Updated October 14, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Optimise vs Taishin Bank
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Optimise | Taishin Bank ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 9.49% to 12.6% | 4.12% to 16.39%Lower |
| Loan amount | £10,000 to £500,000 | NT$150,000 to NT$5,000,000 |
| Term | 36 to 360 monthsHigher | 24 to 120 months |
| Arrangement fee | No upfront fees; broker fee added on completion (up to 12.5% of secured loan) | NT$9,000 total related fees in the general credit loan APR example |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Hard |
| Funding time | Funds typically released within two weeks | Funds available within 30 minutes after approval |
| Representative example | Borrow 30,000 over 180 months at 9.25% fixed for 5 years then 9.75% variable; 12.6% APRC, total payable 64,878.60 incl. broker fee 3,750 and lender fee 600 | One-stage amortising credit loan, NT$300,000 for 5 years with a 12-period lock-in period, rate 2.88%-15% floating, total fees NT$9,000, total cost APR 4.12%-16.39% |
| Lender type | Broker | Direct lender |
| Eligibility | Homeowners (mortgaged or own outright); employed, self-employed, retired or benefits-based incomes; all credit scores considered | ROC (Taiwan) nationals aged 20-60; full-time employees with 6 months' tenure and annual income of at least NT$300,000, or Taishin credit card holders of 6 months or more |
| Loan types | Secured, Personal, Debt consolidation, Business, BridgingCovers more | Personal |
| Free early repayment | Not confirmed | No |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% to 12.5% | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable).
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Key differences
- Taishin Bank scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Founded is lower at Taishin Bank: 1992 vs 2009.
- APR is lower at Taishin Bank: 4.12% to 16.39% vs 9.49% to 12.6%.
- Term is higher at Optimise: 36 to 360 months vs 24 to 120 months.
- Support channels: only Taishin Bank offers Chat, Help centre, Community.
- Loan types: only Optimise offers Secured, Debt consolidation, Business.
Our verdict on each
Optimise
Optimise is a UK broker for property-backed lending, built for homeowners whether mortgaged or owning outright, and for borrowers with a poorer credit history. Borrowing of £10,000 to £500,000 is available at 9.49% to 12.6% APR, with terms of 36 to 360, though a broker fee of 0% to 12.5% can be added on completion.
Taishin Bank
Taishin Bank Taiwan offers general personal-credit products with online application, contract verification, document submission and status inquiry. The listed general criteria specify local nationals aged 20 to 60.
Score breakdown
| Area | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Higher | 8.8 |
| Offer | 9.3Offer strength comes from a secured loan with soft prequalification at soft prequal, so property carries the risk instead of a hard credit check. | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.3Higher |
From lowest to highest
| Fact | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 9.49% to 12.6% | 4.12% to 16.39% |
| Term | 36 to 360 months | 24 to 120 months |
What each covers
| Loan types | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Yes | Yes |
| Debt consolidation | Yes | No |
| Secured | Yes | No |
| Business | Yes | No |
| Bridging | Yes | No |
Which one suits you
Pick Optimise if cost, term, and loan types matter most.
Pick Taishin Bank if offer, trust, and apr matter most.
What we checked
Optimise
- optimisefinance.co.uk: 19 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Taishin Bank
- taishinbank.com.tw: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 707 of 1920 | 382 of 1920 |
| Mortgages | 251 of 716 | 99 of 716 |
| Remortgage deals | 179 of 351 | 69 of 351 |
| Equity release | 13 of 32 | 3 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Not confirmed |
| Features | Not confirmed | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Optimise Finance | Taishin International Bank Co., Ltd. (Taishin Bank), Unified No. 86519539 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Taiwan |
| Founded | 2009 | 1992Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Mortgages
| Fact | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 6.59% to 26.3% | 3% to 4.49%Lower |
| APRC | 12.6% | 3.04% to 4.55%Lower |
| Fixed period | 5 years | 20 yearsHigher |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 80% |
| Product fee | £3,750 | NT$8,000 to NT$10,000 |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Buy to let, Equity release | Purchase, Remortgage, Home equity, Equity release |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Optimise | Taishin Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 9.49% to 12.6%above the median | 4.12% to 16.39%lowest quarter | 8.99 |
| Term | 36 to 360 monthshighest quarter | 24 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% to 12.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.25 |
Median across 1144 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Optimise
Pros
- Loans of £10,000 to £500,000 at 9.49% to 12.6% APR, with terms running 36 to 360.
- A fixed rate for 5 before the pricing changes, which suits planned work.
- Every credit score is considered, and the credit profile that fits is poor, so a thinner file is still workable.
Cons
- A broker fee of 0% to 12.5% is added on completion, so the total cost sits above the quoted rate alone.
- The eligibility criteria cover property owners, mortgaged or outright, which narrows the pool of applicants considerably.
- Money moves slowly: Funds typically released within two weeks, so this is no route to funds in the same week.
Taishin Bank
Pros
- General personal-credit product.
- Online application, contract verification, document submission and status inquiry.
Cons
- Additional employment and income criteria apply; the age and nationality criteria do not guarantee approval.
Who each suits
Optimise
Who it suits
- Homeowners with a mortgage or a home owned outright, funding home improvement work.
- Borrowers whose credit profile is poor, since all credit scores are considered.
- Employed, self-employed, retired and benefits-based earners in the UK.
Who should look elsewhere
- Renters and first-time buyers with nothing to pledge: eligibility is limited to homeowners who are mortgaged or own outright.
- Borrowers chasing a quick fix, because Funds typically released within two weeks sets the wait.
- Readers who want a lender's own rate table: Monzo Flex publishes 10% to 23% directly, an easy side by side check.
Taishin Bank
Who it suits
- Taiwan nationals aged 20 to 60 comparing Taishin personal-credit products and online application services.
Current offers
Taishin Bank
Current offer
Bonus
LG Mall 8-day promotion: 1,500 Taishin Points for NT$15,000 spend: 1,500 points
Limited 8-day promotion, spend of NT$15,000 or more; posted 2026/09/22 in Taishin offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Taishin Pay+ new customer offer: Up to 19% discount plus 10% rebate
New Taishin Pay+ customers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Optimise | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Optimise
What rate will I pay, and what does the APR include?+
Advertised rates run 9.49% to 12.6% APR, and the worked example is shown at 12.6% APRC. The APRC is the figure that folds in the broker and lender fees, so it is the better number to compare, while the rate itself is what drives the monthly payment.
Is there an arrangement fee or upfront charge?+
There are no upfront fees. What you pay is a broker fee added on completion of 0% to 12.5%, plus lender fees, and the homeowner loans page quotes a product fee of £3,750. The cost does not appear in your first payment, so the completion stage is where it lands.
How long does it take to get the money?+
The stated timeline is Funds typically released within two weeks, so Optimise is planned borrowing rather than an emergency facility. The credit check runs as a soft prequalification at soft prequal, which means nothing is finalised at the application stage.
Who can borrow from Optimise?+
Eligibility covers homeowners who are mortgaged or own outright, and covers employed, self-employed, retired and benefits-based incomes. All credit scores are considered, and the credit profile that fits is poor, with borrowing of £10,000 to £500,000 available.