Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 24 October 2026
Short answer: a German loan's monthly payment comes from three numbers — the loan amount, the term, and the effektiver Jahreszins (effective APR) — calculated with the annuity method. Enter them below to get your monthly instalment, total interest and total cost the way German banks compute them.
German consumer loans (Ratenkredit) use the annuity method: one fixed monthly instalment covering interest and principal. The monthly rate is derived from the effective annual rate: i = (1 + APR)1/12 − 1, and the payment follows A = P × i / (1 − (1+i)−n).
The figure that matters is the effektiver Jahreszins (effective APR). Under Germany's Preisangabenverordnung (PAngV), lenders must display it — it folds the nominal rate and mandatory fees into one comparable number. Your personal rate is set individually: it depends on your credit profile (SCHUFA), the loan amount and the term, so always compare offers by the effective rate, never by the advertised "from" rate.
SCHUFA tip: ask lenders for a Konditionenanfrage (SCHUFA-neutral rate inquiry) when shopping around — it does not affect your score, unlike a formal loan application.
Here is exactly what a €10,000 loan at 6% effective APR costs at different terms (matches Check24's published example figures):
Stretching from 24 to 60 months nearly triples the interest (€620 → €1,555) to cut the monthly payment by €250. That trade-off is the single most important number on this page.
Foreigners can borrow in Germany with a registered address, a German bank account, proof of income and usually a few months of SCHUFA history. Comparison sites let you check terms in English, and many accept SCHUFA-neutral inquiries — ideal while you build a local credit record.
The effective annual interest rate — the single figure German law (Preisangabenverordnung) requires lenders to display. It includes the nominal rate plus mandatory fees, so two loans are only truly comparable by their effektiver Jahreszins.
With the annuity method: a fixed monthly instalment covering interest and principal. The monthly rate is derived from the effective annual rate as (1 + APR)^(1/12) − 1, and the payment follows A = P × i / (1 − (1+i)^−n).
Yes, if you have a German address, a bank account, proof of income and usually a SCHUFA record. Most banks want a few months of residence history; comparison sites and SCHUFA-neutral rate inquiries let you shop offers without hurting your score.
A credit check marked as a rate inquiry (Konditionenanfrage) instead of a loan application (Kreditanfrage). It does not lower your SCHUFA score, so you can compare multiple lenders safely.
Typical effective rates for unsecured consumer loans in 2026 run roughly 5–10% depending on credit profile, loan amount and term — treat ranges as illustrative. Your actual offer is set individually from your SCHUFA profile, so always compare by effective APR.
Yes. Under EU consumer-credit rules, German lenders may charge an early-repayment fee capped at 1% of the repaid amount (0.5% if less than a year remains). Check your contract for the exact fee before repaying early.
Standard consumer loans (Ratenkredit) in Germany use fixed rates for the whole term, which makes the monthly payment predictable. Variable rates are more common in mortgages and overdraft facilities.
Shorter terms mean higher monthly payments but much less total interest — a 24-month €10,000 loan at 6% costs about €620 in interest versus about €1,555 over 60 months. Choose the shortest term whose payment still fits your budget comfortably.