Personal Loans Guide

Personal Loans Guide Singapore

Quick Loan

Written by Lee

Published on 7 August, 2022

Key Takeaways

This article explains how personal loans work in Singapore, including how interest is calculated and repayments structured. It covers the typical uses of personal loans, such as emergencies, education, or debt consolidation. It highlights the benefits of borrowing from licensed moneylenders like Quick Loan, including faster approvals and more flexible eligibility criteria. The article also offers tips on improving loan approval chances, such as maintaining a good credit score and planning finances. Overall, it provides a clear guide on when and how to apply for a personal loan, what costs to expect, and how to manage repayments effectively.

A personal loan comes in handy when you need a significant amount of money to meet a personal need or emergency in the short-term.

Personal loans are a life-saver when you are faced with an unfortunate medical emergency and are strapped for cash. You can also use personal loans to realize other necessities such as vacation travels, sizeable purchases, and other large expenses.

In Singapore, financial institutions such as banks are not the only personal loan lenders available to borrowers. Licensed moneylenders also offer personal loans.

Personal loans are unsecured loans with no collateral such as a house or other assets. Financial institutions and moneylenders analyze your credit score to understand your creditworthiness.

Borrowers with a good credit score are more likely to get personal loans with low interest.

Personal loans in Singapore are well-known for their flexible terms and easy availability, which means you can get your emergencies and issues addressed without any delay.

Read further to know how personal loans work in Singapore and what you can do to get the best personal loan interest rates.

Table of Contents

How does a Personal Loan Work?

A personal loan starts with an application process. You are required to submit essential documents for the approval process to start. Once approved, you will receive a significant amount of money, depending on the amount of loan approved.

There is a fixed rate of interest on the borrowed amount – the principal – which you are expected to repay within the scheduled time period.

When you make repayments for a personal loan, you repay not only the principal amount but also

the interest and other applicable fees. The entire amount needs to be paid within the agreed timeline.

Personal loans usually require you to pay a pre-specified fixed amount in installments, over the loan repayment period. This period can range from a few months to several years, depending on the loan amount and the lender, among other factors.

How is Interest on Personal Loan Calculated?

Most personal loans are designed for fixed monthly payments repayable over a few years, depending on the loan amount.

In most cases, personal loans come fully amortized. This means, your monthly repayments would include the principal amount as well as the interest. The principal amount is the original loan amount you are offered.

A personal loan calculator involves monthly repayment of the principal sum along with interest.

Amortized personal loans are affordable because the amortized amounts fit easily into your budget. As you will be paying monthly principal amounts, you will not have to worry about balloon payments – paying the entire loan amount at the end of the loan period.

Personal loan interest rate for licensed moneylenders in Singapore is 4% on the reducing balance. Customers are required to pay a fixed amount of money per month. The monthly repayments include both the principal amount and the interest.

How to Calculate Personal Loan Payments and Costs?

A personal loan calculator can help you determine your monthly payments with accuracy. You can also use it to compare interest rates and repayments while searching for a lender.

Extending on the example above, let us calculate the various personal loan components for the loan amount of S$20, 000:

Loan Details Values
Loan Amount $20000
Annual Interest Rate 4%
Loan Repayment Period 4 years
Monthly Principal Amount (loan amount)/(total no of months)
$20000/48 = $416.67
Monthly Interest (Annual interest rate)/100/12
4/100/12*20,000 = $66.67
Total Monthly Loan Payment Monthly principal + Monthly interest
$416.67 + $66.67 = 483.34

So, for a loan amount of S$20, 000, the total monthly repayment you would need to make is about S$483.34.

When is a Personal Loan Best?

A personal loan is best when you need a generous amount of cash immediately. While there is the obligation to repay the loan over the scheduled period, a personal loan can help you meet your immediate needs.

Some life situations where the use of personal loans can be advantageous, include:

· Medical emergencies

· Family crises

· Education expenses

· Weddings and holidays

· Property renovations

· Pay off existing debts

Is a Personal Loan Good to Pay Off Existing Debt?

