Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan

1822direkt scores 9.0 and SMBC card loan 9.1 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.

1822direkt

9.0/10

Facts checked September 26, 2026.

SMBC card loan

9.1/10

Facts checked September 26, 2026.

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan: the differences

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Compare
1822direkt1822direkt
ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
SMBC card loan
ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
APR5.29%1.5% to 14.5%Lower
Loan amount€7,500 to €100,000¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000
Term24 to 120 months480 monthsHigher
Lender typeBrokerDirect lender
Free early repaymentYesHas itNo
EligibilityMinimum 18 years old, main residence in Germany, employed at least six months, permanent contract, no negative SCHUFA or CRIF Buergel entryIndividuals aged 20 to 69 resident in Japan; SMBC bank account or SMBC card required for some channels
Loan typesPersonal, Debt consolidation, Car, Credit linePersonal, Credit line, Cash advance
Arrangement fee0 EUR (credit application processing is free of charge)Not confirmed
Funding timeWithin 24 hours after digital signingNot confirmed
Origination fee (%)0%Not confirmed
Credit neededGoodNot confirmed
Use casesHome improvementNot confirmed

Same on both: Credit check (Hard), Rate type (Fixed).

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Key differences

  • SMBC card loan scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
  • APR is lower at SMBC card loan: 1.5% to 14.5% vs 5.29%.
  • Free early repayment: only 1822direkt.
  • Term is higher at SMBC card loan: 480 months vs 24 to 120 months.
  • Support channels: only 1822direkt offers Email, Help centre.
  • Loan types: only 1822direkt offers Debt consolidation, Car.
  • Loan types: only SMBC card loan offers Cash advance.

Our verdict on each

1822direkt

1822direkt suits German borrowers who prioritise low stated costs and fixed-rate borrowing across mortgages and personal loans. Its mortgage product fee is €0, while the initial rate is 3.87% and the APRC is 3.97%. The main trade-off is the hard credit check used for personal-loan applications.

Read the full 1822direkt review

SMBC card loan

SMBC card loan is a large, fixed rate revolving loan for adults living in Japan who already bank with the bank. It suits borrowers who want one long term and a reusable limit; the APR runs 1.5% to 14.5% on a balance of ¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000.

Read the full SMBC card loan review

Score breakdown

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Area1822direktSMBC card loan
Cost9.3HigherMortgage product fees are €0, while personal-loan application processing carries an origination fee of 0 EUR (credit application processing is free of charge).8.9
Offer9.2HigherThe offer spans personal, debt consolidation and car, plus fixed-rate mortgages with free early repayment.9.1Fixed rate on a credit line of ¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000 at an APR of 1.5% to 14.5%, from a direct lender.
Trust8.69.2Higher

How they place

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Ranking1822direktSMBC card loan
Personal loans644 of 1920622 of 1920

What each covers

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Loan types1822direktSMBC card loan
PersonalYesYes
Debt consolidationYesNo
Credit lineYesYes
CarYesNo
Cash advanceNoYes

Availability and regulation

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Country1822direktSMBC card loan
GermanyNot confirmed

Additional countries for 1822direkt: 1. Additional countries for SMBC card loan: 1.

Choosing between them

Pick 1822direkt if cost and free early repayment matter most.

Pick SMBC card loan if trust, apr, and term matter most.

Every fact side by side

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Fact1822direktSMBC card loan
Pricing modelFixed rateFixed rate
FeaturesNot confirmedCredit line
Legal entity1822direkt Gesellschaft der Frankfurter Sparkasse mbHNot confirmed
HeadquartersGermanyJapan
Founded1996Not confirmed
Support channelsEmail, Phone, Help centreCovers morePhone

Where each stands against the rest

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Fact1822direktSMBC card loanMedian
APR5.29%below the median1.5% to 14.5%lowest quarter8.99%
Term24 to 120 monthshighest quarter480 monthshighest quarter60
Origination fee (%)0%below the medianNot confirmed0.25%

Median across 1152 listed lenders.

