Letterkenny District Civil Court heard the man owes Lifford Credit Union €26,854.68.
He has entered into an agreement to pay back €25 to clear his debt.
The arrangement means it will take 20 years and six months for the money to be paid off.
The last payment is due in September 2036.
However the loan could be paid earlier if the man’s circumstances change for the better in the mean time and the payment order is raised.
Meanwhile Judge Paul Kelly put a 10-day stay on issuing a warrant for the arrest of a Lifford woman and her mother who owe the town’s credit union €4,464.80.
The woman – with her mother as guarantor – had agreed to pay back €40 per week but had stopped payments.
They had also failed to appear in court.
Frank Dorrian solicitor said his client had been due to be in court. He asked for the 10-day stay on the warrant in an effort to contact them again.