Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Cetelem vs Smava
Cetelem vs Smava: the differences
| Compare |  Cetelem |  Smava |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 4.5% | -0.4% to 19.9%Lower |
| Loan amount | €500 to €75,000 | €1,000 to €120,000Higher |
| Term | 7 to 84 months | 6 to 120 monthsHigher |
| 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 | Within a few working days; with digital account check and video ident some banks disburse the same day |
| 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 | 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 | Direct lender | Marketplace |
| Loan types | Personal, Credit line, Debt consolidation, Car | Personal, Car, Debt consolidation, Business |
| Credit check | Not confirmed | Soft prequal |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | At least 18 years old, main residence in Germany, current account at a German bank, regular income, sufficient creditworthiness |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Fair |
Same on both: Arrangement fee (0 EUR), Rate type (Fixed), Free early repayment (No), Use cases (Home improvement).
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Key differences
- Cetelem scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at Cetelem: 1953 vs 2007.
- APR is lower at Smava: -0.4% to 19.9% vs 4.5%.
- Loan amount is higher at Smava: €1,000 to €120,000 vs €500 to €75,000.
- Term is higher at Smava: 6 to 120 months vs 7 to 84 months.
- Support channels: only Smava offers Email.
- Features: only Cetelem offers Credit line.
- Features: only Smava offers Same day funding.
- Loan types: only Cetelem offers Credit line.
- Loan types: only Smava offers Business.
Our verdict on each
Cetelem
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.
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 | Cetelem | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8APR of 4.5% on a fixed basis and an origination fee of 0 EUR, ranked 56 of 350 brands on APR. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 8.8 | 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 | 9.5Higher | 8.5 |
What it costs in practice
Borrow a typical amount over a typical term (estimate at the stated APR)
Cetelem
708.89
708.89
Smava
-61.55 to 3,360.55
-61.55 to 3,360.55
Smava comes out 770.44 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.
How they place
| Ranking | Cetelem | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 521 of 1920 | 122 of 1920 |
| Debt consolidation loans | 162 of 425 | 52 of 425 |
| Car loans | 139 of 432 | 31 of 432 |
| Home improvement loans | 214 of 562 | 59 of 562 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cetelem | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Features | Credit line | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | BNP Paribas Personal Finance | smava GmbH (HRB 97913, Amtsgericht Charlottenburg) |
| Headquarters | France | Germany |
| Founded | 1953Lower | 2007 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Mortgages
| Fact | Cetelem | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 3.2% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 3.2% |
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 10 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 110% |
| Product fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cetelem | Smava | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 4.5%below the median | -0.4% to 19.9%lowest quarter | 8.99% |
| Loan amount | €500 to €75,000above the median | €1,000 to €120,000highest quarter | €40,000 |
| Term | 7 to 84 monthsabove the median | 6 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
Median across 1152 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Cetelem
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.
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
Cetelem
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.
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
Cetelem
Current offer
Bonus
iPhone 18 Pro purchase credit at 0% fixed TAEG: EUR 1,479 borrowed over 24 months, 24 instalments of EUR 61.63, total amount due EUR 1,479, fixed TAEG 0%
Purchase of an iPhone 18 Pro 256 GB financed with Cetelem; cost of the credit borne by Apple; subject to study and acceptance of the file by BNP Paribas Personal Finance; valid until 31/12/2026
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 | Cetelem | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Cetelem
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.
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.