Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Cathay United Bank vs Sofkredit
Where Cathay United Bank and Sofkredit differ
| Compare |  Cathay United Bank |  Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 1.88%Lower | 10.74% to 18.06% |
| Loan amount | NT$5,000,000 | €12,000 to €300,000 |
| Term | 84 months | 6 to 240 monthsHigher |
| Arrangement fee | Account management fee NT$9,000 for new personal loan cases | 6% to 9% of the loan; on a 15,000 EUR mortgage-guaranteed loan the commission is 900 EUR minimum and 1,350 EUR maximum, charged by the collaborating lender; Sofkredit's own service costs the user nothing |
| Credit check | Hard | Soft prequal |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Broker |
| Loan types | Personal, Secured, Credit line | Secured, Debt consolidation, Business |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | 15-20 days after approval; same day as the notary signing, about one week if documentation is sent quickly |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | a 15,000 EUR loan at 9% interest over 5 years returns a total of 21,750 EUR |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | Natural or legal persons of legal age (+18) with Spanish nationality or residence, holder of a bank account; for mortgage-guaranteed loans a property must be owned, free of charges or with at least 70% of the mortgage repaid |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 6% to 9% |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Poor |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
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Key differences
- Cathay United Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 8.6.
- Sofkredit is available in 2 more countries.
- APR is lower at Cathay United Bank: 1.88% vs 10.74% to 18.06%.
- Term is higher at Sofkredit: 6 to 240 months vs 84 months.
- Support channels: only Cathay United Bank offers Chat.
- Features: only Cathay United Bank offers Credit line.
- Features: only Sofkredit offers Same day funding.
- Loan types: only Cathay United Bank offers Personal, Credit line.
- Loan types: only Sofkredit offers Debt consolidation, Business.
Our verdict on each
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.
Sofkredit
Sofkredit suits Spanish borrowers who want property backed finance and can wait for a notary appointment. The headline cost is an arrangement fee of 6% to 9% of the loan, while Sofkredit's own service adds nothing beyond it.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 8.5 |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.3Ranges cover €12,000 to €300,000, 6 to 240 and 10.74% to 18.06%, with home equity and remortgage and home improvement on the same application. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.3 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| Secured loans | 26 of 472 | 1 of 472 |
| Mortgages | 28 of 719 | 1 of 719 |
| Remortgage deals | 15 of 351 | 1 of 351 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Not confirmed | |
| Spain | Not confirmed | Banco de Espana E020 |
Additional countries for Cathay United Bank: 1. Additional countries for Sofkredit: 3.
A third option
Prestamiau ES has apr at 0% to 36%, against 1.88% for Cathay United Bank and 10.74% to 18.06% for Sofkredit.
Prestamiau ES reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Credit line | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Cathay United Bank Co., Ltd. | Kova Finance, S.L. |
| Headquarters | Taiwan | Spain |
| Founded | 1975 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Mortgages
| Fact | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 8% to 14% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 10.74% to 18.06% |
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 0.5 to 20 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 30% |
| Product fee | Not confirmed | €900 to €1,350 |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage | Home equity, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 1.88%lowest quarter | 10.74% to 18.06%above the median | 8.99% |
| Term | 84 monthsabove the median | 6 to 240 monthshighest quarter | 60 months |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 6% to 9%highest quarter | 0.25 |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
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.
Sofkredit
Pros
- Sofkredit's own service costs nothing, so the only charge to weigh is the lender's arrangement fee of 6% to 9%.
- The loan range €12,000 to €300,000 and the term range 6 to 240 suit both renovation projects and debt consolidation.
- Eligibility leans towards weaker files, with the credit needed listed as poor, and the credit check is soft prequal.
Cons
- The arrangement fee of 6% to 9% is a large share of the loan, and the product fee on a small mortgage guaranteed loan runs €900 to €1,350.
- Maximum loan to value is 30%, well below the 90% across listed lenders, so equity of your own is required.
- Sofkredit is a broker, so the contract sits with the collaborating lender rather than the site you apply through.
Who each suits
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%.
Sofkredit
Who it suits
- Spanish residents and nationals who own a property that is free of charges or has most of its mortgage repaid
- Borrowers consolidating several debts into one payment, since debt consolidation is among the secured, debt consolidation and business
- Homeowners funding renovation work, as home improvement is the main listed use case
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs money the same week without a notary appointment, against the stated funding time
- Borrowers who want to borrow more than a low share of their property's value, given the 30% cap
- Small lenders wanting a quick online application rather than the documentation and notary steps this route involves
Country by country
| Country | Cathay United Bank | Sofkredit |
|---|---|---|
| France | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Spain | No | Yes |
| Taiwan | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Sofkredit
What does Sofkredit charge to arrange a loan?+
The arrangement fee runs 6% to 9% of the loan and is charged by the collaborating lender. On a small mortgage guaranteed loan the commission falls within €900 to €1,350. Sofkredit's own service costs the borrower nothing beyond that lender charge.
How much can I borrow and for how long?+
Loan amounts run €12,000 to €300,000 and terms run 6 to 240, so the range is wide enough for a renovation or a debt consolidation. Terms and amounts are set by the collaborating lender rather than by the site you apply through.
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