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Collateral5 min read
Co-borrower or guarantor: which strengthens your file?
Both reassure the lender, but they do not commit in the same way. How to choose according to your situation.
By The editorial team · July 30, 2026
The co-borrower
They borrow with you: their income is added to yours and they are committed on the same footing. It is often the most effective lever for a fragile file.
The guarantor
They undertake to pay if you do not, without being a co-holder of the loan. Useful when a relative wants to help without co-borrowing.
How to choose
A co-borrower strengthens repayment capacity; a guarantor secures repayment. The right choice depends on who is with you and on what the person accepts to commit.
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