Online loan in Germany: apply digitally instead of in a branch
An online loan (Online Kredit, also Online Darlehen) is a loan you apply for fully digitally, without going into a bank branch. You enter your desired amount, compare the offers of several banks and sign on your phone or laptop. Payout takes 1 to 3 business days, depending on the bank. What the loan costs depends on your creditworthiness, the amount and the term. Here you will learn how the digital application works, how online compares with a branch, and what to watch out for as a newcomer. meinetarife24.de does not lend money itself and does not set rates; it helps you compare independently.
Key takeaways
- ✓Online loan = application, VideoIdent and signature all happen online. No branch needed.
- ✓Typical amounts EUR 1,000 to 100,000, terms 12 to 120 months.
- ✓Rate context from the Bundesbank (April 2026): installment loans 1 to 5 years around 6.95% effective, all consumer loans around 8.54%.
- ✓Comparing is free and SCHUFA-neutral (conditions request, no entry).
- ✓Payout reaches your account in 1 to 3 business days.
- ✓Early repayment is allowed at any time; the fee is capped at max 1% of the amount repaid early (Section 502 BGB).
How an online loan works
You handle the whole process from your sofa: no appointment, no paperwork. This is the typical path, and the loan comparison is your starting point.
Compare offers
Enter your desired amount and term. You see the offers of several banks at a glance.
2 minFill in the application
Enter your personal details and upload a payslip. Many banks offer a digital account check (Kontoblick).
5 minConfirm your identity
Via VideoIdent on your phone or via PostIdent at a branch. VideoIdent takes about 10 minutes.
10 minReceive the money
Sign the contract digitally. Payout reaches your account in 1 to 3 business days, depending on the bank.
1 to 3 daysThe comparison itself is free and SCHUFA-neutral. Only once you accept an offer does the bank make a regular SCHUFA request. If you want the pure application process in detail, see our instant credit online guide.
What does an online loan cost? Market rates 2026
There is no fixed price. What you pay depends on your creditworthiness, the loan amount and the term. The figures below are average market rates from the Deutsche Bundesbank. They help you place an offer, but they are not offers from us.
| Metric | Rate (eff. p.a.) | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Installment loans, 1 to 5 years | 6.95% | Bundesbank, April 2026 |
| Installment loans, over 5 years | 8.87% | Bundesbank, April 2026 |
| Consumer loans overall | 8.54% | Bundesbank, April 2026 |
Average market rates for orientation, not offers. Your personal rate is set only after the bank checks your creditworthiness.
Watch the two-thirds rate
The lowest advertised “from” rate is only for borrowers with perfect credit, so for very few people. More meaningful is the two-thirds rate: the rate (or a better one) that at least two out of three customers receive. German law requires banks to state it in advertising (Section 17 PAngV). Use it as your reference instead of the headline rate. You can compare your own amounts in the loan interest rates guide.
Compare online loans
Enter your desired amount and term and compare offers. The comparison is free, non-binding and SCHUFA-neutral.
Kreditvergleich wird geladen...
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Online loan or bank branch?
For ordinary installment loans the online route is usually the better choice. When the financing gets more complex, for example buying a home, a conversation at the branch often helps more.
Online loan
- ✓Often cheaper, because the bank saves branch costs
- ✓Processing in 1 to 3 business days
- ✓Available around the clock
- ✓Several banks side by side
- ✓Sign the contract digitally
Bank branch
- •In-person advice on site
- •Good for complex mortgages
- •Only during opening hours
- •One provider per branch
- •Longer processing (5 to 10 business days)
Which loan types can you get online?
You can apply for almost every common loan type online. The most important at a glance:
Installment loan
EUR 1,000 to 100,000, free use, fixed rate and fixed installment. The classic for purchases or unexpected costs.
Market average 1 to 5 years: around 6.95% effective (Bundesbank, April 2026)
Debt consolidation
Replace existing loans with one new, cheaper loan. Worth it above all if you still pay old loans at high rates.
