Bondora Go & Grow has emerged as one of Europe's most accessible peer-to-peer lending platforms, offering EU investors a simple way to earn attractive returns without the complexity of traditional P2P investing. With its promise of 6% annual returns, complete automation, and full liquidity, it's positioned itself as an alternative to savings accounts and conservative investment options.
We've thoroughly tested Bondora Go & Grow over several months to understand how it works, whether it delivers on its promises, and if it's suitable for European investors seeking passive income. And yes, we do keep our own funds with them.
What We Like About Bondora Go & Grow
After extensive testing, we found several standout features that make Bondora Go & Grow appealing for EU investors. The 6% target return is very high compared to savings accounts and government bonds, while the complete automation removes the complexity that puts many people off traditional P2P lending.
The liquidity feature is genuinely impressive: you can withdraw funds anytime without penalties, which is rare in the P2P lending space. We tested several withdrawals during our review period and funds typically arrived within 1-2 business days as promised.
The €1 minimum investment makes the platform incredibly accessible, allowing anyone to test it without significant commitment. We also appreciate the transparent fee structure with just a single €1 withdrawal fee, no management charges, and no hidden costs.
The platform's regulatory foundation is solid, with Bondora AS licensed by the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority. The company has been operating since 2009 and has facilitated over €500 million in loans, providing a track record that newer platforms lack.
What We Don't Like
You're limited to P2P lending exposure with no diversification into other asset classes like stocks, bonds, or real estate. The automated approach means you have no control over loan selection or risk preferences, which some investors may find restrictive.
Tax implications can also be complex depending on your country, and the platform doesn't automatically handle taxes.
What Bondora Go & Grow Is Known For
Bondora Go & Grow stands out in the crowded P2P lending space for three key reasons: simplicity, liquidity, and consistency. Unlike traditional P2P platforms where you manually select loans and lock up funds for months or years, Go & Grow automates everything while letting you withdraw money anytime.
The platform is particularly popular among EU investors who want exposure to alternative investments without the complexity. Since launching in 2017, it has maintained relatively consistent returns, with the target 6% rate being achieved in most periods.
Bondora Capital, the company behind Go & Grow, operates under a unique business model with over 200,000 investors trusting them with €600 million. This scale provides the liquidity pool necessary to offer instant withdrawals while maintaining diversification across hundreds of thousands of loans.
Sign-Up Bonus
New investors receive a €5 welcome bonus when they create their Bondora Go & Grow account. This bonus is credited immediately after account verification and can be withdrawn along with any returns after your first investment period. The bonus effectively covers the €1 withdrawal fee for your first transaction, making it easy to test the platform risk-free.
Key Features and Facts
How Bondora Go & Grow Works
The concept behind Go & Grow is refreshingly simple. When you deposit money, it's automatically allocated across a diversified portfolio of loans across different EU countries. You don't choose individual loans or set risk preferences: the algorithm handles everything based on 17 years of lending data.
Your investment earns returns daily, which are reinvested automatically to compound your returns. The platform aims for a 6% net annual return, though actual performance can vary based on loan defaults and market conditions.
What sets Go & Grow apart from other P2P platforms is its liquidity promise. You can withdraw any amount at any time without penalties or waiting periods. Withdrawals are typically processed within 1-2 business days under normal conditions.
The underlying loans have various terms, but the platform maintains liquidity through a pool system and uses new deposits to fund withdrawals. This creates the instant liquidity that individual loans wouldn't normally offer. In extraordinary circumstances, the platform may implement temporary partial payouts, splitting large withdrawals into smaller daily payments, though this has only happened once in Bondora's 17-year history.
Fees and Costs
Bondora Go & Grow keeps its fee structure simple and transparent. There are no management fees, account maintenance charges, or deposit costs. The only fee is a flat €1 charge per withdrawal, regardless of the withdrawal amount.
This means whether you withdraw €100 or €10,000, you pay just €1 in fees. This structure is particularly favorable for larger withdrawals compared to percentage-based fees used by many competitors.
Compared to other investment platforms, this fee structure is quite reasonable. Many robo-advisors charge 0.5-1% annually in management fees, which would cost significantly more than Bondora's withdrawal fee for most investors over time.
Safety and Investment Protection
Bondora Go & Grow uses a multi-layered approach to protect investments, though it's important to understand that no returns are guaranteed. The platform's protection comes from loan diversification, geographical spread across three countries, active recovery processes, interest spreads as buffers, and strict liquidity controls.
Your investment is automatically diversified across hundreds of thousands of loans in multiple countries, significantly reducing individual borrower risk. When borrowers don't repay, Bondora follows a structured recovery process, working with professional debt collection agencies and escalating through local legal channels when necessary.
