Tengo.UA

Introduction

Tengo is an online lending service in Ukraine operated by LLC “Miloan”. It is not a bank, not a broker, and not a salary-advance app linked to an employer. It is a direct non-bank online lender that issues unsecured consumer credit to a borrower’s bank card through a website and app-based flow. The public site currently markets first-loan access up to 20,000 UAH on major pages, while the broader product range on current product pages reaches 30,000 UAH and the general SEO landing pages still show older or page-specific ranges up to 25,000 UAH. That inconsistency alone is worth noticing before applying.

The more important point is structural. Tengo is not really a classic “borrow for 7–30 days and repay once” payday product, even though the site lets the borrower choose a first payment date as short as a few days away. The core public product description says the loan can run for 337 to 360 calendar days and be repaid in multiple scheduled payments, while the FAQ and “how to use the loan” page explain that the customer can keep using the loan under a payment schedule for up to 360 days and may repay early at any time. That makes it closer to a long-format digital installment-style microloan than to a simple payday advance.

Its strengths are speed, full online access, broad repayment options, and reasonably detailed public explanations. Its weak points are the high real annual cost, the layered fee structure, the potential gap between marketing widgets and full-contract economics, and the real risk of overdue consequences if the payment schedule is ignored. 

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What kind of organization is this

The lender behind Tengo is ТОВ “МІЛОАН” / LLC “Miloan”, EDRPOU 40484607. On its documents page, the company states that it holds a valid financial-company license to provide the service of granting funds and banking metals on credit, with the current license reissued on 13 March 2024 and operating without a fixed end date. The site also publishes a Kyiv address, support phone, and email. The National Bank of Ukraine separately lists Miloan as a financial company and includes it among significant non-bank financial institutions in 2026.

That means Tengo is a direct lender, not a comparison site or lead-routing platform. The public site handles its own applications, identity checks, contract acceptance, repayment instructions, and customer support. Operationally, it is clearly online-only for normal consumer use. The website repeatedly pushes borrowers to apply, verify identity, sign electronically, pay through online methods, and use the mobile app.

There is one more reputation signal that should be stated plainly. The NBU announced an enforcement action against ТОВ “МІЛОАН” in August 2024, including a fine of 1,754,400 UAH after an inspection, and another sanction announcement in May 2025 listed Miloan among non-bank institutions fined for anti-money-laundering and financial-monitoring violations. That does not mean the company is illegitimate. It does mean a careful borrower should separate “real licensed lender” from “risk-free lender.” Those are not the same thing.

How the service works

Tengo’s current public product framework is built around Installment credit products. The main product page says the first payment date can be chosen by the borrower, but the “list of credit types” page says the underlying contract is a consumer loan with an initial repayment term of 337 to 360 calendar days and multiple scheduled payments defined by a payment schedule. For smaller amounts, the same structure is treated as a microcredit variant; for larger amounts, it is disclosed as consumer credit.

The site also warns directly that its homepage/widget display is not a full credit calculator and shows conditions only for the first calculation period, not for the entire term. That warning is one of the most important parts of the public disclosure. It means a borrower who looks only at the first payment and ignores the long-term schedule is reading the offer incorrectly.

Public examples on the homepage make this clear. One search-cached homepage example shows a 3,000 UAH loan where returning the money at the end of the first calculation period costs only 3,009 UAH under a 0.01% daily first-period deal, but using the same loan for the full 360 days drives total cost sharply higher because later periods carry regular interest and servicing charges. The same cached homepage example also shows a standard-pricing scenario with issuance and servicing fees and a much higher effective annual cost.

How to get a loan

The borrower journey is simple on the surface. The site says you enter a phone number, fill out a short application, choose amount and timing, complete identity verification, sign the contract by SMS code, and receive the money on your card. The homepage FAQ says the money arrives on the card immediately after the electronic agreement is signed, and the loan decision is sent by SMS and, if provided, by email as well.

