Cetelem review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Cetelem is a French direct lender for personal loans and a revolving credit line, aimed at people funding a home project who want the payment to stay level. An APR of 4.5% on a fixed rate is the number that separates it from the lenders next to it.

Key facts

Best for
A low fixed rate on a personal loan or revolving credit line in France.
APR
4.5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
€500 to €75,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Term
7 to 84 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Arrangement fee
0 EUR (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Funding time
Online application in about 8 minutes with an immediate pre-approval response, file studied within 72 working hours; credit line payouts by bank transfer within 2 working days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Representative example
Personal loan: EUR 15,000 borrowed over 48 months, monthly instalment EUR 341.44, fixed TAEG 4.50%, total amount due EUR 16,389.12 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rate type
Fixed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free early repayment
No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Personal, Credit-line, Debt-consolidation, Car (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Use cases
Home-improvement (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
BNP Paribas Personal Finance (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
France (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1953 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Fixed rate
Features
Credit line
Official website
cetelem.fr

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaLinkedInXfacebook.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Borrowing of €500 to €75,000 across terms of 7 to 84 months.
  • A revolving credit line listed alongside personal, debt consolidation and car loans (personal, credit line and debt consolidation).
  • Direct lending from BNP Paribas Personal Finance (BNP Paribas Personal Finance), so a single company holds the contract.

Cons

  • Free early repayment is not included, so clearing the balance early comes with a charge.
  • Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no live chat or email listed.
  • Lending sits in a single market, France (FR), so borrowers elsewhere need a different provider.
Cetelem

Ready to try Cetelem?

Scored 9.1 / 10 by BorrowCue.

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Who it suits

  • People in France planning a home improvement, the stated use case (home improvement).
  • Borrowers who want the same lender for a personal loan, a credit line, debt consolidation and car finance (personal, credit line and debt consolidation).
  • Anyone content to hold a fixed rate for the whole term (fixed).

Who should look elsewhere

  • Borrowers outside France, who need a provider in their own market, and should weigh Monzo Flex at 10% to 23%.
  • Readers chasing the lowest cost, since Cashspace lists PHP 12 to PHP 36 and Cashspace ES 0%.
  • Shoppers who want chat or email help, as support runs on phone and help centre only.

Safety and regulation

Cetelem is a direct lender in France rather than a broker (direct lender), and the legal entity behind the brand is BNP Paribas Personal Finance. It is registered with ORIAS under number 07 023 128 and also appears with the Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution. The published representative example shows a personal loan with a monthly instalment and the total amount due.

How Cetelem compares

Where Cetelem is available

Available
France
Licence in France
ORIAS (07 023 128), checked September 26, 2026
Licence in France
Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution (ACPR), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does a Cetelem personal loan cost?+

The published rate is an APR of 4.5% and it is fixed (fixed), with an origination fee of 0 EUR on the loan. Borrowing runs €500 to €75,000 over terms of 7 to 84 months, and the representative example published with the product sets out the monthly instalment and the total due.

Can I repay a Cetelem loan early without a charge?+

Free early repayment is not included, so ending the loan before the agreed term comes with a cost. Borrowers who expect to clear the balance sooner should price that in first. The published term runs 7 to 84 months.

Who is the actual lender?+

Cetelem is a direct lender rather than a broker (direct lender), and the legal entity behind the name is BNP Paribas Personal Finance (BNP Paribas Personal Finance). The agreement is with that company, so servicing and complaints stay with the lender.

Is Cetelem properly regulated in France?+

It is registered with ORIAS under number 07 023 128 and also appears with the Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution, the French prudential supervisor. Both entries sit in the legal notices for the French operation, published alongside the loan terms.

How long does applying and getting the money take?+

The application runs online and gives an immediate pre-approval response while the file is studied. Once a credit line is approved, the money arrives by bank transfer. The range available is €500 to €75,000, and phone help is listed for applicants (phone and help centre).

What can I borrow the money for?+

Home improvement is the stated use case (home improvement). The range covers personal loans, a revolving credit line, debt consolidation and car loans (personal, credit line and debt consolidation), so the same lender can cover a project and the car. The revolving credit line is the feature that sets it apart (credit line).

Does Cetelem lend outside France?+

Lending sits in a single market, France (FR), with the brand headquartered there. Borrowers in other markets need a provider registered where they live, and Monzo Flex at 10% to 23% is another option on the comparison.

How do I get help from Cetelem?+

Support runs on phone and help centre: a phone line and a help centre, with no live chat or email listed. Both sit with the same direct lender that reviews the file (direct lender), so a question about an application or an instalment goes to the same place.

Sources

Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Credit check.

Cetelem

Cetelem

A low fixed rate on a personal loan or revolving credit line in France.

9.1/10See alternatives

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