Crucially, investors legally own the loan claims, not Bondora Capital. This means that even if Bondora became insolvent, your investments would remain yours and wouldn't be part of any bankruptcy estate. However, this doesn't protect against credit risk from the underlying borrowers defaulting on their loans.
The platform maintains segregated client accounts and follows strict verification processes. Bondora AS operates under the supervision of the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority, with additional licensed operations in Finland, Latvia, Denmark, and Lithuania.
Investment Experience and Returns
Setting up a Go & Grow account is straightforward and typically takes 5-10 minutes. The verification process requires a government ID and proof of address, with approval usually completed within 1-2 business days.
The platform interface is clean and intuitive, showing your current balance, accumulated returns, and recent transactions. There's also a simple calculator that shows projected returns based on different investment amounts and time periods.
Deposits can be made via bank transfer or card payment, with bank transfers typically taking 1-2 business days to appear in your account. The €1 minimum makes it easy to test the platform with a small amount before committing larger sums.
Since launching in 2017, Bondora Go & Grow has maintained returns close to its 6% target in most periods.
Returns are credited daily and visible in your account balance, providing regular feedback on your investment performance. Monthly statements are automatically generated and available for download, making tax reporting easier in countries where you need to handle this yourself.
How to Get Started
Who Bondora Go & Grow Is Best For
Go & Grow works particularly well for EU investors who want:
Conservative alternative investment exposure: The 6% target return is attractive compared to savings accounts or government bonds, while being more conservative than stock market investing.
Simplicity over control: If you prefer automated investing without researching individual loans or managing a portfolio, Go & Grow handles everything for you.
Liquidity flexibility: Unlike other P2P platforms or term deposits, you can access your money anytime without penalties under normal conditions.
Small starting amounts: The €1 minimum makes it accessible for investors who want to test P2P lending without significant commitment.
Passive income generation: The daily return crediting and automatic reinvestment make it suitable for set-and-forget investing.
The platform is particularly suitable for conservative investors seeking alternatives to low-yielding savings accounts, or as a small allocation within a broader diversified portfolio.
Final Verdict
Bondora Go & Grow successfully delivers on its promise of simple, liquid P2P investing for EU investors. The platform combines attractive 6% target returns with genuine liquidity in a way that few other alternative investments match.
We found the automated approach removes the complexity that puts many people off traditional P2P lending, while the €1 minimum and flat withdrawal fee structure make it accessible and cost-effective. The regulatory foundation and legal structure provide reasonable protection, though investors must understand that returns aren't guaranteed.
The main drawbacks are the concentration risk, limited diversification, and the inherent credit risk of P2P lending. However, for investors seeking a simple alternative to savings accounts or as part of a broader portfolio, Go & Grow delivers good value.
With the €5 sign-up bonus and minimal investment requirement, it's easy to test the platform with limited commitment. For EU investors seeking passive income with flexibility, Bondora Go & Grow represents one of the better options in the alternative investment space, provided you understand and accept the underlying risks.
CEO Interview: Inside Bondora's Strategy
To get deeper insights into Bondora's approach and future plans, we recommend watching this interview with the company's CEO, which covers the platform's strategy, market outlook, and plans for European expansion:
The interview provides valuable context about how Bondora manages risk, selects borrowers, and maintains the liquidity that makes Go & Grow possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if Bondora goes out of business?
Your investments are protected even if Bondora Capital becomes insolvent. Investors legally own the loan claims, not Bondora Capital, so your investments remain yours and aren't part of any bankruptcy estate. However, this doesn't protect against the underlying credit risk of borrowers defaulting.
Can I lose money with Go & Grow?
Yes, Go & Grow carries credit risk. If loan defaults exceed expectations, returns could be lower than the 6% target or potentially negative in extreme scenarios. However, the platform has never had a negative return year since launching in 2017, and multiple protective measures are in place.
How long does it take to withdraw money?
Under normal conditions, withdrawals are processed within minutes up to few hours. In extraordinary circumstances, the platform may implement temporary partial payouts, splitting withdrawals into smaller daily amounts, though this has only happened once in Bondora's history.
Is Go & Grow available in my country?
Bondora Go & Grow is available to residents of 18 EU countries. You can check eligibility during the signup process, but most Western and Northern European countries are supported.
How are taxes handled?
Investors need to report returns as income according to their local tax laws. The platform provides monthly statements to help with tax reporting.
All investments carry risk, including loss of capital. EU Investing Hub does not provide investment advice. Content is for educational purposes only. Always do your own research.
