Loans are in their simplest form an agreement between a lender and a borrower about the loan terms. The lender has the funds available and borrows them under specific criteria, often through an interest rate of some sort and some additional fees. This is considered the payment for borrowing the money and is paid back monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually by the one who borrowed the money. As the agreement is made, certain aspects like amount, runtime (how long the period for returning the money is), and interest rate must be set. This is often done by banks to consumers, where banks have the funds available to them and lend them to their customers under a specific contract.

An example of a loan like this could be an amount of 2500 €, over a runtime of 1 year (12 months), with an interest rate of 38.40% and total cost of borrowing at 45.93%. With fees included, the final repayment for this loan is around 3049.92 €. However, this amount is split over 12 terms (months), with a monthly payment of 254.16 € (fees included).

Usually, you would need to consult a local bank to sign up for a loan, but as online banking has become more and more popular, there are several lenders offering convenient online loans. While most traditional banks require a thorough investigation of your financial standpoint regarding monthly income, budgets, last year’s spending, and much more, some lenders only require minimum information, which makes them more accessible. Some online lenders might also offer lower interest rates since they are not burdened by paying rent for a physical subsidiary in the area. However, usually the interest rates for online loans tend to be higher than for conventional bank loans.

To apply for a loan, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be over 18 years old. Some banks might have a minimum age requirement of 21 or even 25 years of age. This requirement often comes with bigger loans, so there are still plenty of loans available to you even if you are only 18.
• Have your permanent place of residence in Estonia.
• Have a stable income source. Banks offer loans on the basis of getting back the money after the runtime has passed. If you have no income source, you cannot pay back your loan with the added interest, which in turn means you will not be able to take a loan in the first place.
• Have the option to identify yourself with Smart-ID, Mobile-ID, or with an Estonian ID-card.
• Have a bank account in Estonia.
• Have a good credit history or no current payment remarks.
• Some lenders also check that you are not registered as a person with gambling restrictions.

Here is an overview of the loans offered by online lenders in Estonia, which you can also find right here on Moneezy:

Classic loans

Consumer Loans (Tarbimislaen), Quick Loans (Kiirlaen), Mini Loan (Minilaen or Väikelaen),and Unsecured Personal Loans (Tagatiseta laen) are the four different loans that follow the classic loan structure in Estonia. You apply for a loan of a certain amount, as well as decide on a runtime for paying it back with the added interest and fees. The different terms are mainly used to distinguish between small and big loans. SMS-Loans (SMS laen) are mainly focused on smaller loans but are available within a couple of hours and through SMS.

These loans can be used for a lot of different things. The smaller loans can be used for an unexpected expense that has come through, an emergency that must be taken care of, or invested in an item you've wanted for years. The bigger consumer loans are more suited towards initiating start-ups, loans for property or vehicles, as well as energy optimization or renovations in your home. The possibilities are endless, which is why the consumer loan is the most common loan.

Special loans

Consolidation Loans (Refinantseerimine) is a term for combining several smaller loans into one big loan, to avoid paying huge interest for several loans at a time. These are especially useful when consumers have taken several small loans and are now burdened with several payment dates and different interest rates.

Lastly, we have Overdraft (Krediidikonto or Krediidiliin), which allows you to exceed the amount of money on your account by a set amount each month, without paying the normal fees. This is especially useful when conducting a big project, for example, a house renovation, where unexpected expenses can come out of nowhere. The loan is only active if your account experiences overdraft, and the loan will cover the rest of your expenses. Once next month’s paycheck comes in, the loan is automatically paid off with a small interest rate.

Pros

• Loans that suit your situation
• Allows you to realize your projects
• Transparency throughout the entire process
• No loan justification
• Convenient and flexible

Cons

• Lifestyle inflation, where you spend more money because you have more money
• Debt, if you are not careful with your budget
• Reckless spending
• Extra fees if you do not comply with payment dates

If you are not realistic and thorough in your planning of budgets in connection with your loans, you can end up having trouble paying them back over time. Furthermore, if you apply for a loan to spend on devaluating assets such as technology, fashion, and trends, you are not looking at investments, but rather at reckless spending, something to avoid using loans for. Being mindful and intentional about your loans is the most important aspect. But if you keep these risks in mind when applying for a loan, they can be a great source to realize projects.

Remember that all loans are financial obligations and must be paid back.