Bank at 10 000 PLN — what exactly is on offer
Alior Bank: 10 000 PLN cash loan for 36 months, monthly around 322 PLN, RRSO 16.5%, total cost 1 600 PLN. mBank: monthly 318 PLN, RRSO 15.8%, total cost 1 460 PLN. Santander Consumer Bank: monthly 335 PLN, RRSO 18.2%, total cost 1 850 PLN. ING Bank Śląski: monthly 320 PLN, RRSO 16.1%, total cost 1 520 PLN. Each wants BIK above 480-520 points and at least 3 months of employment. Decision online in 15-60 minutes, funds the same day.
Non-bank at 10 000 PLN — who and how much
Smartney: 10 000 PLN for 36 months, monthly around 470 PLN, RRSO 56%, total cost 6 920 PLN. Provident (Long Form): monthly 560 PLN, RRSO 86%, total 10 160 PLN. Aasa: monthly 495 PLN, RRSO 66%, total 7 820 PLN. Wonga (instalment): monthly 510 PLN, RRSO 75%, total 8 360 PLN. Short version, the non-bank costs 4 000-7 500 PLN more than the bank on the same amount and term. That gap is independent of advertising — it's RRSO math.
The crossover: when the bank is cheaper and by how much
At 1 000 PLN for 30 days the bank vs non-bank gap barely exists, since banks rarely offer such small amounts online. At 5 000 PLN the gap starts at 1 500 PLN. At 10 000 PLN over 36 months it's 4 000-7 500 PLN. The bigger the amount and the longer the term, the more you lose at a non-bank. Honestly: a 10 000 PLN non-bank loan makes sense only if a bank turned you down and the amount is genuinely needed within days.
Real monthly payment for 10 000 PLN over 24, 36 and 48 months
Bank (mBank example, RRSO 15.8%): 24 months brings 477 PLN per month and a 1 448 PLN cost. 36 months gives 318 PLN per month and a 1 448 PLN cost. 48 months means 247 PLN per month and a 1 856 PLN cost. Non-bank (Smartney example, RRSO 56%): 24 months runs 619 PLN per month and a 4 856 PLN cost. 36 months gives 470 PLN per month and a 6 920 PLN cost. 48 months means 410 PLN per month and a 9 680 PLN cost. A longer term lowers the monthly but raises the total cost, especially painful at a non-bank.
My take: how to approach 10 000 PLN
Bank first. Apply at three (Alior, mBank, ING), compare the decisions — a bank application leaves a BIK mark only once per 30 days, regardless of how many you file. If all banks refuse, check your BIK history — old chwilówka traces are often the reason and can be erased 3 years after settlement. Non-bank only when the bank failed and the amount is truly necessary. Then Smartney or Aasa, not a chwilówka.