Loans and Banking

Overview

inZOI has a full banking system with two banks operating across the main cities. Banks provide savings accounts and loan services that let Zois borrow Meow for large purchases like property, furniture, or starting a business. The loan system was expanded in v0.4.0 with overdue consequences and improved repayment options. Beyond official banks, loan sharks offer quick cash at much higher interest rates, creating a risk-reward dynamic for financial management.

Banking in inZOI touches several other systems. The Smartphone provides remote access to most banking features, loan shark borrowing happens through a dedicated Loan app, and the criminal side of finance includes ATM robbery for Zois with bad karma. Whether your Zoi is a responsible saver, a desperate borrower, or an aspiring criminal, the banking system plays a central role in their financial life.

Banks

Both banks offer identical products. The only difference is location. Visit the bank in your Zoi's home city, or access most banking features remotely through the banking app on the Smartphone or a home computer. Banks are open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, so plan visits during daytime hours. Outside of bank hours, the Smartphone banking app still lets you check balances and make loan repayments.

Opening a Bank Account

Before using any banking services, your Zoi must open a bank account. The process is straightforward and takes only a few moments.

1. Travel to Narae Bank in Dowon or Southwest Bank in Bliss Bay.

2. Inside the bank, look for the ID Scanners on the white tables near the counters.

3. Click on an ID Scanner and select the option to open an account.

4. You will receive a greeting message from the bank confirming that your account has been created successfully.

Once the account is open, you can immediately start making deposits and applying for loans. The ID Scanner is also the device you use for all future in-person banking transactions, including loan repayment and savings deposits. If you prefer not to visit the bank in person, the banking app on your Zoi's Smartphone provides access to most of the same features from anywhere.

Savings Accounts

Savings accounts let Zois deposit Meow and earn interest over time. The system uses a tier structure where completing one tier unlocks the next, allowing larger deposits and higher returns. This is a reliable way to grow your household's Meow balance passively while your Zoi focuses on their career or other activities.

How Savings Tiers Work

The savings system starts with a Tier 1 deposit of 250 Meow. Once you make this deposit, the funds are locked for approximately three in-game days. When the deposit matures, you receive your original 250 Meow back along with the interest earned. Completing a tier unlocks the next one, which allows you to deposit a larger amount with a better return.

• Tier 1: Deposit 250 Meow. Matures after approximately 3 in-game days. Returns the deposit plus interest.

• Higher tiers: Each completed tier unlocks the next, letting you deposit progressively larger amounts with better returns.

• Deposits are locked for the tier duration. You cannot withdraw early, so make sure you have enough liquid Meow for daily expenses before committing funds.

• Savings accounts are low-risk. There is no scenario where you lose your deposited Meow; the system always returns your principal plus interest.

For Zois looking to maximize passive income, completing savings tiers regularly is one of the safest strategies. Unlike running a business or investing in property, savings deposits require no ongoing attention. Just deposit, wait, collect, and deposit again at the next tier. Check the money making guide for additional ways to grow your household funds.

Personal Loans

Personal loans provide immediate cash for any purpose. Like savings, loans use a tier system where successfully repaying one loan unlocks the next tier with larger borrowing limits. Bank loans carry a low interest rate of approximately 1%, making them far cheaper than loan shark alternatives.

How to Apply for a Bank Loan

1. Open the Smartphone banking app, use a home computer, or visit the bank in person and interact with the ID Scanner.

2. Select the loan tier you want to apply for.

3. Wait approximately three in-game hours for the bank to review your application.

4. You will receive a text message confirming whether your loan has been approved or denied.

5. If approved, the loan amount is deposited directly into your account.

The bank does not approve every application automatically. The bank evaluates factors like your Zoi's job stability and current income before making a decision, and it may deny the request outright. If your loan is denied, you can try again after improving your financial situation, or turn to a loan shark for instant (but expensive) cash. Your bank account is effectively locked from taking additional loans until the current one is repaid, so you cannot stack multiple bank loans at once.