A personal loan can help you repay credit card debts. People with a good credit rating often choose to take a personal to clear their credit card dues.

A personal loan is also a viable solution to consolidate multiple high-interest debts into one single manageable and repayable debt. By clearing off your debts with a personal loan, you may even witness an improvement in your credit score.

Tips to Get Instant Approval on a Personal Loan

Getting the best interest rates at the lowest monthly repayments in a fast and secured way is what every personal loan borrower wishes for. This expectation need not be a dream though. You can get the best interest rates and monthly repayments with the following tips.

Choose a Licensed Moneylender

Licensed moneylenders employ technology to get things done fast. You can apply for a loan online, which moves the process faster, saving you time and efforts. When you need a personal loan for an urgent need, time is of essence and the faster the process, the better.

Loan approval is also faster with licensed moneylenders. You do not have to wait for days to know whether your loan has been approved or not. The process for loan application and approval takes only 30 minutes with a licensed moneylender in Singapore. You will receive your loan cash on the spot, upon approval.

Eligibility for loan qualification is more relaxed with licensed moneylenders in Singapore. The qualifying income range is wider and the rates of rejection are usually lower.

Your repayment capacity is the major criterion for moneylenders. Your application is less likely to be rejected if you qualify for repayment.

Loans from licensed moneylenders can be a life-saver when you are faced with crises such as accidents or medical emergencies. With their easy and flexible process, getting cash in hand within a day is not impossible.

Monitor your Credit Score

The key to getting instant loan approval is maintaining a healthy credit score. Avoid late payments, and consider keeping your credit low. Without proper credit monitoring, your debts can become unmanageable.

A good credit score also depends on your credit history, recent credits and the extent of your credit.

Plan your Finances Before Taking a Personal Loan

Be prepared with a budget beforehand to understand where you have to minimize expenses. With a plan, you will be better prepared to pay your monthly repayments. Delay or failure in monthly repayments can be prevented with a budget plan. You will also prevent the risk of going overboard with your expenses, which can lead to more debts.

A personal loan can bring several advantages to the table for anyone who is in the need of urgent cash and liquidity, and these can be used for a wide variety of applications, unlike other forms of specific loans. A personal loan can help you get out of tricky situations while helping you consolidate all your existing loans into a single unit as well. By lending from a licensed moneylender in Singapore, you can be assured that you will be getting the best deal there is, and the quick and simple approval and disbursal process would make the experience a breeze, so as to say.

In Conclusion

Personal loans in Singapore offer multiple benefits. There are no legal restrictions specifying how borrowers can and cannot use their personal loans. The process for loan application and approval is easier and faster, and even instant in case of emergencies.

As a borrower, you get more than adequate time to repay your loan. Interest rates for personal loans are cheaper. With no collateral, the risk of your property being seized, does not practically exist.

With its many practical benefits, personal loans in Singapore are a faster and an efficient way to address your life’s needs.

Personal loans are the best when it comes to meeting a sudden need for cash, and these loans can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Be it for medical emergencies, or for sudden business needs, a personal loan can come in handy. In Singapore, Quick Loan offers personal loans that can help you meet your short term liquidity needs. These loans are unsecured, and are not backed up by any asset guarantee. The lender would analyse your credit-worthiness. Personal loans are extremely flexible, and their terms and conditions are determined on the basis of their particulars like repayment terms, principal amount, etc.

How to Apply for Personal Loan in Singapore FAQs

A personal loan in Singapore is an unsecured type of borrowing, meaning you don’t need to provide any assets like property or a car as security. It’s commonly used to manage expenses such as home renovations, medical bills, weddings, or consolidating existing debts.

When you take a personal loan from a bank or licensed moneylender, you’ll receive a fixed amount of money and agree to repay it over a set period, usually with monthly instalments. The interest rate and repayment terms are clearly stated in the loan agreement and are based on factors like your income, credit score, and how much you’re borrowing.

In Singapore, it’s important to borrow from licensed financial institutions and compare rates across banks to find a plan that suits your needs and repayment ability.

