Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
BBVA vs Berliner Volksbank
What sets them apart
| Compare | BBVA ReviewVisitVisit |  Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 8.08% to 9.16% | 6.49% to 13.29%Lower |
| Loan amount | €3,000 to €75,000 | up to €100,000Higher |
| Term | 24 to 96 months | 12 to 120 monthsHigher |
| Credit check | Hard | Soft prequal |
| Funding time | Money credited to your BBVA account after signing, in 3 steps | within 24 hours after approval |
| Representative example | EUR 10,000 over 8 years: EUR 145.47/month at 9.16% TAE, opening fee 0%, total EUR 13,976.85 | Nettodarlehensbetrag 10.000,- EUR, effektiver Jahreszins 9,49%, gebundener Sollzinssatz 9,10% p.a., Laufzeit 84 Monate, 84 monatliche Raten a 161,40 EUR, Gesamtbetrag 13.557,77 EUR |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Broker |
| Free early repayment | No | YesHas it |
| Eligibility | Must be a BBVA customer with an account; the 1% rate discount requires payroll (min net EUR 600/month) or pension (min EUR 300/month) domiciled at BBVA | Age 18+; permanently employed (not self-employed); monthly income at least 750 EUR; at least 6 months with the employer and probation ended; residence in Germany with official registration address; creditworthiness check passed |
| Arrangement fee | 0 EUR | Not confirmed |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rate type (Fixed), Loan types (Personal), Use cases (Home improvement).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- BBVA scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at BBVA: 1857 vs 1946.
- APR is lower at Berliner Volksbank: 6.49% to 13.29% vs 8.08% to 9.16%.
- Free early repayment: only Berliner Volksbank.
- Loan amount is higher at Berliner Volksbank: up to €100,000 vs €3,000 to €75,000.
- Term is higher at Berliner Volksbank: 12 to 120 months vs 24 to 96 months.
Our verdict on each
BBVA
BBVA suits existing customers in Spain who want a fixed-rate personal loan with fees of 0 EUR and the money landing in their BBVA account. The cost picture is the draw: APR of 8.08% to 9.16% sits below the site median, 12%, though the account requirement narrows who can apply.
Berliner Volksbank
Berliner Volksbank suits permanently employed residents of Germany borrowing for home improvements, with a fixed rate of 6.49% to 13.29% and a ceiling of up to €100,000. Monzo Flex charges 10% to 23%, so this lender suits borrowers who want a fixed monthly cost and free overpayments.
Score breakdown
| Area | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9APR of 8.08% to 9.16% on a personal loan with fees of 0 EUR, below the site median, 12%. | 9.2Higher |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.9Fixed rate of 6.49% to 13.29%, free early repayment, amount to up to €100,000. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
Choosing between them
Pick BBVA if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Berliner Volksbank if cost, apr, loan amount, and term matter most.
From lowest to highest
| Fact | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 8.08% to 9.16% | 6.49% to 13.29% |
| Loan amount | €3,000 to €75,000 | up to €100,000 |
| Term | 24 to 96 months | 12 to 120 months |
How they place
| Ranking | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 81 of 1932 | 93 of 1932 |
| Mortgages | 9 of 719 | 12 of 719 |
| Home improvement loans | 34 of 562 | 42 of 562 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Features | Not confirmed | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. | Berliner Volksbank eG |
| Headquarters | Spain | Germany |
| Founded | 1857Lower | 1946 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone |
Mortgages
| Fact | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 5 to 20 years |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 8.08% to 9.16%below the median | 6.49% to 13.29%below the median | 8.99 |
| Loan amount | €3,000 to €75,000above the median | up to €100,000highest quarter | €40,000 |
| Term | 24 to 96 monthsabove the median | 12 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
BBVA
Pros
- APR of 8.08% to 9.16% sits below the site median, 12%.
- Fees of 0 EUR on a personal loan, so the quoted rate is not padded by an opening charge.