Property Loans

Property loans (sometimes called mortgages) are a special loan type triggered when purchasing a home your Zoi cannot fully afford. When browsing properties on the real estate market, a checkbox labeled "Receive a move-in assistance loan" appears if the listed price exceeds your available Meow. Checking this box applies for a bank loan to cover the difference between your funds and the property price.

Property loans are the most common way for new Zois to afford their first home. Since the loan is tied directly to the property purchase, you do not need to visit the bank separately to arrange the financing. The daily interest is calculated based on the full property price, so more expensive homes generate larger daily interest charges. Prioritize repayment early to minimize the total interest paid over the life of the loan.

If you fall behind on property loan payments, the consequences follow the same escalation path as personal bank loans: reminder messages first, followed by restrictions on taking new loans. The bank does not seize the property itself in the current version, but overdue payments still create financial stress for your household.

Loan Sharks

For Zois who need cash immediately and cannot wait for bank approval, loan sharks offer an alternative through the dedicated Loan app on the Smartphone. Two amounts are available: 2,500 Meow and 5,000 Meow, both at a steep 5% interest rate. Unlike bank loans, loan shark loans are approved instantly with no waiting period and no credit check.

The appeal of loan sharks is speed and accessibility. There are no tiers to unlock, no approval delays, and no risk of being denied. However, the 5% interest rate is five times higher than the bank's approximately 1% rate. This difference compounds quickly, especially on the 5,000 Meow loan. A Zoi who borrows 5,000 Meow from a loan shark and delays repayment will watch the total amount owed climb significantly as interest accumulates on the outstanding balance each day.

Loan shark debt is much more dangerous than bank debt. While banks send polite reminders for late payments, loan sharks escalate aggressively. The consequences of missing loan shark payments are covered in detail in the Overdue Consequences section below.

Loan Repayment

All loans, whether from banks or loan sharks, require regular repayment. Multiple methods are available:

• Banking app: Open the banking app on the Smartphone and select the repayment option.

• Home computer: Access the bank interface from a computer at home.

• In-person visit: Go to Narae Bank or Southwest Bank and interact with the ID Scanner to repay.

• Full repayment: If your Zoi has enough Meow, you can pay off the entire remaining balance at once, eliminating all future interest charges.

Repaying loans promptly is critical. For bank loans, timely repayment unlocks higher loan tiers with larger borrowing limits. For loan shark debt, quick repayment prevents the interest from compounding into an unmanageable amount. The most important rule of borrowing in inZOI is simple: never ignore your repayment schedule.

Overdue Consequences

The v0.4.0 update introduced meaningful consequences for missed loan payments. The severity of these consequences depends on whether the debt is owed to a bank or a loan shark.

Bank loan consequences are relatively mild. You will receive polite reminder messages on your Smartphone, and your Zoi may develop the Worried or Stressed mood states. Over time, ongoing financial stress can strain relationships within the household, but the bank never sends collectors to your door and never seizes your possessions.

Loan shark consequences are far more severe. Missing payments triggers a rapid escalation: first come aggressive and threatening messages, then debt collectors physically show up at your home. The most punishing consequence is forced asset seizure, where items in your household become unusable until you resume payments. This can mean your Zoi cannot use their own furniture, appliances, or entertainment items. The Fearful mood state that accompanies loan shark debt collection is stronger than regular Stress and takes longer to dissipate. If your household already has strained relationships, the added financial pressure from loan shark debt can push Zois toward breakdowns.

ATM Locations and ATM Robbery

ATMs are scattered along the sidewalks in both Dowon and Bliss Bay. Interestingly, there are no ATMs inside the banks themselves. ATMs serve as convenient access points for checking balances and performing quick transactions without visiting a branch during business hours.

For Zois with a criminal streak, ATMs also represent an illegal opportunity. Zois with bad karma and at least Level 1 in the Programming skill can attempt to hack an ATM to steal Meow. This falls under the broader crime system in inZOI.

