Balanse

What Balanse does

Balanse (also referred to as Balansebank) is a Norwegian banking service that provides refinancing and restart loans to individuals who cannot qualify for loans at ordinary banks because of payment remarks, accumulated high-interest debt, or financial disruption from life events such as divorce or job loss. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Sandnes, Norway, the business operates as a division (avdeling) of Rogaland Sparebank — also known as Sandnes Sparebank and Den Gule Banken — a regional Norwegian savings bank. The service is national in scope, serving customers across Norway with a particularly strong presence in the Rogaland region.

The product set comprises two core secured loan products — Refinansiering (refinancing) for debt consolidation and Omstartslån (restart loan) for a structured fresh start — combined with an Individuell handlingsplan (individual action plan) service. All loans require mortgage security (pant) in real property, with nominal interest rates starting at 7.40% and an establishment fee from 4.0%. Underlying technology is a standard loan-management and customer-relationship platform with an online application portal; customer acquisition runs through Google Analytics-based website tracking and Google/Facebook remarketing, with marketing supported by an educational blog ('Nyttige artikler') and presence on Finansportalen, Norway's official financial comparison portal.

Balanse generates revenue primarily through interest income on the loan portfolio, supplemented by establishment fees. Distribution is sales-led and consultative: each applicant receives a dedicated authorized financial advisor (autorisert finansrådgiver) who co-develops a personalized action plan and provides ongoing close follow-up. Customer acquisition occurs via online application, direct phone/email advisory, and a network of at least eleven referral partners (Axo Finans, Flytfinans, Varde Finans, Profin, and others). The bank's explicit success metric is the number of customers who complete the action plan and transition back to ordinary banks — i.e., successful customer exit — which inverts conventional retail-banking retention logic.

Name

Balanse

Legal name

Balansebank (en tjeneste levert av Sandnes Sparebank)

Website

https://balansebank.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Balansebank is a Norwegian banking division of Rogaland Sparebank that provides refinancing and restart loans to individuals excluded from ordinary banking due to debt or life events, combining secured debt consolidation with personalized advisor-led action plans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Refinancing and Lending

NAICS

Real Estate Credit (522292)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Loan / Multi-Creditor Consolidation Loans (FSAKAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Secured Debt Consolidation (Collateral-backed, non-mortgage) (FSAKAIAL)

Keywords

• Refinancing loans
• Debt consolidation
• Restart loans
• Financial rehabilitation
• Mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandnes

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest income on refinancing and restart loans: Balansebank earns interest income on the loans it issues to customers. Customers with security (collateral) in real property consolidate their debt into a single loan managed by Balansebank. Interest income is the primary revenue stream, with rates starting at 7.40% nominal per annum. The bank also charges an establishment/fee for refinancing and the individualized action plan, starting from 4.0%. As customers improve their financial health and transition to ordinary banks, the bank effectively winds down that customer relationship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Balansebank is a Norwegian lending service that provides refinancing (refinansiering) and restart loans (omstartslån) to individuals who do not qualify for loans at ordinary banks. It consolidates a customer's multiple debts into a single mortgage-secured loan and pairs the loan with a personalized action plan and close follow-up by a dedicated financial advisor, guiding the customer back to financial health so they can eventually return to ordinary banking.