- Money is credited to the BBVA account after signing, so settlement needs no new payee setup.
Cons
- Free early repayment is no, so clearing the balance sooner carries a cost.
- Eligibility starts with holding a BBVA account, and the rate discount asks for a payroll or pension domiciled at BBVA.
- The credit check is hard, so a decline can leave a mark on the credit file.
Berliner Volksbank
Pros
- Free early repayment means an overpayment costs nothing, so a borrower with a bonus or a windfall can cut the term and the interest.
- The rate is fixed, so the monthly figure agreed at the start is the monthly figure paid for the whole run of the loan.
- Funding arrives within 24 hours after approval, which suits a repair bill that cannot wait for the next payday.
Cons
- Eligibility asks for permanent employment and a registered address in Germany, so self-employed applicants and freelancers sit outside the product.
- The credit check starts at soft prequal, so a full creditworthiness check is still part of the route before the loan completes.
- The product is a personal loan, listed under personal, so a car, a business or a secured loan is outside what the bank covers.
Who each suits
BBVA
Who it suits
- Existing BBVA account holders in Spain with a domiciled payroll or pension who want a rate they can plan around.
- Borrowers funding a home improvement project who can spread the cost, since terms run 24 to 96.
- Readers who prefer the lender to hold the contract rather than a broker, since BBVA is a direct lender.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cashspace, priced at an APR of PHP 12 to PHP 36, if you want a different rate band than BBVA's 8.08% to 9.16%.
- Monzo Flex, at 10% to 23%, for readers comparing a UK lender rather than a Spanish bank.
- Cashspace ES, whose listed APR of 0% reads lower than BBVA's 8.08% to 9.16%.
Berliner Volksbank
Who it suits
- Permanently employed residents of Germany with a registered address who are past probation and can show a steady income.
- Borrowers funding a home improvement rather than a car, a business or a consolidation of other debts.
- Anyone who can commit to a fixed monthly cost over 12 to 120 and clear the balance early without a charge.
Who should look elsewhere
- Self-employed borrowers, because the eligibility rule asks for permanent employment and settled probation, which narrows who can apply.
- Borrowers chasing a promotional quote, since Cashspace ES lists 0% against 6.49% to 13.29% here.
- Borrowers priced out by a higher headline rate, since Monzo Flex quotes 10% to 23% against 6.49% to 13.29% here.
Current offers
Berliner Volksbank
Current offer
Bonus
200 Euro Neukundenbonus: 200 EUR
For new customers of the free Blauorange current account for under-30s (account running and cards free of charge, no minimum deposit)
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Reisebonus bei Reisebuchungen: up to 10.00%
Included with the free Blauorange current account incl. Gold credit card and girocard; travel insurance package included
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | BBVA | Berliner Volksbank |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Spain | Yes | No |
Questions about each
BBVA
What rate does BBVA charge on a personal loan?+
The personal loan carries an APR of 8.08% to 9.16%, fixed for the whole term. The published example pairs that rate with fees of 0 EUR, so the quoted figure is not padded by an opening charge. Terms run 24 to 96, which shapes the monthly instalment.
Is BBVA regulated?+
BBVA appears in the Spanish register under the Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), listed as licence MiCA CASP K8MS7FD7N5Z2WQ51AZ71. The legal entity behind the brand is Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., and the bank is a direct lender, so the contract is with the bank itself.
Berliner Volksbank
What rate does Berliner Volksbank charge on a private loan?+
The rate is 6.49% to 13.29% and it is fixed, so the cost does not move while the loan runs. The amount available goes to up to €100,000. A lower headline rate is not always the cheapest option, so the representative example is worth reading before applying.
How long does it take to get the money?+
Funds arrive within 24 hours after approval, and same-day funding sits behind that promise, so a home improvement bill that cannot wait is the case it serves. The clock starts once an application is approved and the credit check has been passed.