What changed in 1.0
The official 1.0 preview says loans require more income to qualify, carry higher interest rates and minimum daily payments, allow a larger maximum at Vantander Bank, and support partial repayment. Those direction-of-change statements are confirmed; the announcement does not provide a permanent table of rates or qualification thresholds.
That makes older Early Access “always borrow this amount” advice unsafe. Read the figures shown in the current banking interface for the save you are playing.
A borrowing checklist
Before accepting a loan, identify the exact bottleneck the money removes. Useful examples include required equipment, opening stock, or a vehicle that supports a working delivery plan. A luxury purchase or a second unfinished shop does not create the same predictable route to repayment.
Write the proposed minimum daily payment into the same budget as rent, wages, deliveries, and personal expenses. Then keep cash aside for stock and repairs. An account balance that reaches zero after setup leaves no room for a weak first week.
When to make a partial repayment
Partial repayment can reduce outstanding debt without closing the entire loan, but cash inside the business also protects operations. Repay only the portion that remains after near-term restocking, payroll, rent, and known setup costs are covered.
For the same reason, maximum eligibility is not a recommendation. The largest available loan can increase daily pressure faster than a young company can stabilize.
Version note
This article records the official 1.0 lending changes and an editorial cash-flow framework as of September 2, 2026. Interest rates and bank limits are deliberately not hard-coded because they may change.