The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) has made a significant change to the maturity limits of consumer loans used for mobile phone purchases and the minimum payment rates for credit cards. With the new decision, the loan term for smartphones priced at 40,000 TL and below is set at 12 months, while a 3-month maturity period applies to devices priced above 40,000 TL.

New Limit and Maturity Regulation for Smartphone Loans

Price changes and currency fluctuations in the technology market directly affect consumers’ access to financing models. According to the latest council decision announced by the BRSA, the price limit for consumer loans taken out for the direct purchase of new mobile phones has been revised to 40,000 TL. Thus, many mid-range and budget-friendly smartphones can be purchased through consumer credit with installment options up to 12 months. For flagship and high-end devices exceeding the 40,000 TL price limit, the credit term remains limited to 3 months.

Refurbished Devices and Credit Card Installment Status

The regulation also closely concerns the “refurbished product” market, which has increased in popularity in recent years. Under the decision, the rules, determined by the requirement that the commercial establishment be a “refurbishment center” or “authorized dealer,” are structured as follows:

• Refurbished Phone Credit: For refurbished phones priced at 50,000 TL and below, a 12-month consumer credit term is granted, while for devices above 50,000 TL, a 3-month term is granted.
• Installments with Credit Card: The ban on installments with credit cards for new mobile phones remains unchanged. Nevertheless, for refurbished phone purchases offered by authorized centers, installments of up to 12 months are available via credit card without any arbitrary price limit.

Minimum Payment Threshold on Credit Cards Increased to 100,000 TL

The BRSA decision is not limited only to mobile phone purchases; the threshold for minimum payment prices affecting the monthly cash flow of credit card users is also being raised. The limit, previously applied at 50,000 TL, has been increased to 100,000 TL. According to the new framework:

• For cards with a total limit of 100,000 TL and below, the minimum payment rate is 20% of the outstanding balance ,

For cards with a limit exceeding 100,000 TL, it is 40% of the outstanding balance

• .

This regulation provides relief in terms of cash flow for users who want to buy mid-range and entry-level smartphones, while also expanding the share of the refurbished device market.

BDDK updated phone loan limits: Devices under 40,000 TL now have a 12-month term, while the minimum credit card payment limit has been increased to 100,000 TL.