Personal Loan vs Line of Credit: Interest Rates & Requirements
Personal loans are short-term loans that you can take when you are facing cash flow issues. But you can also withdraw quick cash from a line of credit. So, what exactly is the difference between these two banking products?
Personal Loan VS Line of Credit: What's the Difference?
Personal loans and lines of credit are both advertised to give you quick cash. How do you differentiate between the two, and which one should you get for your situation?
Difference between personal loans and lines of credit
A personal loan has fixed interest rate and loan tenure. A line of credit has an open-ended loan tenure with higher and variable interest rates.
Definition of personal loan
Line of credit meaning
Personal Loans vs Lines of Credit Comparison (Singapore)
| Personal loan | Personal line of credit | |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rates | Fixed, between 3.7% to 4.5% | Variable, averaging between 18.6% p.a. and 20.9% p.a. |
| Loan terms | Up to 7 years | Open-ended |
| Repayment | Fixed monthly payment | Ranges from daily to monthly or yearly payments |
| Processing fees | One-time origination fee: 1% to 6% | Ongoing annual fee: $25 to $60 |
| Early repayment penalty | Yes | None |
Best Personal Loans in Singapore (2023)
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Standard Chartered CashOne
- Interest Rate*
- 3.48%
- Total Amount Payable
- S$11,044
- Processing Fee
- S$0
- Per Month
- S$307
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What’s more? Enjoy greater savings and get up to S$3,100 Cashback* from Standard Chartered! T&Cs apply.
The interest rate for Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan is 3.88% (7.63% p.a.). There is also a cashback promotion of 50% off your first month’s instalment.
The minimum annual income for Singaporeans is lower at $20,000. But for non-Singaporean/PR, you need an annual income of at least $60,000 in order to be eligible.
UOB Personal Loan
- Interest Rate*
- 3.88%
- Total Amount Payable
- S$11,164
- Processing Fee
- 0%
- Per Month
- S$310
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Additionally, new-to-UOB CashPlus Customers can enjoy an extra S$100 rebate. T&Cs apply.
Best Line of Credit in Singapore (2023)
| Interest Rate | Annual Fee | Minium Annual Income Requirement | Maximum Credit Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSBC Personal Line of Credit | 18.5% p.a. | $60 (waived for the first year) | $30,000 for Singaporeans/PR | 4-8x monthly salary |
| Maybank CreditAble | 9% for the first year, and 19.8% p.a. thereafter | $80 (waived for 2 years) | $30,000 | up to 4x of monthly salary |
| DBS Cashline | 20.5% p.a. | $120 | $30,000 | 4x monthly salary |
| UOB CashPlus | 0% p.a. for 3 months; 4% p.a. for 6 months; 6% p.a. for 12 months; otherwise, 20.5% p.a | $120 | $30,000 | up to 4x monthly salary |
How do I choose a personal line of credit?
So, should I get a personal loan or a line of credit?
Still confused? Well, a personal loan is for a fixed amount over a fixed number of months. If you have credit card debts, you can get a personal loan to consolidate debts and repay at a much lower interest rate. There is an early repayment penalty, so it's something you'd get if you think that your cash flow won't drastically improve in the near future.
A line of credit is "standby cash". The interest is charged when you draw money from it. The interest rates are much higher than personal loans (but lower than credit cards) at averagely 0.06% per day, 18.6% p.a. to 20.5% p.a. There is no repayment penalty and approval is fast. So, it's really only for you to tide things over within a few months. You are certain that your cash flow will improve and you can repay as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to get a line of credit?
- As long as you meet the eligibility conditions of the bank, it isn’t hard to get a line of credit. If you are a cardholder, you'd even get calls from the bank encouraging you to do so. But, don't do it unless absolutely necessary.
Is it a good idea to get a personal loan?
- The question doesn't have a black-and-white answer. The best recommendation we can give is that it is okay to get a personal loan as a last resort. Of course, it is better to exercise prudence on your day-to-day expenditure such that you have reserve funds and don't ever need a personal loan. However, there may be situations where you suddenly require a large amount of cash and a personal loan can tide you over. If you have chalked up credit card debt, a personal loan is definitely a good idea as it has lower interest rates than credit cards. Take note that taking on many personal loans with no clear plan of repayment can hurt your credit rating in the long run.
Which bank offers the best personal loan in Singapore?
- For now, it seems like HSBC, OCBC, POSB, DBS and Citibank are providing the best interest rates and personal loan promotions in Singapore. You can compare them based on effective interest rates, loan repayment tenures and minimum annual income requirement with MoneySmart's comparison tool.
What does the effective interest rate mean?
- The effective interest rate takes into account the nominal interest rates and the compounding frequency of the loan. This is why two different personal loans with the same interest rate can have different effective interest rates. When comparing, use the EIR as it provides a more accurate picture of how much interest you are actually paying.
