Paying off a loan early is one of the most efficient financial moves for someone who has come into an unexpected sum (a bonus, an inheritance, the sale of an asset). The practical question isn't whether it's worth doing, but exactly how much you save and how the option compares with alternatives (deposit, government bonds, an investment). Our calculator shows the net saving in seconds; the guide below explains the formula, the legal fees, and worked examples with real numbers.
Figures here were checked on 17 June 2026 against GEO 50/2010 and current market rates.
Quick answer
Early repayment is an absolute right under GEO 50/2010 art. 66.
Maximum fee: 1% with more than a year left to maturity, 0.5% with less, 0% on variable-rate mortgages.
Saving = unpaid future interest minus the early repayment fee.
Decision: is the net saving larger than the net yield of the alternative (deposit, Tezaur)?
Use our calculator for a 2-minute estimate.
How the calculation works
The logic is simple. How much interest do you pay over the remaining months if you leave the loan running, versus how much interest plus fee do you pay if you settle now?
For a personal loan with 9.45% APR, 47,500 lei remaining balance, 36 months left, monthly payment 1,518 lei:
Total to pay over the remaining period: 36 × 1,518 = 54,648 lei. Of which principal 47,500 lei, interest 7,148 lei.
If you settle in full today: 47,500 lei principal plus 1% fee (475 lei) plus accrued interest since the last payment (assume 65 lei for the days passed). Total: 48,040 lei.
Net saving: 54,648 − 48,040 = 6,608 lei. Across the cash you would have kept for 36 months, the implied return of the early repayment is 9.21% per year. By contrast, a 3-year Tezaur pays 7.40% net.
Three early repayment scenarios
Scenario 1: full repayment (the most common)
You pay the outstanding balance plus the fee. The loan closes. The bank issues a settlement certificate and updates your Credit Bureau record. Total procedure: 5-10 business days from request.
Scenario 2: partial repayment, lower monthly payment
You pay a chunk of principal. The term stays the same. The bank recalculates the schedule with a lower monthly payment. Useful for those on a tight monthly cashflow who want to ease the load.
Scenario 3: partial repayment, shorter term
You pay a chunk of principal. The monthly payment stays the same. The term shortens. Useful for those who want to close the loan earlier, this is the most economical option cumulatively.
For a 47,500 lei balance with 36 months left at 1,518 lei monthly, a partial repayment of 23,750 lei produces:
| Option | New payment | New term | Total saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower payment | 759 lei | 36 months | 2,835 lei |
| Shorter term | 1,518 lei | 18 months | 4,105 lei |
Steps in our calculator
On /en/calculatoare/rambursare-anticipata you find the tool. The process takes 4 steps.
Step 1: enter the current outstanding balance (from your statement or online banking).
Step 2: the current nominal interest rate (from your contract or statement) and the APR (from the SECCI).
Step 3: the number of months left until contractual maturity.
Step 4: the loan type (standard consumer, fixed-rate mortgage, variable-rate mortgage), which sets the maximum applicable fee.
The result shows the cumulative net saving, the implied return on the early repayment decision, and an automatic comparison with the yields of Tezaur 1/3/5-year bonds and bank deposits.
When early repayment is worth it, and when it isn't
It is clearly worth it when:
• Your loan APR (9.45%) is above the net yield of the alternative (Tezaur 7.40%, deposit 5.30% net).
• You have a large balance (above 14,250 lei) and more than 18 months left.
• It doesn't compromise your emergency cashflow (you keep at least 3-6 months of expenses in reserve).
• The fee (max 1%) is small versus the cumulative saving.
Think twice when:
• The balance is small (under 4,750 lei) and the term short (under 6 months), the saving is likely below 50 lei.
• You have alternatives with a net yield equal to or above the loan APR (rare).
• Your emergency cashflow would be compromised after settlement.
• The loan has a promotional rate below market that could revert to a commercial level on repayment.
Case study: Diana, Cluj, October 2024
Roman Dumitrescu, former BCR risk analyst: "A reader, Diana, 36, accountant at an IT firm in Cluj, received a 23,750 lei bonus in October 2024 and wrote me asking what to do. She had a personal loan with 47,500 lei outstanding, 24 months left, 11.73% APR, monthly payment 2,184 lei.
"I ran 3 scenarios with her: (1) Tezaur 3-year at 7.40% on 23,750 lei brings 5,275 lei cumulative interest net over 5 years; (2) partial repayment of 23,750 with lower payment (new payment 1,092 lei) saves 1,785 lei over the remaining term; (3) partial repayment of 23,750 with shorter term (12 months left) saves 2,620 lei. The partial early repayment fee was 1%, that is 238 lei, net saving 2,382 lei on option 3. Tezaur was 2,893 lei better cumulatively over 5 years, but Diana wanted lower monthly pressure so she went with option 2. The general lesson: the calculation matters more than gut feeling, and a side-by-side look at 3 options makes the decision clear."
Frequently asked questions
Can I make partial repayments multiple times? Yes, no legal cap on the number of partial repayments. In practice banks sometimes ask for 10-15 days notice for each.
Do I pay tax on the saving? No, the saving from early repayment isn't taxable income. It's avoided expense.
What if I sell the collateral (a financed car or home)? The sale proceeds can be used directly for full settlement. The bank issues the collateral release after receiving the funds.
Can I bundle several loans and close them at once? Yes, but each loan has its own early repayment fee. For optimisation, start with the one carrying the highest APR.
Does refinancing count as early repayment? Yes. Refinancing means taking a new loan to close the old one. The old loan's early repayment fee applies, though it often gets offset by the lower APR on the new loan. See when refinancing is really worth it.
Related
• Early repayment calculator
• Refinancing, when it really pays
• What is APR
• Government bonds 2026
Editor's note: "Early repayment is one of the few financial decisions with a guaranteed economic outcome, calculable down to the last leu. The comparison with alternatives is the maths exercise that gives you the answer in 5 minutes. General guidance: for amounts above 14,250 lei with more than 18 months left, the calculation is worth running. For small sums or short remaining terms, the economic instinct of preserving flexible cashflow is often enough."