How ATM Robbery Works

1. Your Zoi must have bad karma (achieved through negative social interactions and karmically bad actions).

2. Your Zoi must have at least Level 1 in Programming.

3. Approach an ATM on the street and click on it.

4. Select the Karma Action option, then choose "Hack."

5. The outcome is determined randomly: success, failure, police detection, or electrocution.

ATM robbery is generally not worth the risk for the money alone. The 250 Meow payout is modest compared to even a Tier 1 bank loan of 300 Meow, and the electrocution risk means your Zoi could die on the spot. The primary reason players attempt ATM hacks is for roleplay purposes or to explore the crime system rather than as a genuine money-making strategy. If your Zoi does attempt it, make sure all their basic needs are fully met beforehand to minimize the electrocution chance. See the hacking article for more details on programming-related criminal activities.

Welfare System

When a household's total funds drop below 1,000 Meow, the game automatically provides a welfare payment of 2,000 Meow. This safety net prevents Zois from becoming completely destitute and ensures basic needs can still be met during financial hardship.

The welfare system exists because formal bankruptcy is not yet part of the game. Without it, a Zoi buried in debt with no income would have no path to recovery. Some players view welfare payments as too generous, since they effectively prevent true financial failure. A community mod called "No Welfare Anymore" disables the automatic payments for players who want a harder financial challenge. The developers have indicated that the welfare system may be adjusted in future updates as the economic simulation matures.

Bankruptcy

As of the current Early Access build, there is no formal bankruptcy mechanic in inZOI. A Zoi cannot declare bankruptcy to wipe out their debts, and there is no game-over state triggered by financial ruin. Instead, the welfare system steps in to keep households above 1,000 Meow, effectively serving as an unofficial bankruptcy protection.

This means that in practice, the worst-case scenario for a heavily indebted Zoi is a cycle of receiving welfare payments while loan shark collectors seize household assets and the Zoi suffers Fearful and Stressed mood states. The situation is unpleasant but not terminal. Players who want to recover from severe debt should focus on earning income through careers, selling crafted goods, or using the money making guide strategies to rebuild their finances while making minimum loan payments to stop the collectors.

Budget Tracking

The Budget app on the Smartphone shows your household's complete financial picture:

• Total household assets

• Income breakdown by source (career, business, sales)

• Expense tracking

• Outstanding loan balances and payment schedules

The v0.4.0 update improved the Budget app to display total assets more clearly. Use it regularly to plan loan repayments and avoid overdue penalties. The Budget app is especially useful when juggling multiple financial obligations, such as a property loan alongside daily living expenses. Checking your budget before taking on new debt can prevent you from overextending your household's finances.

Tips

• Start with bank loans over loan sharks whenever possible. The 1% vs 5% interest difference adds up quickly, and bank loans have gentler consequences for late payments.

• Build your loan tier by taking small loans and repaying them promptly. Higher tiers unlock larger borrowing limits that are essential for property purchases later.

• Use savings tiers to grow passive income. Complete each tier to unlock the next level of deposits. A Tier 1 deposit of 250 Meow is a small commitment with guaranteed returns.

• Keep at least 1,000 Meow in reserve to avoid triggering welfare payments, which can mask real financial problems and make it harder to track your true financial health.

• If you take a loan shark loan, make repayment your absolute top priority. Asset seizures from debt collectors can cripple a household, and the Fearful mood state makes your Zoi miserable.

• Consider insurance to protect against unexpected expenses like burglaries or natural disasters that could push you into debt.

• Open a bank account as early as possible. The sooner you start progressing through savings and loan tiers, the more financial flexibility your Zoi will have for major purchases.

• Use the Budget app on your Smartphone to monitor loan balances and payment schedules. Surprises are the enemy of good financial management.

• Avoid ATM robbery as a money-making strategy. The 250 Meow payout is not worth the risk of electrocution death or arrest. Stick to legitimate income sources from the money making guide.

• If your Zoi is deep in loan shark debt, consider selling furniture or other items to make a lump-sum repayment rather than letting interest compound further.