Applying for a personal loan in Singapore through a traditional bank presents many restrictions, including stricter eligibility criteria, longer processing times and higher chances of rejection. Your credit score and income weigh heavily on the bank’s decision to offer you a personal loan.

On the other hand, licensed moneylenders in Singapore can give you a personal loan with low interest rates, a convenient online application process and more flexibility. At Quick Loan, we welcome applications from anyone aged 18 and above with a minimum income of SGD1,800 and the required documentation according to their citizenship status.

You can access a quick cash loan for emergencies or secure funds for major expenses like medical bills.

All licensed moneylenders in Singapore are subject to the Moneylenders Act, ensuring that we adhere to confidentiality laws and have strict limits on interest rates, fees and other charges. You can be sure that all loans and processes at Quick Loan are legal and carefully regulated.

When you apply for a urgent cash loan with licensed moneylenders in Singapore, you can expect a faster personal loan approval process compared to traditional banks. At Quick Loan, you can look forward to accessing your funds within 30 minutes.

You can also expect a lower rejection rate for your application since moneylenders are more likely to approve your loan, even if you have a bad credit score. Quick Loan lets you access personal loan instant approval service and other options. These include payday loans to help you meet those expenses that cannot wait.

Yes, you can qualify for a instant personal loan as a foreigner in Singapore. All you need to do is ensure that you possess an S Pass or Employment Pass with 6 months of validity.

To apply for a personal loan for foreigners in Singapore, you must present these with your passport, along with proof of residency, payslips for the last three months, a bank token, your employment contract and your staff card.

Unlike banks, licensed moneylenders have minimal requirements for expats applying for personal loans. Moneylenders also have faster loan processing times, meaning you can get your money within the same day to cover any urgent needs. Alternatively, you may apply for our foreigner loan with a minimum monthly salary of SGD3,400 with no guarantor required. You can look forward to flexible repayment conditions with low effective interest rates if your loan is approved.

You can take out a personal loan even with an unfavourable credit score. You may have trouble qualifying for a traditional bank loan, where poor credit indicates a high risk loan candidate. However, licensed moneylenders in Singapore are more lenient with applicants’ credit history.

At Quick Loan, for example, our requirements for loan applications are minimal and straightforward. If you need cash urgently, legitimate licensed moneylenders like us are an excellent alternative to banks.

We’ll help you find a loan that works best for your unique situation, such as funds for big-ticket items like education.

The minimum requirements for applying for a personal loan in Singapore depend primarily on your citizenship, income level and age. Quick Loan requires you to be at least 18 years of age with a minimum salary of SGD1,800 to qualify for a online personal loan.

Singapore banks have stricter eligibility conditions and income level requirements. However, non-bank loan requirements tend to be much more lenient, making licensed moneylenders a reliable alternative if you cannot meet a bank’s prerequisites or require cash on top of what banks have offered you.

At Quick Loan, you can look forward to a simple and speedy approval process once you’ve met our requirements for a personal loan. You can also apply for a quick loan or licensed moneylender loan with us to secure urgent funds.

Here at Quick Loan, no collateral or third-party guarantor is needed for your application for a personal loan in Singapore. Unlike Singaporean banks, licensed moneylenders tend to favour personal loans that are flexible and suitable to your needs in terms of repayment.

Yes. Personal loans are meant to cater to a variety of financial needs, from debt consolidation on pending bills, medical emergencies, supporting your renovation works at your new place, or boosting your cash flow at your new business.

At Quick Loan, we aim to customise our personal loans to your requirements, so that everyone gets the best out of their package, whether it may be for that special day with your loved one, or providing you that extra capital for a worthwhile investment.

Should you happen to miss your payment for your personal loan with Quick Loan, please contact us as soon as you are able. As late payments will detrimentally affect your credit score, and also incur unwanted additional charges, we would similarly like to avoid such a scenario and hope to work with you to see if we can find a mutually beneficially solution together.

