Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Borrowell vs Cathay United Bank
Borrowell vs Cathay United Bank: the differences
| Compare |  Borrowell |  Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 0%Lower | 1.88% |
| Loan amount | CA$500 to CA$50,000 | NT$5,000,000 |
| Term | 48 months | 84 monthsHigher |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Hard |
| Lender type | Marketplace | Direct lender |
| Loan types | Personal, Debt consolidation, Business, Car | Personal, Secured, Credit line |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | Account management fee NT$9,000 for new personal loan cases |
| Funding time | Usually within a matter of days of approval by loan partners | Not confirmed |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Eligibility | Canadian citizen or permanent resident, age of majority in province of residence; loan applicants 18+ | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Cathay United Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at Cathay United Bank: 1975 vs 2014.
- APR is lower at Borrowell: 0% vs 1.88%.
- Term is higher at Cathay United Bank: 84 months vs 48 months.
- Support channels: only Cathay United Bank offers Chat, Phone.
- Loan types: only Borrowell offers Debt consolidation, Business, Car.
- Loan types: only Cathay United Bank offers Secured, Credit line.
Our verdict on each
Borrowell
Borrowell suits Canadian borrowers with poor credit who want a marketplace willing to consider them, and its credit building loan carries an APR of 0% over 48. Loans run CAD 500 to CAD 50,000, funding follows partner approval, and the check itself is soft prequal.
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 | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5 | 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 | 9.0 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 8.3 | 9.4Higher |
What each covers
| Loan types | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Yes | Yes |
| Debt consolidation | Yes | No |
| Credit line | No | Yes |
| Secured | No | Yes |
| Car | Yes | No |
| Business | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
Additional countries for Borrowell: 1. Additional countries for Cathay United Bank: 1.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 109 of 1932 | 236 of 1932 |
| Mortgages | 15 of 719 | 28 of 719 |
| Remortgage deals | 13 of 351 | 15 of 351 |
Sources behind this comparison
Borrowell
- borrowell.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Cathay United Bank
- cathaybk.com.tw: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Credit line |
| Legal entity | Borrowell Inc. | Cathay United Bank Co., Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Canada | Taiwan |
| Founded | 2014 | 1975Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Mortgages
| Fact | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyerCovers more | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 0%lowest quarter | 1.88%lowest quarter | 8.99% |
| Term | 48 monthsbelow the median | 84 monthsabove the median | 60 months |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Borrowell
Pros
- The credit building loan runs at an APR of 0% with early repayment free.
- The check is soft prequal and the credit bar is poor, so thin files still get considered.
- Borrowing covers personal, debt consolidation and business needs, with loans of CAD 500 to CAD 50,000.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent queries.
- As a marketplace, the rate and the approval sit with loan partners rather than with Borrowell.
- Loan amount ranks 457 of 685, so the ceiling is modest beside lenders offering more.
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
Borrowell
Who it suits
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are adults at the age of majority in their province.
- Borrowers with poor credit who want a soft prequal check before an application goes to a partner.
- Borrowers rebuilding a credit file who can let a loan run for 48 and clear it early without a charge.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cashspace, at PHP 12 to PHP 36, if you want a stated rate range rather than partner-set pricing.
- Cashspace ES, whose €100 to €5,000 is a better fit for smaller sums.
- Monzo Flex, at 10% to 23%, if a fixed published range matters more to you than a partner marketplace.
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
Borrowell
Current offer
Bonus
Credit Builder cash back rewards on select Marketplace products
Credit Builder account in good standing with first payment made; eligible third-party product successfully acquired; valid email on file; minimum redeemable balance $20; rewards paid in CAD
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Borrowell | Cathay United Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Taiwan | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Borrowell
What does a Borrowell loan cost?+
Borrowell's credit building loan runs at an APR of 0% over a term of 48, and early repayment is free on it. Its personal, debt consolidation and business loans go through loan partners who set their own pricing, so this rate does not cover the whole marketplace.
What credit check does Borrowell use?+
The check on a Borrowell application is soft prequal, and the credit bar sits at poor. That is a lower bar than most lenders ask, which is the point of a marketplace, but a partner still decides both the approval and the rate you are offered.
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.