Identity verification is a real part of the process. Tengo supports BankID and also uses photo identification. The FAQ explains that the borrower may verify through BankID PrivatBank or BankID NBU, and another FAQ item says a personal photo may be requested to prevent fraudulent use of documents. The same FAQ also states that geolocation is a required function during the credit process because it helps speed up issuance.

The approval process appears to be largely automated, but not purely mechanical. Tengo says BankID identification can increase the chance of approval and may support a larger approved amount because it allows the system to assess information more accurately. That implies a scoring engine rather than manual-by-default review. At the same time, individual conditions depend on the borrower’s profile, credit history, and internal risk assessment.

The site is unusually open about subprime applicants. One FAQ answer says Tengo lends to customers with open and closed overdue debt who want to improve their credit history, and another says you can still apply even if you already have a loan elsewhere, so long as the other debt is not “critical.” That does not mean guaranteed approval for bad credit. It means the service is willing to consider higher-risk applicants than a traditional bank would.

Loan requirements and eligibility

Publicly, Tengo says a first loan is available to a citizen of Ukraine aged 18 to 70. The formal disclosure documents go a bit deeper: the borrower must have full legal capacity, registered residence in Ukraine, a valid identity document, and — if the loan is disbursed to a card — a card account opened in the borrower’s own name at a Ukrainian bank. The borrower also must act in their own interest, not on behalf of a third party, and must consent to credit-history access.

The practical document set is lighter than in a bank. Public pages repeatedly mention passport, tax ID code, and bank card as the usual package. The site does not advertise formal income certificates as mandatory. However, the disclosure documents make clear that the borrower’s financial condition and creditworthiness must not create an unacceptable non-repayment risk for the lender. That is the right way to read the offer: fewer paper proofs, but still real underwriting.

Self-employed users are not publicly excluded. The site does not say “official employment only,” and the FAQ language is broad enough to imply that many categories of borrowers can apply. Still, approval is case-specific, so self-employed applicants should not assume equal treatment without checking the actual offer presented before signing. This is an inference from the published eligibility criteria rather than an explicit self-employment rule.

Loan terms and conditions

Tengo’s public disclosures divide the offer into two legal tracks.

Current public product structure

Product track

Amount

Term

Repayment structure

Prolongation

Installment consumer credit

8,648 to 30,000 UAH

337 to 360 days

Multiple scheduled payments

No

Installment microcredit

500 to 8,647 UAH

337 to 360 days

Multiple scheduled payments

No

Older short-format microcredit disclosure still searchable

500 to 8,000 UAH

91 to 120 days

One-time repayment

Yes, by prolongation

The current product pages clearly emphasize the Installment structure and state that prolongation is not possible for those products. By contrast, an older searchable microcredit PDF still shows a different product format with 91 to 120 days and possible prolongation. The safest conclusion is that Tengo has used more than one product architecture over time, and the borrower must rely on the exact version currently attached to the contract being offered.

Current public pricing signals

Current search-cached public Tengo data shows two pricing profiles on the homepage:

Scenario

First-period annualized rate

Later-period annualized rate

Issuance fee

Servicing fee

Daily rate

Real APR

First-period promo-style example

3.65%

180%

not shown in that example

7.4%

0.90%/day

1373.87%

Standard-pricing example

90%

180%

22.5%

7.4%

0.98%/day

2663.02%

In the promo-style example, if a 3,000 UAH loan is repaid at the end of the first calculation period, the cost shown is only 9 UAH in interest. But if the borrower keeps the same loan for the whole 360-day term, the total cost rises to 9,723.90 UAH, making the total repayment 12,723.90 UAH. In the standard-pricing example, the same 3,000 UAH loan costs 3,897 UAH even by the first due date because the issuance fee and standard pricing apply, and using it through the whole term drives total cost to 13,611.90 UAH.

