Disposable income 2026: how the bank evaluates you
When you apply for a loan or want to restructure your finances, the bank looks at your disposable income. There's no statutory formula, but there are guideline 2026 rates and a consistent method behind the assessment. Here's what the bank actually looks at, which numbers are in play, and how to make sure your own are correct.
What banks look at
Bank advisors evaluate your finances based on several factors:
- Your fixed deposits (salary, pension, benefits)
- Your fixed expenses (rent, loans, insurance)
- Stability over time, does your disposable income fluctuate a lot?
- Whether you have a buffer for unexpected expenses
Guideline disposable income rates in 2026
There's no statutory formula for how large your disposable income needs to be for a loan. Every bank runs its own credit assessment. The Danish FSA (Finanstilsynet) and the Consumer Ombudsman point, in their joint guidance on creditworthiness assessment (VEJ nr. 10137 of 24 November 2025), to a lender being able to take as its starting point the rates in the current debt-relief order (gældssaneringsbekendtgørelsen). The table below shows the Danish Debt Agency's collection rates, in force from 1 January 2026:
| Single | 7,880 kr./month |
| Couple / cohabiting | 13,360 kr./month (7,880 kr. + 5,480 kr. for a partner) |
| Per child | 2,150–3,950 kr./month, depending on the child's age |
These figures are a guideline floor, not a verdict on how much you can borrow. The guidance also stresses that the bank can make an individual assessment: even with a lower disposable income than the rates above, a bank can still approve you if it judges that you can genuinely afford the instalments.
In practice, this means the bank weighs whether the number is documented accurately from your actual bank statements almost as heavily as the size of the number itself. Sources: the Danish Debt Collection Agency's 2026 rates and the Danish FSA and Consumer Ombudsman's guidance on creditworthiness assessment.
Why documentation matters
A bank advisor can't just take your word for it. They need numbers that can be verified. The clearer your documentation, the faster your case can be processed.
Reelt produces a report showing exactly how your disposable income is calculated, based on actual transactions from your bank.
Common mistakes in bank documentation
Many experience problems because their numbers don't match the bank's expectations:
- Wrong signs: Expenses appearing as income (and vice versa).
- Missing periods: Only 1-2 months of data doesn't show an accurate picture.
- Thousand separators: 10,000 becomes 10 if the format is wrong.
How to prepare for the bank meeting
Good preparation increases your chances of getting your loan or application approved:
- Collect 3-12 months of bank statements: The more data, the better the bank can assess your stability over time.
- Review your fixed expenses: Identify subscriptions you can cancel and loans you can refinance.
- Create a documented report: A Reelt report gives the bank a clear picture of your actual disposable income.