Loans What Is a Soft Loan? Soft loans explained in less than four minutes By Christy Rakoczy Updated on January 19, 2022 Reviewed by Cierra Murry Fact checked by J.R. Duren In This Article View All In This Article Definition and Examples of Soft Loans How Do Soft Loans Work? Who Offers Soft Loans? Do Soft Loans Offer a Return? Photo: Marko Geber / Getty Images Definition Soft loans are loans with more generous repayment terms than most commercially available loans. They are also referred to as "concessional loans," and they may have below-market interest rates and long grace periods before repayment starts. Definition and Examples of Soft Loans Soft loans offer more generous repayment options than loans at the market rate. They are generally made by government agencies or developmental institutions. Alternate name: Concessional loan While lenders offer most loans with the goal of earning a profit, they offer soft loans for other reasons. Soft loans might be used to address disasters such as the growing refugee crisis and to strengthen or weaken allegiances between nations. For example, in 2021, the Export-Import Bank of India agreed to provide a soft loan worth $10.4 million to Eswatini to construct a disaster recovery site. The Export-Import Bank of Thailand also established a soft loan program for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. These loans carried a special interest rate of 2% annually for the first two years, and borrowers could repay the borrowed amount over seven years. No payments were due for the first six months. How Do Soft Loans Work? Soft loans have much more favorable repayment terms than traditional sources of financing. Common features include: Long grace periods before borrowers must start making paymentsInterest rates below market value In many cases, borrowers must use their soft-loan money for a specific purpose, such as providing aid to refugees or investing in infrastructure, agriculture, or information technology. Note Because soft loans are not traditional loans, there's no application process as there would be for most borrowers of conventional loans. Agencies sometimes decide to make these loans to developing nations for a strategic purpose, such as strengthening political alliances, rather than based on the borrower’s credit profile or ability to repay the loan. Like most loans, soft loans typically have a repayment period and may even provide 0% financing. A good example of a soft-loan provider with 0% rates is the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which offers soft loans via three different lending programs: extended-credit (ECF), standby-credit (SCF), and rapid-credit (RCF) facilities: ECF: 0% for a limited time, no payments due for the first five-and-a-half years.SCF: 0% interest for a limited time, no payments due for the first four years.RCF: Permanent 0% interest rate, no payments due for the first five-and-a-half years. Who Offers Soft Loans? Government agencies and developmental agencies typically issue soft loans. Export-import banks and groups such as the IMF are examples of organizations or federal agencies that offer soft loans. The terms of the loans are set by these agencies and negotiated with the recipients. Note In 2019 the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) issued a pair of soft-loan agreements for $140 million to Ethiopia that was negotiated by the two groups. Do Soft Loans Offer a Return? While soft loans can provide opportunities for economic growth for recipients, lenders who make soft loans may not see positive returns on their financing for years, if ever. And, in some cases, borrowers can become overwhelmed with payment obligations, which can worsen their economic situation rather than improve it. For example, Ethiopia had to renegotiate some terms on soft loans that China provided because the African nation was under mounting debt pressure. Because the goal of soft loans isn't typically to make a profit, the government agencies and developmental institutions that issue them may be willing to forgive outstanding loans. Key Takeaways Soft loans are loans with more favorable terms such as below-market interest rates or long grace periods before payments begin.Government agencies or developmental agencies such as export-import banks or the World Bank most often issue soft loans. Soft loans are often made to developing nations to help them with their infrastructure needs.The purpose of soft loans isn't typically to make a profit, but instead to accomplish a political aim or address a crisis such as the closure of businesses due to COVID-19 or providing aid to refugees. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. India Exim Bank. "Press Releases," Select "Export-Import Bank of India, on Behalf of the Government of India, Extends a Line of Credit of USD 10.40 Million to the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)." Accessed May 27, 2021. Export-Import Bank of Thailand. "Press Releases," Select "EXIM Thailand Launches Special Scheme '2% Interest Soft Loan' and Extend Payment Term of Insurance Coverage for Export to All Countries Affected by COVID-19'." Accessed May 27, 2021. International Monetary Fund. "IMF Support for Low-Income Countries." Accessed May 27, 2021. Saudi Fund for Development. "SFD Signs $140 Million Development Loan Agreement With Ethiopia." Accessed May 27, 2021. African Studies Quarterly. "China's Belt and Road Initiative in Africa, Debt Risk and New Dependency: The Case of Ethiopia," Page 19. Accessed May 27, 2021.