Early-repayment fee: max 1% of the amount repaid early (Section 502 BGB)
Small loan
EUR 500 to 5,000 for short-term needs. Short terms, fast payout, practical when an unexpected bill arrives.
For small amounts the rate is often higher
Car loan
Earmarked for a vehicle purchase. Often cheaper than a free installment loan because the car serves as security.
Tip: appear as a cash buyer at the dealership
Need a larger amount with a plannable rate? The classic installment loan is usually the better choice.
Security: spotting a reputable online lender
Unfortunately the web also has dubious providers. The Verbraucherzentrale warns in particular about providers that make an insurance policy a condition for the loan. This is how you recognise serious offers:
Reputable providers
- ✓BaFin regulation (a German banking licence)
- ✓SSL encryption (https:// in the address bar)
- ✓Data protection under the GDPR
- ✓Complete legal notice (Impressum) with a German address
- ✓No fees before payout
- ✓Transparent rate quote with the effective annual rate
Warning signs (stay away)
- ✗Upfront costs due before any payout
- ✗A loan approval without any credit check
- ✗No legal notice, or a registered office abroad
- ✗Unsolicited loan offers by phone or email
- ✗Pressure to sign quickly
- ✗Payment protection insurance presented as mandatory (Verbraucherzentrale warning)
Check payment protection insurance carefully. Some banks offer a Restschuldversicherung with the loan. It is almost never mandatory and often makes the loan noticeably more expensive. The Verbraucherzentrale advises looking at such cover separately from the loan and not taking it on too hastily.
Repaying an online loan early: your rights
You may repay any online loan early at any time (Section 500 BGB). The bank may charge an early-repayment fee (Vorfälligkeitsentschädigung), but it is legally capped (Section 502 BGB):
Max 1%
of the amount repaid early
if more than 12 months remain
Max 0.5%
of the amount repaid early
if 12 months or less remain
Online loans for expats and newcomers
As a newcomer you have no Schufa history at first, which makes the loan application harder but not hopeless. The Schufa is Germany's largest credit bureau; every bank checks your Schufa score before lending. Since 17 March 2026 the Schufa has been gradually introducing a new score from 100 to 999 points. Without a history you start neutral, and you can still get an online loan if you prove a regular income. Open a current account early, pay every bill on time, and a permanent employment contract plus a valid residence permit help most. If you have no Schufa score yet, our guide for foreigners and the loan despite Schufa option explain the steps.
Key German terms
Kredit / Darlehen
Loan (both words mean the same)
Effektivzins
Effective annual rate (APR), includes fees
Sollzins
Nominal interest rate, before fees
Schufa
German credit bureau / credit score
Laufzeit
Loan term in months
VideoIdent
Identity check by video call
Umschuldung
Refinancing an old loan
Vorfälligkeitsentschädigung
Early-repayment fee
Frequently asked questions about online loans
Sources and methodology
How we compare: for this guide we use only publicly available, dated primary data sources. Interest figures are market context, not concrete offers. meinetarife24.de does not lend money itself and reviews the content regularly.
- Deutsche Bundesbank: MFI interest-rate statistics, consumer credit new business, as of April 2026 (bundesbank.de)
- German Civil Code: Sections 500 and 502 BGB on early repayment (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Preisangabenverordnung (PAngV 2022): Section 17, representative example / two-thirds rate (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Verbraucherzentrale: guidance on online loans and payment protection insurance (verbraucherzentrale.de)
- SCHUFA: new score model (range 100 to 999) rolled out from 17 March 2026 (schufa.de)
Advertising disclosure
This article contains affiliate links. If you take out a loan via these links, we receive a commission at no additional cost to you. The interest figures shown come from publicly available sources (including Deutsche Bundesbank) and can change. They are not a binding offer. Your individual rate depends on your creditworthiness. For binding legal advice, contact a consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale).
meinetarife24 Editorial Team
Independent EditorialOur independent editorial team carefully reviews all information and regularly updates the content.