> Is there a difference? Or do you think both are unacceptable?

Loans by themselves are acceptable; loans with interest are not, because you're making a profit from what could potentially be slavery.

A licit way to do it would be to have a purchase-repurchase agreement. I pay $5000 to "buy" a car, and I'm guaranteed to be able to sell it back for let's say $4000 a week later. That way, if I default on it, I can never end up in debt.

Loans backed by people's ability to earn income are a form of slavery, and earning interest off this is not licit.