Only 9% of loan-holding participants said they would not be in a hurry to repay the loan even if they had the financial means to do so. Additionally, 43% of all respondents stated they currently do not have any loans.
"Our study shows that people still strongly associate loan repayment with financial security. However, early repayment isn’t always the best option – due to inflation, fixed interest rates, and investment opportunities, rushing to repay a loan could mean losing money," says Vaidotas Rimeikis, Head of Inbank’s Lithuanian branch.
Older Adults Are the Most Eager to Repay Early
Looking at the data by age group, a trend emerges: older individuals are more inclined to repay loans early. Among those aged 56 and over, 70.8% would use extra funds to pay off their loan. A similar pattern is seen in the 26–55 age range, with about 60% favoring early repayment. Among the youngest group (18–25), 56.4% would repay early, while 41% would choose to repay only part of the loan and use the rest for other purposes. According to Rimeikis, this reflects greater financial flexibility or different priorities among younger people.
Education level showed similar patterns: 64% of those with higher or incomplete higher education and 59.6% of those with secondary or lower education would repay early.
"Older individuals tend to prefer having fewer financial obligations, while younger people are more likely to diversify their spending. Still, across all demographics, the majority express a strong desire or at least readiness to repay loans early if their financial situation allows," adds Rimeikis.
Married People More Likely to Partially Repay
When broken down by gender, the majority of both men (58%) and women (64.8%) would repay early under favorable financial circumstances. Roughly one-third of men (31.4%) and women (26.8%) would repay partially and use the remaining funds for other needs. Only 10.6% of men and 8.4% of women would not repay the loan at all. Rimeikis suggests that women tend to prioritize reducing debt, while some men show more flexibility in allocating funds.
Regardless of marital status, most respondents would repay their loans early: 66.9% of single, 58.9% of married or cohabiting, and 68.2% of those in other living situations. Partial repayment was most common among married or cohabiting individuals (32%), possibly reflecting broader household needs.
By region, those living in smaller towns or district centers were most likely to say they wouldn’t repay their loan (12.9%), compared to 9% in major cities and 7.2% in rural areas. Partial repayment was also more common in smaller towns (31.6%).
Higher Income Means More Flexibility
Among the lowest income group (under €400 per household member per month), 71% would repay early and only 3.2% wouldn’t repay at all. In contrast, in the highest income group (over €1000), only 63.4% would repay early, and 12.2% wouldn’t repay at all – the highest rate among all income brackets.
As income increases, so does the likelihood of using only part of the money for loan repayment and allocating the rest elsewhere. This was most common among those earning over €1000 per month (31.3%).
"These findings suggest that people with lower incomes prefer to reduce their liabilities quickly, while higher earners show more financial flexibility and may use surplus funds for various needs or investments," says Rimeikis.
Entrepreneurs and Executives Less Likely to Repay
Looking at employment status, pensioners (75.8%), the unemployed (76.5%), and farmers (75%) were most eager to eliminate debt – likely due to limited or unstable incomes. Similar trends were found among high- and mid-level executives – 63.6% would fully repay their loans, though this group also showed the highest share who wouldn’t repay at all even if they could (15.9%).
Meanwhile, students (27.8%), workers (32.3%), and specialists (32.8%) were more inclined toward partial repayment and using the rest of the funds for other needs. "This may be linked to greater flexibility, younger age, or the need to invest in housing, education, or business," Rimeikis adds.
Notably, small business owners (17.5%) and executives (15.9%) were more likely than others to say they wouldn’t repay the loan, even with extra funds. "This may be due to different cash flow management strategies or tailored financial plans. Financial behavior isn’t just about income – it’s also shaped by life stage, job type, risk tolerance, and financial literacy," Rimeikis concludes.
When Should You Not Rush to Repay?
For those considering a consumer loan, such as for home renovation, Rimeikis advises evaluating several factors: "Your total monthly loan payments should not exceed 40% of your monthly income. To avoid financial strain, consider a longer loan term to keep payments lower."
Although many people are eager to reduce their debt as soon as possible, it’s not always cost-effective: "For example, Lithuania's inflation rate was 19.7% in 2022 and around 6.2% in 2023. That means the purchasing power of money significantly declined. If a person has a fixed-rate loan, inflation effectively reduces the real cost of the debt. In such cases, repaying early means paying with money that’s worth more."
The public opinion poll was conducted by Spinter Research between April 18–28, 2025. It surveyed 1,019 respondents aged 18–75, including 480 men and 539 women.
