DSTI
Published 4 November 2026, 21:42
DSTI — debt service-to-income (share of net income going on loan repayments)
All of a person's monthly loan repayments — including the loan they are about to take out — divided by their income after tax and Segurança Social contributions. It is one of the caps the Bank of Portugal has set for banks: as at 4 September 2026, repayments should as a rule not exceed 45% of net income. The cap used to be 50%; the regulator announced the cut in summer 2026.
Where you come across it. Applying for a mortgage or consumer loan; working out roughly how much the bank is likely to lend you.
Staying under the cap is not enough: the bank must assess your ability to repay separately and may refuse even if your DSTI is below 45%. The caps do not apply to loans taken out to deal with arrears (consolidation, refinancing), to credit cards and overdrafts, to property leasing, or to loans of no more than ten times the minimum wage.
Official website: clientebancario.bportugal.pt