Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Acorn Finance vs Santander Consumer Bank NO
Where Acorn Finance and Santander Consumer Bank NO differ
| Compare |  Acorn Finance |  Santander Consumer Bank NO |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.99%Lower | 10.45% to 21.93% |
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $100,000 | NOK 30,000 to NOK 400,000 |
| Term | 24 to 240 monthsHigher | 60 months |
| Arrangement fee | 0% on loans over $40,000; some lenders charge 1-6% on loans under $40,000 | 950 NOK |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Hard |
| Funding time | as soon as within one business day | Within a short time after signing the agreement |
| Representative example | $10,000 over 84 payments of $161 at 8.94% interest rate and $0 fees | Forbrukslån: NOK 95,000 over 5 years, nominal rate 11% / effective rate 12.76%, origination fee NOK 950, cost NOK 31,682, total NOK 126,682 |
| Lender type | Marketplace | Direct lender |
| Eligibility | US nationwide; minimum credit score around 560; funds for home improvement expenses; contractors must be licensed and in good standing | Age 23+, minimum annual income NOK 200,000, permanently resident in Norway, no debt collection cases or payment remarks |
| Loan types | Personal, Credit line, Secured, Debt consolidation | Personal, Debt consolidation, Car |
| Rate type | Fixed | Not confirmed |
| Origination fee (%) | 1% to 6% | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free early repayment (Yes), Use cases (Home improvement).
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Key differences
- Santander Consumer Bank NO scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at Santander Consumer Bank NO: 1946 vs 2018.
- APR is lower at Acorn Finance: 6.99% vs 10.45% to 21.93%.
- Term is higher at Acorn Finance: 24 to 240 months vs 60 months.
- Support channels: only Acorn Finance offers Email.
- Support channels: only Santander Consumer Bank NO offers Chat.
- Loan types: only Acorn Finance offers Credit line, Secured.
- Loan types: only Santander Consumer Bank NO offers Car.
Our verdict on each
Acorn Finance
Acorn Finance suits US borrowers funding a home improvement who want a fixed rate and cash released quickly. Its headline rate starts at 6.99%, the arrangement fee is waived on larger loans, and free early repayment means a project that finishes under budget costs less.
Santander Consumer Bank NO
Santander Consumer Bank AS lends directly in Norway, a single market, and suits borrowers funding a home improvement who can clear a hard credit check. Its consumer loans run at an APR of 10.45% to 21.93% on amounts of NOK 30,000 to NOK 400,000, with funding Within a short time after signing the agreement.
Score breakdown
| Area | Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank NO |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherOrigination fees run 1% to 6% and the arrangement fee is waived only once a loan is large enough. | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.5HigherAPR of 10.45% to 21.93%, origination fee of 950 NOK and lending of personal, debt consolidation and car across Norwegian personal. |
| Trust | 8.2 | 9.5Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank NO |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Oregon Consumer Finance License 1817022 Arizona Consumer Lender License CL-1007809 Connecticut Small Loan Company License SLC-1817022 Illinois Residential Mortgage License MB.6761613 North Dakota Money Broker License MB103671 Rhode Island Loan Broker License 20224488LB Vermont Loan Solicitation License LSO-1817022 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Acorn Finance: 1. Additional countries for Santander Consumer Bank NO: 1.
Also worth a look
CreditPlus UA has term at 345 to 365 months, against 24 to 240 months for Acorn Finance and 60 months for Santander Consumer Bank NO.
CreditPlus UA reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank NO |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 866 of 1920 | 293 of 1920 |
| Debt consolidation loans | 302 of 425 | 73 of 425 |
| Home improvement loans | 395 of 562 | 90 of 562 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank NO |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Not confirmed |
| Features | Same day funding, Credit line | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Headway Sales Inc. DBA Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank AS |
| Headquarters | United States | Norway |
| Founded | 2018 | 1946Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank NO | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.99%below the median | 10.45% to 21.93%above the median | 8.99% |
| Term | 24 to 240 monthshighest quarter | 60 monthsat the median | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | 1% to 6%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.25 |
Median across 1152 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Acorn Finance
Pros
- Headline rates from 6.99% sit well below the 12% median across the site
- Free early repayment, so a project that comes in under budget costs less
- Checks are soft prequalification (soft prequal), so a first quote does not carry a full hard search
Cons
- Origination fees of 1% to 6% can add to the headline rate on smaller loans
- Loans are tied to home improvement, so money is released towards a home improvement project rather than freely
- Credit of poor is expected, so a minimum score still applies and some applicants are declined
Santander Consumer Bank NO
Pros
- Free early repayment on consumer loans, so paying off early costs nothing extra
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, giving a phone line and live chat alongside self service
- Lending spans personal, debt consolidation and car, so personal, debt consolidation and car borrowing sit with one lender
Cons
- A hard credit check is required, and the credit file must stay clean of debt collection cases and payment remarks
- An origination fee of 950 NOK adds to the cost of every consumer loan
Who each suits
Acorn Finance
Who it suits
- US borrowers planning a renovation who want predictable fixed payments
- Anyone who prefers a soft prequalification check before a full application
- Borrowers who expect to finish early and repay without penalty
Who should look elsewhere
- People needing money for something other than home improvement
- Anyone outside the US, since the licences it holds are all US state licences
- Borrowers who want a rate locked in before a hard credit check is run
Santander Consumer Bank NO
Who it suits
- Borrowers in Norway who are permanently resident and meet a minimum annual income
- Adults only applicants with no debt collection cases or payment remarks on their record
- Anyone happy to clear a hard credit check before an offer
Who should look elsewhere
- Cashspace, which prices at PHP 12 to PHP 36 and serves a different market
- Monzo Flex, whose rates run at 10% to 23% rather than 10.45% to 21.93% here
- Cashspace ES, which shows an APR of 0% and no consumer loan range to compare
Country by country
| Country | Acorn Finance | Santander Consumer Bank NO |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Acorn Finance
What is the lowest rate Acorn Finance offers?+
The headline rate starts at 6.99%. What you are offered depends on your credit file and the partner lender, so the rate quoted after you apply may sit higher. The spread of rates across the site runs from 6.13% at the lower end to 24.92% at the upper end.
Are there fees on top of the interest rate?+
Origination fees of 1% to 6% can apply, and the arrangement fee is waived only once your loan is large enough, so a smaller loan may carry both. Repaying early costs nothing extra, because free early repayment is part of the deal.
Santander Consumer Bank NO
What rate do I pay on a Santander consumer loan?+
Consumer loans are priced at an APR of 10.45% to 21.93% in Norway, which is the figure to compare against other lenders. The representative example separates a nominal rate from an effective rate, so the effective rate is the clearer guide to the cost of borrowing.
How much can I borrow and for how long?+
Consumer loan amounts run NOK 30,000 to NOK 400,000, with a term of 60. The same range covers the personal, debt consolidation and car lending the bank offers, so a larger project and a smaller one can both be priced on the same terms.