Formal disclosure figures

The accessible searchable PDF for the consumer-credit track shows older but still structured disclosure figures of 912.5% nominal annual rate, real APR from 17,730.47% to 318,589.40%, and issuance fee from 0% to 23% for amounts from 8,100 to 25,000 UAH over 331 to 360 days. The older searchable microcredit PDF shows real APR from 2,940.90% to 11,356.30%, issuance fee from 0% to 17%, and a possible servicing/management fee only if the borrower prolongs that older-style loan. These figures are clearly not the same as the current cached homepage examples, which is why an applicant should treat all public figures as ranges and confirm the exact passport of consumer credit shown before signing.

First-loan conditions

The FAQ says new customers can receive a first loan at 0.01% per day during the first calculation period. That is not the same as a universally free first loan for the whole contract term. It is a limited first-period pricing condition. Later periods and non-promo scenarios can be much more expensive.

Penalties, default, and early repayment

For the older searchable microcredit disclosure, overdue payments can trigger a penalty based on double the NBU discount rate on the unpaid obligation for each overdue day, subject to caps: the penalty cannot exceed 15% of the overdue payment, and the total penalty cannot exceed double the amount received under the microcredit agreement. The lender may also accrue contractual default interest after maturity and can demand early repayment in cases defined by the agreement. The public product pages additionally warn that missed scheduled payments may damage credit history and let Miloan apply contractual and legal remedies.

Early repayment is clearly allowed. The FAQ says you may repay fully or partially at any time, that the loan becomes cheaper if repaid early because interest accrues daily on the actual outstanding balance, and that no extra fee is charged for early repayment. The public disclosure pages also confirm the legal 14-day withdrawal right after signing, subject to returning the money and paying accrued charges for the usage period.

Supported payout methods: how users can receive the loan

Tengo is primarily a card-disbursement lender. The FAQ says the loan can be issued to any active Visa or Mastercard card issued by a Ukrainian bank, and the formal disclosures describe disbursement as cashless transfer to the borrower’s card account. The same FAQ states that the card must be verified and belong to the borrower.

Payout method

Public status

Bank card

Supported

Bank account via own card account

Supported in practice through the card-account route

Cash pickup

Not advertised

E-wallet

Not advertised

Mobile wallet

Not advertised

Third-party card

Not allowed

Tengo is explicit on third-party cards. The FAQ says using another person’s card for a loan is not allowed and may be treated as fraud. That is unusually direct wording, and borrowers should take it seriously.

Supported repayment methods: how to repay the loan

Repayment is one of Tengo’s stronger operational areas. The FAQ says the loan can be repaid:

1. through the personal account with a card

2. online without logging into the account

3. through PrivatBank terminals or Privat24

4. through EasyPay terminals and the EasyPay website.

Repayment method

Supported

Practical note

Personal account on website

Yes

Direct route, partial prepayment possible

Payment without login

Yes

Useful if you know the payment details

Privat24

Yes

Publicly listed

PrivatBank terminals

Yes

Publicly listed

EasyPay website

Yes

Publicly listed

EasyPay terminals

Yes

Publicly listed

A-Bank terminal

Mentioned in site navigation

Check current availability at payment time

The FAQ also says repayment can be made using any bank card, not only the one used to receive the loan, as long as you know the card details and can confirm payment by SMS. That is useful for practical repayment flexibility.

Timing matters. Tengo warns that payments made after 23:50 may be processed by the payment system only on the next day, which can make the payment late under the contract. The company explicitly recommends paying in advance. That is one of the most useful operational warnings on the site.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• Fast online issuance and electronic contracting.

• Flexible repayment channels.

• Early repayment allowed without additional fee.

• Supports higher-risk applicants more openly than many banks.

• Clear rule that the loan must go to the borrower’s own verified card, which reduces ambiguity and fraud risk.

Disadvantages

• The real cost can be very high, especially beyond the first calculation period.

• Public site pages show inconsistent ranges and examples, which can confuse borrowers.

• The homepage/widget shows only first-period conditions, not the whole contractual economics.

• Overdue consequences can include penalties, negative bureau reporting, collection activity, and early-demand rights under the contract.

