Average personal loan in Ireland is €10,253 as value of drawdowns almost €2.9bn

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland says there were 272,980 personal loans drawn down in 2025

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI)

The value of personal loans in Ireland has risen by 19% and is now at a record €2.9bn, according to the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).

There were 272,980 personal loans drawn down in 2025, BPFI said on Thursday, including car, home improvement, and green loans.

The average personal loan value in 2025 was €10,253, down €172 year on year. During 2025, there were 78,977 car loans valued at over €1.015bn, 18.6% higher in value than in 2024.

There were 67,626 personal loan drawdowns in the fourth quarter of 2025, valued at €693m, representing an increase of 19.9% in volume and 18% in value year on year.

Looking at 2025 as a whole, there were 272,980 personal loans drawn down, up 19% in volume compared to 2024. The value of drawdowns rose by 18.6% to almost €2.9bn. "Record drawdowns of personal loans in 2025 points to strong consumer confidence with many households continuing to seek finance to invest in major life purchases,” said BPFI chief executive Brian Hayes.

Mr Hayes said the personal loan drawdowns in 2025 were more than double both the volume and value levels from 2020. "Notably, the increase in 2025 were not confined to one segment, with activity rising across all categories," he said.

All personal loan segments increased in activity over the year. The fastest increase in activity in 2025 was seen in green personal loans which jumped by 25.8% in volume year-on-year to 6,516 loans, and by 27.7% in value, reaching €152.6m. Green loans are designated as green by the lender and include auto finance and green home improvement loans.

“We know that energy costs have increased significantly this year. With the renewed focus on energy saving measures and renewable energy and the latest SEAI data showing a 186% increase in individual home energy upgrades in Q1 2026, it will be interesting to observe if personal loan trends in the coming months reflects any further shift in consumer priorities,” said Mr Hayes.

The average green loan was €23,105 in Q4 2025, more than twice the average of €10,425 for all loans in the same quarter.

The value of other loans – excluding home improvement and car loans - rose by 19.3% to €252m in the fourth quarter of 2025. A total of 31,702 loans were drawn down in the fourth quarter for ‘other loan’ purposes including education, holidays, and special occasions. The average loan value in Q4 2025 for other loans was €7,957, down from €8,106 in Q4 2024. In total during 2025, there were 125,523 other purpose loans valued at €1.022bn, up by 21.7% in volume and 21.8% in value year on year.

The report is based on statistical information supplied to BPFI by its participating member institutions, including AIB, Avant Money, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, and KBC Bank Ireland (up to February 2023), and including Revolut from February 2024.