germany, or a big loan to buy a car or a house in Germany.

This article provides all the basic information you need to know about getting a credit loan in German, the types of loans in Germany, the requirements of getting a loan and other alternative ways to obtain a loan even if you have no credit score in Germany.

Types of Loans in German

There are different types of credit available in Germany depending on the purpose of requiring the credit. The main types of credit loans are:

• RatenKredit – Installment Loans: Personal Loan with a variable monthly payment
• RahmenKredit – Personal credit loan with a fixed monthly payment
• AutoKredit – Loan for buying a Car, Car Loans for auto financing in Germany. Read more about How to get a Car loan in Germany.
• Wohnungskredit  (Immobilien)– Credit for a Home, Home Loan or House  Mortgage Loan
• SofortKredit – Instant Credit

Requirements for getting a Loan in Germany

Germany is a credit conservative country and does not offer credit loan easily unless you meet some basic requirements. Therefore, in order to obtain a credit loan in Germany from a bank, you will have to meet at least the following requirements:

1. A good SCHUFA score., i.e good credit rating. Learn more about how to keep a good Schufa credit rating here.
2. A residence permit (preferably permanent), or at least a resident permit or Visa that covers the entire period of the loan.
3. Regular and stable income: You should be able to provide your salary slips. If you are a freelancer you can show your previous year tax returns and regular monthly billing. If you get regular work from a single client, you can ask the company to write that you might be getting regular work from them and the possible amount you will earn from them.

If you have the above conditions, you can try for a loan in Germany from a bank, which usually has a lower interest rate.

However, do not be disappointed since you can also get credit loans from other institutions if you do not have the above requirement, but with a little bit higher interest rate.

Reason is important

Although at the end it is all money, a lot depends on if you are applying for the right type of loan with the right loan provider.

For example, if you are applying for a mortgage, you will have a high chance if you have more than 20% downpayment of the value for the house. There are many options for getting a mortgage.

If you are applying for a car loan, it is better to apply directly with the car dealer as they have better deals and connection with the banks.

Where to get a loan

There are different institutions which provide loans in Germany. Depending on the institution, the rate of interest changes.

1. Credit loan from Banks

The first option is to try the bank you are using for a loan. Normally, they provide credit with the lowest interest rate and easier documentation as they know the client. Sometimes, you can also use other securities (stocks, fixed deposits) with the same bank as collateral for a favourable interest rate

However, this comes at a cost. You will have to show a very good credit rating and a stable income. For this, you would have to be living in Germany for at least a couple of years and should have a permanent residence permit or one with a long validity period. Examples are the Sparkasse banks, Volksbank etc.

• Lowest interest rate for Home loans
• Provides larger loan with a longer repayment period
• Requires good credit score
• Usually 2 to 4 per cent interest for long-term house loans

2. Loan from Credit Institutions

They provide easier credit than the banks and most of them are online. However, the fees are usually higher than the Banks. some examples of such credit institutions in Germany are Barclays Credit or EasyCredit.

• Low-interest rate for small and short term loans
• Especially for personal loans with small loan amount with faster payment terms
• Requires a decent credit score
• usually between 4 to 10 per cent interest on short-term loans.

3. Peer-to-Peer lending

They are mainly websites which provide an interface between lenders and borrowers. In some cases, the investors just invest in the website which then selects the people who may borrow.

This can be an option for foreigners who have not been in Germany for a long time but need a credit loan in Germany. They have a high-interest rate depends on the credit score. So, if you have a decent credit score you can get a loan with a lower interest rate compared to someone with a negative credit score.

Examples of peer-to-peer lending systems are Smava, and Lendico.

• High interest rate
• For personal loans with no or negative SCHUFA score
• Can also get credit with a lower credit score
• usually between 3 to 14 percent interest on short term loans.

4. Mini Loans

It is good financial practice to have an emergency fund saved up which covers at least 3 months of your expenses. But, we understand that time might be tough and sometimes you might end up living paycheck to paycheck. The first advice is to ask your family or friends, but when living abroad it might not be possible.

These loans are short-term loans to meet an urgent requirement which cannot wait till your next paycheck. Sometimes also called payday loans, they usually run for a month or two and are for very small amounts. It is also more lenient with a credit score. But, the interest rates are very high and can go as high as credit card rates of 15 per cent.

Some options for mini loans are:

• CrediMaxx
• Cashper

Warning: Use this only as a last option, and always pay back on time.

• Immediate loans
• Short duration (as small as 1 month)
• Small loan amounts, normally €500 and a maximum of up to €1500.
• Also for lower credit score
• High-interest rate

Personal Loan for Foreigners

It is normally a challenge for foreigners to successfully get a loan because of their credit score (SCHUFA) as they do not have a long creditworthiness history. However, there as some ways you can get a loan.

Ask your bank

Your bank will have details of your financial status, as they see the income and balance you maintain. Therefore, unlike other banks who have no information about your creditworthiness, your house bank will be more relaxed even if are new and do not have a Schufa credit history.

If you have a bank account with a branch, approach your bank in person to discuss this and explain them the reasons.

Overdraft credit (DispoKredit)

Depending on the amount of loan you require, maybe you can opt for an Overdraft credit facility with your bank (DispoKredit). This allows you to withdraw from your bank even if you do not have enough balance left in your account.

Usually, the overdraft amount is low. About €600, or 50% of your monthly net income. However, if you just need a short term loan for a small amount, this is a good option.

Overdraft incurs higher interest charges (about 8% p.a) which will be incurred each month. 

Intermediary services

There are some service providers who act as an intermediary between loan providers and you and get a small commission from the bank.

But since they have a good deal with the loan providers, overall it does not cost you a lot more than usual. However, sometimes, these intermediaries offer good deals to promote their services and you might be lucky to get a great deal.

Some options for loan intermediary:

• Maxda
• Auxmoney

Schufa Scores

Making Credit Requests

There is a difference between checking for loan condition when shopping around, and applying for a loan.

When shopping for loans, make sure that you are only making a conditional request (Konditionen Anfrage). This request will only be visible to you and not be to the others. So the other banks will not know you are shopping around.

Do not apply for a loan using the hard credit request (Kredit Anfrage). This request will remain on your credit report as a request which others can see. This will affects your credit score. Even when it comes time to apply for the loan, do not apply for more than one loan at a time.

To keep a track of your requests, register for an online account with SCHUFA.

Compare Loan providers