A fast loan and a personal loan are both unsecured consumer credit.
Four differences matter for the decision: who lends the money, what the borrowed amount costs, how long you repay and how your income is assessed.
ANAF income checks are separate from Credit Bureau history. Check provider documents and published ANAF methods before applying; no certificate does not mean no query.
The short answer
• Personal loans are offered mainly by banks, over months or years.
• Fast loans are offered mainly by NBFIs (IFN), for smaller amounts and short terms, usually at a higher cost.
• Both types of lender must assess your ability to repay before the agreement.
• The total cost is capped by Law 243/2024, and the exact figure appears in the SECCI form of your offer.
Comparison by criteria
| Criterion | Personal loan | Fast loan |
|---|---|---|
| Who lends | Usually a bank | Usually an NBFI (IFN) |
| Term | Months or years | Days or months, depending on the product |
| Cost | Usually a lower APR | Usually a higher APR, especially on small amounts |
| Income assessment | Income documents or electronic checks | Also mandatory; documents or electronic checks vary by product |
| Where to see the exact cost | In the SECCI form and the agreement, for your amount and term | |
What the law says
GEO 50/2010, art. 30, requires the lender to assess the consumer's creditworthiness before the agreement, based on sufficient information. The rule applies to banks and NBFIs alike.
An NBFI not asking for an employer certificate does not mean it skips the income check: it can use other documents or electronic checks.
Cost is not unlimited either: Law 243/2024 sets a cap on the total cost of consumer credit, explained in the dedicated guide.
How to compare correctly
Request offers for the same amount and term from both types of lender. Compare the total amount payable, APR and fees in the SECCI form, not only the monthly payment. A small payment over a long term can mean a higher total cost. Active offers can be filtered by amount and term in the Kreditano list.
When each one makes sense
A personal loan suits a planned expense repaid in instalments over a longer period, if you meet the bank's conditions. A fast loan can cover a small emergency that you can repay in full within a short time. Without a clear repayment plan neither option solves the problem, and a second loan taken to close the first one raises the cost.
From the editorial team's experience
Maria Popescu, former financial journalist at Ziarul Financiar 2010-2022: "In a 2018 series on over-indebtedness, the most common pattern: an older woman taking a 1,500-lei fast loan for an urgent bill, failing to repay, taking a 2,000-lei second loan to close the first, repeating 2-3 times, ending up with 8,000-12,000 lei cumulative debt and a wrecked credit score. The total cost for an initial 800-lei bill: 4,500-7,000 lei. Tragically, in 80% of cases, the person was eligible at their main bank for a personal loan from the start."
I compared a bank and an NBFI for the same need, not as abstract labels. Amount, term and total cost need to be read together before choosing.
I keep the same amount and payment date in the table because changing either one can reverse the comparison.
I also separate funding speed from credit cost because a faster answer does not offset a more expensive repayment.
Maria Popescu, Editor: Consumer Products