Does the 0% promotion apply automatically on the first loan?

Not always. You must explicitly select the promotional period (15 or 30 days) when applying. If you pick the standard period, standard interest applies from day one. Read the form carefully and check the SECCI shows APR 0%.

Can I extend the promotional period if I can't repay in 15 days?

No. If you are even one day late, the promo is cancelled retroactively and the standard rate applies from day 1. Some lenders offer paid extensions, but the extended period is at standard rate, not 0%. Plan repayment precisely on time.

Can I use the 0% promo at several lenders in parallel?

Technically yes, each lender independently evaluates if you are a new client. Two cautions though. First, the Credit Bureau records every enquiry; 4 applications in a month can drop your score by 12-18 points. Second, the NBR 40%-of-income debt cap applies globally, not per lender; near the cap, a second application can be refused.

What goes into the APR during the promotional period?

Only mandatory fees if any exist. On Acredit, the first 15-day loan is interest-free and processing-fee-free, so APR is 0%. On CreditPrime, the first 30 days are interest-free, but a line-activation fee (if any) goes into the calculation; the SECCI shows exactly what's included.

What happens to APR after the promotional period?

It automatically reverts to the lender's standard APR, between 250% and 350% for most micro-credit platforms. If you use the service again (second loan), you are a returning client and pay the standard rate from day one. Only the first-loan promotion gets the 0%.

How the 0% first-loan promotion works at fast credit lenders

Several non-bank lenders in Romania advertise 0% interest for the first loan. It's real, but most users use it wrong and end up paying more than they would on a standard offer.

Quick answer

• Promo is real but limited to your first loan at that lender
• Strict period: 15 days at Acredit or 30 days at CreditPrime
• A single day's delay triggers the standard rate retroactively
• You must explicitly pick the promo period in the form

What „new client” means

Each lender uses your CNP (national ID) to check. If you've ever taken a loan there, even one fully repaid years ago, you're no longer eligible for the promotion. Some lenders reset eligibility after 36-48 months.

How the mechanics work

The promotion is a customer acquisition cost for the lender. They lose around 40-60 lei on the first loan and recover it from returning clients at standard rates. The 0% is genuine; the business model assumes you'll come back.

Acredit case: 15 days at 0% or 30 days at half rate

Acredit offers two new-client variants: a 15-day loan with 0% APR and no fees, or a 30-day loan with 50% interest reduction (around 140% APR vs 280% standard). Max 5,000 lei in both. Income proof of 1,000 lei/month required.

CreditPrime case: 30-day interest-free credit line

CreditPrime activates a credit line up to 4,000 lei for new clients. The first 30 days from activation are interest-free on used amounts. Repay within 29 days and you pay zero interest. Minimum age 22.

Mistakes that cancel the promo

1) Picking the standard period in the form by default. 2) One day's delay triggers standard rate retroactively. 3) Thinking the promo is per loan, not per CNP. 4) Applying from a relative's CNP, blocked by KYC. 5) Confusing „50% reduction” with „zero rate”.

Who really benefits

Urgent need under 14 days, small amount under 2,500 lei, confirmed salary arriving days 10-15 of the month, never used this lender before, fixed repayment budget, not near the NBR 40% debt limit.

What to check before signing

SECCI showing APR 0% for the promo period, late-payment clause text, any processing fee for the disbursement, the 14-day withdrawal right under GEO 50/2010.

Lesson from 8 years consulting

Bogdan Baicu, former consultant at three Romanian non-bank lenders 2014-2022: "In 2021 I had a client who took 7 promo loans in 6 months across 7 different lenders, repaying each on time. His cumulative cost was 0 lei. It worked because he had an Excel calendar and predictable income on the 15th. The opposite case: clients who thought the promo was relaxed and missed by 2-3 days ended up paying over 200 lei on a 1,500 lei loan, plus a credit score hit."

See Top 7 IFN for fast credit 2026, What is APR and compare fast credit on Kreditano.