• The lender has had NBU enforcement actions, which should be part of any balanced credibility assessment.

Who this service may suit

Tengo may suit borrowers who need urgent online access to a relatively small sum, have their own Ukrainian bank card, are comfortable with BankID and SMS signing, and can repay very early or at least follow the payment schedule precisely. It may also suit borrowers trying to stabilize or rebuild a damaged credit profile, since the service openly says it considers clients with some overdue history.

It is a weak fit for borrowers who need cheap credit, who routinely run out of money every month, who struggle to follow payment dates, or who read only the first-payment banner and ignore the full schedule. The product is usable. It is not cheap.

Risks and important things to check before applying

Check the full payment schedule, not only the first due date. Check the real APR and the total cost for using the loan beyond the first period. Check whether an issuance fee and a servicing fee apply in your exact offer. Check that the card is yours and successfully verified. Check the actual payment date and do not leave repayment until late evening. And treat this credit as an emergency tool, not a standing monthly finance solution.

Customer support and communication channels

Tengo publicly lists support phone +38 044 337 00 37, email info@tengo.ua, and support hours 09:00 to 20:00. The site also offers a contact form, app access, and complaint handling through standard channels. The public consumer-information page says customer complaints are reviewed within legal timelines, generally up to one month, and no longer than 45 calendar days if extended.

FAQ

What is Tengo?

Tengo is a Ukrainian online lending service operated by LLC “Miloan,” a licensed financial company.

Is Tengo a direct lender or a broker?

It is a direct lender, not a broker. The site publishes its own rules, documents, payment channels, and support contacts.

How fast can I get money?

Publicly, Tengo says the money goes to the card right after the electronic contract is signed, and the decision is communicated by SMS and optionally by email.

What do I need to apply?

Usually a mobile phone number, passport/ID data, tax number, and a Ukrainian bank card in your own name. BankID or photo identification may also be required.

Can I get a loan with bad credit?

Possibly. Tengo says it lends to some customers with open and closed overdue debt, but approval is not guaranteed.

What payment systems are supported for receiving money?

Mainly a verified Visa or Mastercard card issued by a Ukrainian bank.

How can I repay the loan?

Through the personal account, without login, via Privat24, through PrivatBank terminals, or through EasyPay terminal/website channels.

Can I repay using another person’s card?

For repayment, the FAQ says you can pay with any bank card. For receiving the loan, the card must be your own.

Can I repay early?

Yes. Full and partial early repayment are allowed, and there is no extra fee for early repayment.

What happens if I miss the due date?

The lender may apply contractual overdue consequences, report to credit bureaus, and eventually transfer the case to collectors if the overdue problem persists.

Does Tengo have automatic rollover?

Current Installment product pages say prolongation is not possible, but older short-format microcredit disclosures still show prolongation for that older product format. Check the exact current agreement.

Is the first loan really almost free?

Only for the first calculation period under the promo condition described in the FAQ. That does not mean the whole long-term contract is cheap.

Can I get the loan on someone else’s card?

No. Tengo explicitly says using another person’s card for receiving the loan is not allowed.

How do I contact support?

Use the support phone, email, website form, or app-related channels published on the site.

Is Tengo safe to use?

It is a real licensed lender with public documents and support channels. That does not make it low-cost or low-risk. Legitimacy and affordability are separate issues.

Final conclusion

Tengo is a real Ukrainian digital lender with stronger public disclosure than many thin payday-style pages. It clearly identifies its legal entity, provides current licensing information, supports BankID and app-based use, and offers several repayment methods. On convenience, it performs well.

On cost, it remains a high-cost credit product. The first-period marketing can look light, especially with a 0.01% first-period promotion, but the full product structure can become expensive very quickly once issuance fees, servicing charges, and later-period pricing are included. Tengo may suit a borrower with a short-term cash gap and a disciplined repayment plan. It is a poor fit for recurring budget shortages, weak payment discipline, or anyone who mistakes the first payment example for the whole contract.

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