Pros and cons

1822direkt

Pros

  • Mortgage product fees are €0.
  • Personal-loan application processing is free of charge under 0 EUR (credit application processing is free of charge).
  • Early repayment is free.

Cons

  • Personal-loan applications use a hard credit check, which may make approval harder for borrowers with limited credit history.
  • Personal loans are available only on a fixed-rate basis.
  • The stated lender type is broker, so applications are arranged through a broker.

SMBC card loan

Pros

  • One fixed rate holds for the life of the loan, so payments stay level.
  • A revolving credit line lets you draw, repay and redraw within the same limit.
  • A hard credit check means a decision is made on your file, not guesswork.

Cons

  • Free early repayment is no, so clearing the balance sooner does not reduce the total cost.
  • Support runs on phone only, with no written help channel listed.
  • Some channels ask for an SMBC bank account or an SMBC card, which narrows who can apply.

Who each suits

1822direkt

Who it suits

  • Adults resident mainly in Germany with a permanent contract and a clean SCHUFA and CRIF Buergel record.
  • Borrowers comparing fixed-rate mortgages for purchase, remortgaging or buy-to-let purposes.
  • Personal-loan applicants with good credit who want free early repayment and no application processing fee.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Prestalo may suit a borrower focused on its listed initial rate of 2.36%.
  • Creditilia ES may suit a borrower focused on its listed initial rate of 4%.
  • Sofkredit may suit a borrower focused on its listed initial-rate range of 8% to 14%.

SMBC card loan

Who it suits

  • Adults resident in Japan who hold an SMBC account or card
  • Borrowers wanting a fixed rate that does not move with the market
  • People who will draw and repay on a revolving limit rather than take a lump sum

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone wanting to pay a loan off early, since free early repayment is no
  • Borrowers who need help by email or live chat, as support runs on phone only
  • Applicants with no SMBC account and no SMBC card, which some channels ask for

Current offers

1822direkt

Current offer

  • Bonus

    0,10 % Zinsvorteil im Online Finanzierungskonzept: 0,10 % Zinsvorteil

    Offer tied to the Online Finanzierungskonzept; 0,10 % surcharge applies to properties that are not energy efficiency class A+ to C

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Bonus

    Praemie fuer Kontonutzung im Girokonto: 200 EUR

    New customers of the 1822direkt Girokonto, combined with 3,50 % Zinsen p.a. for new customers

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • First period offer

    Tagesgeldkonto Neukundenzins: 3,50 % Zinsen p.a.

    Valid for 6 months up to an investment amount of 250,000 EUR, then the then-valid base rate applies

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

SMBC card loan

Current offer

  • First period offer

    Card loan interest 0% campaign for SMBC card customers: 0%

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • First period offer

    Birthday month interest 0% offer (up to the 5th): 0%

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

1822direkt vs SMBC card loan
Country1822direktSMBC card loan
GermanyYesNo
JapanNoYes

Questions about each

1822direkt

What are the fees for a personal loan?+

Personal-loan rates start with an APR of 5.29%. Credit application processing is free of charge under 0 EUR (credit application processing is free of charge), and the stated product fee is 0%.

What costs apply to the mortgage?+

The mortgage initial rate is 3.87%, with an APRC of 3.97% and a fixed period of 10. The stated mortgage product fee is €0.

SMBC card loan

What rate does the SMBC card loan charge?+

Interest is fixed, so the rate you are offered does not change while the loan runs. The published range is an APR of 1.5% to 14.5%, and the rate type is fixed. Rates are set individually, so the figure you see may sit anywhere inside that range.

How much can I borrow?+

The credit line runs from ¥100,000 to ¥8,000,000, which is a large limit by Japanese standards and well above the typical amount on the site. You can draw part of it and repay before drawing again, so you only pay interest on what you use.

SMBC card loan

Higher score in this comparison

9.1/10See alternatives