Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Berliner Volksbank vs Cathay United Bank
Where Berliner Volksbank and Cathay United Bank differ
| Compare |  Berliner Volksbank |  Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.49% to 13.29% | 1.88%Lower |
| Loan amount | up to €100,000 | NT$5,000,000 |
| Term | 12 to 120 monthsHigher | 84 months |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Hard |
| Lender type | Broker | Direct lender |
| Loan types | Personal | Personal, Secured, Credit lineCovers more |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | Account management fee NT$9,000 for new personal loan cases |
| Funding time | within 24 hours after approval | Not confirmed |
| Representative example | 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 | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Fixed | Not confirmed |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Eligibility | 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 | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Cathay United Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Berliner Volksbank: 1946 vs 1975.
- APR is lower at Cathay United Bank: 1.88% vs 6.49% to 13.29%.
- Term is higher at Berliner Volksbank: 12 to 120 months vs 84 months.
- Support channels: only Cathay United Bank offers Chat, Help centre.
- Features: only Berliner Volksbank offers Same day funding.
- Features: only Cathay United Bank offers Credit line.
- Loan types: only Cathay United Bank offers Secured, Credit line.
Our verdict on each
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.
Cathay United Bank
Cathay United Bank suits borrowers in Taiwan who want a large personal or secured loan from the lender itself, and it prices well against the field at an APR of 1.88%. The catch is the account management fee that comes with a new personal loan case.
Score breakdown
| Area | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2 | 9.7HigherDirect lending at an APR of 1.88%, up to TWD 5,000,000, plus an account management fee on new personal loan cases. |
| Offer | 8.9Fixed rate of 6.49% to 13.29%, free early repayment, amount to up to €100,000. | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.4Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick Berliner Volksbank if term matter most.
Pick Cathay United Bank if cost, offer, trust, apr, and loan types matter most.
Feature by feature
| Loan types | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Yes | Yes |
| Credit line | No | Yes |
| Secured | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Berliner Volksbank: 1. Additional countries for Cathay United Bank: 1.
If neither fits
Prestamiau ES has apr at 0% to 36%, against 6.49% to 13.29% for Berliner Volksbank and 1.88% for Cathay United Bank.
Prestamiau ES reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 93 of 1932 | 236 of 1932 |
| Mortgages | 12 of 719 | 28 of 719 |
| Remortgage deals | 11 of 351 | 15 of 351 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Not confirmed |
| Features | Same day funding | Credit line |
| Legal entity | Berliner Volksbank eG | Cathay United Bank Co., Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Germany | Taiwan |
| Founded | 1946Lower | 1975 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Mortgages
| Fact | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed period | 5 to 20 years | Not confirmed |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.49% to 13.29%below the median | 1.88%lowest quarter | 8.99 |
| Term | 12 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 84 monthsabove the median | 60 |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
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.
Cathay United Bank
Pros
- Ranks 40 of 350 brands on APR, at 1.88%.
- Borrows up to TWD 5,000,000 for a purchase or a remortgage across a term of 84.
- Covers personal, secured and credit line lending under direct lender, so you deal with the bank rather than a broker.
Cons
- Every case runs a hard credit check, listed as hard.
- New personal loan cases carry an account management fee alongside a rate of 1.88%.
- A term of 84 runs well past the site median, which sits at 36.
Who each suits
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.
Cathay United Bank
Who it suits
- Borrowers in Taiwan who want personal, secured or credit line lending from the lender itself rather than a broker.
- People buying or remortgaging a property, since purchase and remortgage cover both uses.
- Applicants ready for a hard credit check, given hard.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to draw a credit line in stages, since Monzo Flex prices its line at 10% to 23%.
- Borrowers after an app-first application, since Cashspace quotes a range of PHP 12 to PHP 36 on a single market.
- Anyone whose own market rate sits low, since Cashspace ES is listed at 0%.
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 | Berliner Volksbank | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Taiwan | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Cathay United Bank
What rate does Cathay United Bank charge on a personal loan?+
The bank quotes an APR of 1.88% on its personal loan product, well below where most of the lenders on the site sit. The site median runs at 12%, so the gap is wide. Loans reach TWD 5,000,000 over a term of 84.
What fees come with a new personal loan?+
New personal loan cases pay an account management fee, alongside a rate of 1.88% on the product page. The published charge is written for new cases, so anyone already banking with the bank should check the current terms. Budget for the fee as well as the interest when you compare.
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