Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Berliner Volksbank vs Smava
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Berliner Volksbank |  Smava |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.49% to 13.29% | -0.4% to 19.9%Lower |
| Loan amount | up to €100,000 | €1,000 to €120,000Higher |
| Term | 12 to 120 months | 6 to 120 months |
| Funding time | within 24 hours after approval | Within a few working days; with digital account check and video ident some banks disburse the same day |
| 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 | Ratenkredit: EUR 50,000 net loan, 60 months, 8.70% effective annual rate, 60 monthly instalments of EUR 1,022.73, total EUR 61,363.57, Vereinigte Volksbank Raiffeisenbank eG |
| Lender type | Broker | Marketplace |
| Free early repayment | YesHas it | No |
| 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 | At least 18 years old, main residence in Germany, current account at a German bank, regular income, sufficient creditworthiness |
| Loan types | Personal | Personal, Car, Debt consolidation, BusinessCovers more |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 0 EUR |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Fair |
Same on both: Credit check (Soft prequal), Rate type (Fixed), Use cases (Home improvement).
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Key differences
- Berliner Volksbank scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at Berliner Volksbank: 1946 vs 2007.
- APR is lower at Smava: -0.4% to 19.9% vs 6.49% to 13.29%.
- Free early repayment: only Berliner Volksbank.
- Loan amount is higher at Smava: €1,000 to €120,000 vs up to €100,000.
- Support channels: only Smava offers Help centre.
- Loan types: only Smava offers Car, Debt consolidation, Business.
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.
Smava
Smava suits German borrowers who want one comparison across personal, car, consolidation and business loans, plus home finance, without paying a setup fee. It scores 6 overall, with -0.4% to 19.9% on loans and 3.2% on home finance, but early repayment is not free.
Score breakdown
| Area | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
| Offer | 8.9Fixed rate of 6.49% to 13.29%, free early repayment, amount to up to €100,000. | 9.1HigherAmounts of €1,000 to €120,000, rates of -0.4% to 19.9%, no origination fee of 0 EUR and same day funding. |
| Trust | 9.1Higher | 8.5 |
Cost in a real example
Borrow a typical amount over a typical term (estimate at the stated APR)
Berliner Volksbank
1,032 to 2,180.17
1,032 to 2,180.17
Smava
-61.55 to 3,360.55
-61.55 to 3,360.55
Smava comes out 1,093.55 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 93 of 1932 | 118 of 1932 |
| Mortgages | 12 of 719 | 17 of 719 |
| Remortgage deals | 11 of 351 | 14 of 351 |
| Home improvement loans | 42 of 562 | 56 of 562 |
What each covers
| Loan types | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Yes | Yes |
| Debt consolidation | No | Yes |
| Car | No | Yes |
| Business | No | Yes |
| Use cases | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Home improvement | Yes | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Features | Same day funding | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Berliner Volksbank eG | smava GmbH (HRB 97913, Amtsgericht Charlottenburg) |
| Headquarters | Germany | Germany |
| Founded | 1946Lower | 2007 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Mortgages
| Fact | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 3.2% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 3.2% |
| Fixed period | 5 to 20 yearsHigher | 10 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 110% |
| Product fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Berliner Volksbank | Smava | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.49% to 13.29%below the median | -0.4% to 19.9%lowest quarter | 8.99 |
| Loan amount | up to €100,000highest quarter | €1,000 to €120,000highest quarter | €40,000 |
| Term | 12 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 6 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 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.
Smava
Pros
- Loan amounts run €1,000 to €120,000 with terms of 6 to 120
- Loan types cover personal, car and debt consolidation in one comparison
- A soft prequalification credit check (soft prequal) means you can check rates before a full application
Cons
- Free early repayment: no, so paying a loan off early carries a cost
- Credit needed is fair, and eligibility also requires a German bank account and regular income
- A marketplace, so the rate you get depends on which partner bank responds and the final offer comes from them
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.
Smava
Who it suits
- Adults in Germany with a current account at a German bank and regular income
- Anyone consolidating debts, funding a car or improving a home who wants to compare offers rather than one lender
- Borrowers who want a fixed rate over 6 to 120 on a personal loan
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want to repay a loan early at no cost
- Borrowers without regular income or a German current account
- Anyone needing a variable-rate loan, since the model is fixed rate
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
Smava
Current offer
Bonus
500 EUR Amazon.de voucher on taking out a loan: 500 EUR Amazon.de voucher
Loan of at least EUR 30,000 concluded via the 'Zum Kreditvergleich mit Gutschein' button only; voucher sent by email after the 14-day withdrawal period has passed; restrictions apply per amazon.de/gc-legal
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Cheaper-goes-does-not-exist guarantee: One-off compensation of the difference if a comparable domestic bank offer is cheaper
Applies to loans brokered via smava; amount follows the offers received in the smava credit comparison, stated without hidden conditions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Berliner Volksbank | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | 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.
Smava
What does Smava charge for setting up a loan?+
There is no origination fee on the personal loan: the arrangement fee is 0 EUR, and the product fee is €0. What you pay instead is interest on the borrowed amount, which is priced at -0.4% to 19.9% for your own profile.
How much can I borrow and over what term?+
Loan amounts run €1,000 to €120,000, and terms run 6 to 120. The rate model is fixed, so the figure you are offered is set at the start and does not drift with market moves.
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