Best Personal Loans with Low Interest Rates & Fast Approval in Singapore 2025

Generally, term personal loans have lower interest rates compared to revolving personal loans. The rates are fixed or variable and are determined at the start of the loan. These loans involve borrowing a lump sum amount that is repaid in fixed monthly installments over a specified period, typically ranging from 1 to 7 years.

Revolving personal loans, such as credit lines and credit cards, tend to have higher interest rates. This is due to the flexible nature of borrowing and the higher risk associated with them. Unlike term personal loans, revolving loans allow you to borrow up to a pre-approved credit limit and repay it in flexible amounts. Interest is charged only on the outstanding balance.

This is the interest rate that banks and financial institutions prominently display. It reflects the annual cost of the loan but does not include other fees or charges. For example, DBS Personal Loan has an advertised interest rate of 3.882.68% p.a. (accurate at the time of writing, last updated on 1 July 2024). However, it doesn’t give you the full picture, since it leaves out other details like processing and admin fees.

This rate provides a more accurate representation of the actual cost of the loan, as it includes not only the advertised interest rate but also additional fees, processing charges, and the loan's repayment schedule. The EIR is usually higher than the advertised rate and offers a clearer picture of the total cost of borrowing. It’s compulsory in Singapore to state the effective interest rate, or EIR, next to the advertised rate.

Some banks also offer promotional 0% interest personal loans for short-term loans. However, these tend to come with high processing fees. That means you’ll still be paying the bank for the loan - it’s just that the bank collects your money upfront rather than in interest payments later on.