Personal instalment loans

Personal instalment loans are an unsecured one-off lump sum that can be used to finance everything from a wedding and home renovation to medical expenses and holidays. With low interest rates available, they are an affordable option.

By   |   Verified by Kwok Zhong Li   |   Updated 27 Mar 2023

As seen on

Media - Enterprise Innovation
Media - Fintech Times
Media - Singapore Business Review
Media - Today
Media - Tech In Asia
Media - Zaobao

Comparing personal instalment loans for over months

HSBC Personal Line of Credit

On website

HSBC Personal Line of Credit

Interest rate

From 4.00% (personalised)

Effective interest rate

From 7.50% (personalised)

Repayment period

3 years

Application fee

$0.00

Monthly repayment

$295.24

Total repayment

$10,628.64

Highlights

  • Get extra cash of up to 8X your monthly incomeGet extra cash of up to 8X your monthly income View Personal Line of Credit page
  • Low prevailing interest rates from 12% per annum
  • Flexible repayments, and pay only for what you use

Bank promo

  • Get cashback of up to S$3,000 and enjoy a 4% p.a. interest rate (EIR 7.5% p.a.) with no fee.

Pros

  • Get promotional interest rates and earn cashback when you meet the criteria.
  • Fixed monthly repayments with a choice of tenor between 1 and 7 years.
  • Quick decision.
  • Borrow as low as $1,000.

Cons

  • You will be charged an overdue interest of 2.5% plus prevailing interest if you miss your payment.
OCBC Cash-on-Instalments

On website

OCBC Cash-on-Instalments

Interest rate

From 3.50% (personalised)

Effective interest rate

From 6.96% (personalised)

Repayment period

3 years

Application fee

$100.00

Monthly repayment

$306.94

Total repayment

$11,049.84

Highlights

  • Turn unused credit limit into cash, without the need for additional income documents.
  • Enjoy extra cash from interest rates as low as 3.50% p.a. (EIR 6.96% p.a.).
  • Manage your finances with fixed repayment with periods ranging from 1 to 5 years.

Bank promo

  • Receive up to $3,888 cashback when you apply for OCBC Cash-on-Instalments. Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros

  • Earn a generous amount of cashback when you meet the criteria.
  • Minimum loan amount is S$1,000.
  • Easy and fast application process.

Cons

  • There is a processing fee which is 1% of the approved loan amount.
Standard Chartered CashOne

On website

Standard Chartered CashOne

Interest rate

From 3.48% (personalised)

Effective interest rate

From 6.95% (personalised)

Repayment period

3 years

Application fee

$199.00

Monthly repayment

$298.76

Total repayment

$10,755.36

Highlights

  • Earn cashback when you apply for a Personal Loan.
  • Enjoy competitive interest rates starting from 3.48% p.a.
  • Get your cash disbursed within 15 minutes of approval.

Bank promo

  • Enjoy cashback on the first 2 months interest upon approval. Terms and Conditions apply

Pros

  • Borrow as low as S1,000 and up to S$200,000.
  • Flexible repayment loan tenure from 1 to 5 years
  • Receive up to S$200 cashback for every successful referral. Valid until 31 December 2023.

Cons

  • There is a first-year annual fee of S$199.

Learn about personal instalment loans

Finty's experts share their what you need to know about using a personal instalment loan.

  • FAQs

Can non-citizens who are not permanent residents of Singapore apply for an instalment loan?

Most banks will accept applications from foreigners, although there may be higher eligibility requirements in terms of income and documentation.

Do I need to supply a form of security (collateral) for an instalment loan?

No. Instalment personal loans are usually unsecured, unless the loan amount is particularly large (e.g. over $100,000).

How long will it take for my instalment loan to be approved?

If you have all the required documentation ready to hand (identification documents, proof of income, proof of residential address) and have a reasonable credit score, approval in principle can be as fast as one minute to one hour (depending on the lender) with the cash appearing in your bank account the next day.

Apply using MyInfo for the quickest turnaround.

If the bank needs to follow up on something in your documentation or credit report, it could take longer for your loan to be approved.

How much can I borrow on an instalment loan?

The maximum amount you can borrow is stipulated by the lender in terms of a multiple of your monthly salary (e.g.four times your monthly salary. But you shouldn’t automatically apply for the maximum loan amount. Work out what your actual needs are (e.g. the likely total cost of your planned renovations, or the sum of your existing debts for debt consolidation) and apply for this amount only, to reduce your monthly repayments and the total amount of interest you will pay.

How will an instalment personal loan affect my credit score?

If you manage your loan responsibly by meeting all the repayments on time, it should have a positive effect on your credit score. The positive effect will be particularly noticeable if you use the instalment personal loan as a means of consolidating your debts by using the cash from your new loan to pay off your old debts, leaving you with a single, manageable payment, possibly at a lower overall interest rate.

What are the eligibility requirements for an instalment personal loan?

The good news is that the eligibility requirements are often easier to meet than the requirements for a specific purpose loan. Some specific purpose loans, for example, are closed to foreigners, or may have more stringent income requirements.

Typical eligibility requirements for an instalment personal loan are:

  • Be at least 21 years old and under 65
  • If a Singaporean, earn an annual income of at least $20,000 or $30,000, depending on the lender
  • If a foreigner, earn a higher annual income (e.g. $45,000 to $60,000, depending on the lender)

What is an instalment personal loan?

An instalment personal loan is an amount of money you borrow for a purpose of your choice (e.g. home renovation, purchasing furniture or technology, holiday, car purchase) and repay in equal monthly instalments over the course of the repayment period (loan tenure or loan tenor).

What repayment period (loan tenure or loan tenor) should I choose for an instalment loan?

Repayment periods of between one and seven years are generally available. The longer the repayment period, the smaller your monthly repayment will be, but the more interest you will pay in total. Try to choose the shortest repayment period you can manage, where you will still be able to afford the monthly repayment.

What’s the difference between an instalment loan and a special purpose loan?

The cash paid to you upfront when you take out an instalment personal loan can be used for any purpose you choose and will be paid into your personal bank account. Special purpose loans, like education, new car, used car, balance transfer, debt consolidation or renovation loans, are offered by lenders to borrowers who intend to use the cash for the stated purpose and the cash will often be disbursed to the third party providing the goods or services rather than direct to the borrower. These special purpose loans often have lower interest rates, so if you have one of these purposes in mind you might be better off applying for a loan type specifically intended to cover it.