Product overview

Balansebank operates as a division of Rogaland Sparebank (Sandnes Sparebank), offering two core products: Refinansiering (refinancing) and Omstartslån (restart loans). These are complemented by Individuell handlingsplan (individual action plans) and close personal follow-up services. The integrated approach combines debt consolidation with financial counseling to help customers who cannot qualify for ordinary bank loans regain financial stability and eventually transition back to regular banking services. Interest rates start from 7.40% nominal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refinansiering (Refinancing) Debt consolidation service that combines a customer's multiple existing debts into a single loan secured by mortgage (pant) in real property, with the goal of lowering the customer's overall interest burden and establishing one manageable monthly payment. Designed for individuals who cannot qualify for ordinary bank refinancing.
• Omstartslån (Restart Loan) A loan product for individuals who have fallen into financial difficulties, providing a structured fresh start through debt consolidation combined with a personalized action plan and close advisor follow-up. Interest rates start at 7.40% nominal, with an establishment/honorary fee from 4.0%; the interest rate can be reduced as the customer reaches milestones in their action plan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customers who follow the individualized action plan achieve financial rehabilitation and can subsequently qualify for ordinary bank loans at regular terms.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Axo Finans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAxo Finans AS (Org.nr: 998543 20) is a Norwegian financial services company located at St. Olavs gate 28, Oslo. They are listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner, likely referring customers seeking refinancing or financial rehabilitation.
• Flytfinans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlytfinans AS (Org.nr 933406334) is a Norwegian financial services company located in Gjøvik. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Varde Finans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVarde Finans AS (Org.nr: 932389444) is a Norwegian financial services company located at Karenslyst Allé 16, Oslo. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Profin ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfin AS (Org.nr: 931788000) is a Norwegian financial services company in Lillestrøm. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Eiendomsfinans Drift ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEiendomsfinans Drift AS (Org.nr: 987 214 597) is a Norwegian financial services company at Bygdøy Allé 5, Oslo. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• OkidaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOkida (Org.nr 920423205) is a Norwegian financial services company at Sandakerveien 138, Oslo. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Boligfinans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoligfinans AS (Organisasjonsnummer: 930 363 049) is a Norwegian financial services company at Strømsveien 323A, Oslo. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Tjenestetorget Finans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTjenestetorget Finans AS (Org.nr 922188106) is a Norwegian financial services company at Billingstadsletta 17, Billingstad. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Norsk Refinansiering ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorsk Refinansiering AS (Org.nr 920 719 872) is a Norwegian financial services company at Trelastgata 21, Oslo. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Heimfinans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeimfinans AS (Org.nr 931 272 381) is a Norwegian financial services company at Vetrlidsallmenningen 5, Bergen. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Zen Finans ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZen Finans AS (Org.nr: 921 670 605) is a Norwegian financial services company at Innspurten 1A, Oslo. Listed as a Balansebank cooperation partner.
• Rogaland Sparebank (Sandnes Sparebank / Den Gule Banken)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBalansebank is a division (avdeling) of Rogaland Sparebank, also operating under the brands Sandnes Sparebank and Den Gule Banken. Rogaland Sparebank is the parent entity providing Balansebank's institutional backing, regulatory framework, and brand credibility. The partnership provides Balansebank with the strength and seriousness of an established savings bank, while Balansebank extends Rogaland Sparebank's reach into the financially excluded segment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Komplett Bank: Norwegian digital consumer and refinancing lender offering unsecured and secured personal loans online. Comparable to Balansebank in targeting Norwegian consumers seeking debt consolidation and refinancing, though with a self-serve digital model rather than advisor-led.
• Bank Norwegian: Norwegian consumer lending brand under Norwegian FinTech, offering personal loans, credit cards, and refinancing to Norwegian consumers. Comparable to Balansebank in Norwegian retail lending and refinancing focus.
• BB Finans: Norwegian bank specializing in refinancing and consolidation loans for customers with payment remarks or financial difficulties. Highly comparable to Balansebank in mission, customer segment, and product (refinancing + advisory), making it the closest direct competitor in the financially-excluded niche.
• Sambla: Norwegian loan comparison/broker platform (sister to Sambla in Sweden) that helps consumers refinance and consolidate existing loans by comparing offers from multiple banks. Comparable to Balansebank's refinancing mission but operates as a multi-lender broker rather than a single-balance-sheet lender.

Emerging players

• Axo Finans: Norwegian loan-broker and comparison service that refers customers seeking refinancing to partner banks including Balansebank. Comparable as a Norwegian refinancing intermediary serving the same customer pool, though it acts as a broker rather than originating its own loans.
• Lendo: Norwegian loan-comparison/broker brand (part of Schibsted) that matches consumers seeking refinancing with multiple Norwegian banks. Comparable to Balansebank in Norwegian refinancing customer acquisition, but operates as a broker rather than a balance-sheet lender.

Broad incumbents

• Nordax Bank (formerly Nordax Finans): Nordic specialist consumer lender under Nordax Bank AB, offering personal loans and refinancing across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Comparable in Nordic consumer/refinancing lending; larger and more diversified than Balansebank.
• Instabank: Norwegian digital consumer bank offering personal loans, refinancing, and deposit products to Norwegian retail customers. Comparable as a Norwegian refinancing lender; serves a broader credit-quality spectrum than Balansebank.
• Resurs Bank: Nordic consumer and retail finance bank (part of Resurs Holding) operating in Norway with personal loans, credit cards, and point-of-sale financing. Comparable as a Norwegian personal-lending player, though broader product mix and not specialized in financially-excluded borrowers.

Regional players

• Modhi Finance (formerly Wedo): Finnish (and previously Nordic) specialist refinancing lender serving customers with payment defaults and financial difficulties, offering debt consolidation with advisory. Strongly comparable to Balansebank's financially-excluded niche and rehabilitation methodology, though operating in Finland rather than Norway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/balansebank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/balansebank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Balanse