What is a Ratenkredit?

A Ratenkredit is the standard German instalment loan: you borrow a fixed amount and repay it in equal monthly instalments (Raten) over a set term. Each instalment is part interest and part principal, just like an annuity mortgage but usually unsecured and shorter.

What is the effektiver Jahreszins?

It is the effective annual percentage rate that German lenders must quote. Unlike the nominal rate (Sollzins), it includes compounding and most fees, so it is the figure to compare across offers. Typical German personal-loan effective rates run from about 3 to 8 percent for good credit.

How is the monthly payment worked out?

It uses the annuity formula: payment = loan × r × (1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1), where r is the monthly rate and n the number of months. This keeps the instalment constant while the interest portion shrinks and the principal portion grows over time.

Can I repay a German loan early?

Yes. EU consumer-credit rules let you repay a Ratenkredit early, and the lender may charge a Vorfälligkeitsentschädigung capped at 1 percent of the amount repaid early (0.5 percent if under a year remains). This calculator does not model early repayment penalties.

Does this include the Restschuldversicherung?

No. Many German loans are offered with optional residual-debt insurance (Restschuldversicherung). It raises the cost and must be shown in the effective rate if compulsory. Enter the rate your bank quotes; this tool models the loan itself only.

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A German Ratenkredit is repaid in equal monthly instalments over a fixed term. This calculator turns the loan amount, the effektiver Jahreszins, and the term into a constant monthly payment and a full amortisation schedule so you can see exactly how the debt shrinks.

How it works

The instalment is a standard annuity payment. The same amount is paid each month; early on most of it is interest, later most of it is principal:

r = effective annual rate / 12
payment = loan × r × (1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1)
each month: interest = balance × r; principal = payment − interest; balance −= principal

If the rate is zero the payment is simply the loan divided by the number of months. Total interest is the sum of all payments minus the original loan.

Example

A 15,000 EUR loan at a 5.9 percent effective rate over 48 months has a monthly instalment of about 351 EUR. Over four years you repay roughly 16,855 EUR, so the total interest is about 1,855 EUR.

Notes

The schedule assumes a fixed rate and no fees beyond those already in the effective rate. It does not model early-repayment penalties or optional Restschuldversicherung. Everything is computed in your browser.