  1. Type of Loan
    • Unsecured Loans: You don’t need to offer anything valuable, like your house or car, as collateral. However, these loans often have higher interest rates because the lender takes on more risk.
    • Secured Loans: You need to provide something valuable (like property or a vehicle) as collateral. These loans usually offer higher borrowing limits and lower interest rates because the lender has something to fall back on if you can’t repay. But if you don’t pay, they can take your collateral.
  2. Interest Rates & Fees
    Interest rates directly affect how much you’ll pay each month, so it’s important to shop around to find the best deal.

    Be mindful of any extra fees, like:

    • Origination Fees: Fees for setting up the loan.
    • Service Fees: Charges for maintaining your loan account.
    • Underwriting Fees: Costs for reviewing and approving the loan.
  3. Loan Tenure
    The loan tenure (how long you have to repay) affects the total cost of your loan. A shorter tenure means less interest paid over time. Choose a loan tenure that fits your budget, so you can comfortably make your payments.
  4. Your Financial Situation
    Before taking out a loan, think about your financial situation. Look at your income, expenses, and any other debts to figure out how much you can afford to borrow and repay. Only borrow what you really need and can comfortably pay back, so you avoid financial stress later.

To apply for a personal loan in Singapore, the required documents differ based on whether you’re a Singaporean/PR or a foreigner:

For Singaporeans/PRs, you will need:

  • NRIC (National Registration Identity Card)
  • Singpass (for identity verification)

If you’re renting:

  • Tenancy Agreement
  • Proof of Address (e.g., recent phone bill or utility bill)
  • Payslips from the last three months (if available)
  • Bank Token (for secure transactions)


For Foreigners, the required documents include:

  • S Pass or Employment Pass
  • Passport
  • Residence Information:
  • Phone Bill or Utility Bill (as proof of address)
  • Tenancy Agreement
  • Payslips from the last three months (if available)
  • Bank Token
  • Employment Contract
  • Staff Card (if applicable)

The personal loan process with Quick Loan is quick and easy:

Apply: Submit your application online with Singpass Myinfo
Free Consultation & Agreement: Discuss loan options in store and sign your loan agreement
Receive Cash: Get your loan disbursed directly into your bank account or receive cash within 20 minutes!

Yes! You can apply for a personal loan with Quick Loan even if you have existing loans with other moneylenders, as long as you meet the necessary criteria for approval. However, keep in mind that having existing loans may affect your eligibility or the loan amount you can receive, as it will be considered as part of your overall financial situation.

Quick Loan will evaluate your current debt levels and ability to repay the new loan, so it’s important to ensure you can manage the additional repayment alongside your existing obligations. We may also assess your income and credit history to determine the loan terms.

Yes, it is possible to apply for a personal loan with Quick Loan even if you have a poor credit rating. However, approval may depend on several factors such as your current income, repayment capacity, and existing debt levels. As a licensed moneylender, we have more flexible criteria compared to banks, and are more likely to approve loans for individuals with less-than-ideal credit scores.

It’s important to note that while your credit score may not be the primary factor, Quick Loan will still assess your financial situation to determine whether you can afford the loan and meet repayment terms.

No, your loan documents will not be mailed to your home unless you have requested for it. Quick Loan prioritizes digital communication for our application and approval process, allowing you to receive all necessary information via email. This helps ensure security, convenience, and speed in processing your loan.

At Quick Loan, there are no penalties for early repayment or full early settlement of a personal loan

If you decide to pay off your loan early, you will only need to repay the outstanding principal amount along with any charges that has accrued until the date of settlement.

Personal loans can have both positive and negative effects on your credit score, depending on how punctual your loan repayments are:

Positive Effects:

  • Timely Payments: If you make your loan payments on time and in full, this positive behavior will reflect well on your credit report, potentially improving your credit score over time.
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Successfully managing your personal loan can show that you are capable of handling multiple types of credit, which may improve your overall credit profile.

Negative Effects:

  • Credit Inquiry Impact: When you apply for a personal loan, the lender may perform a hard inquiry (credit check), which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
  • Increased Debt: If you don’t manage the loan responsibly, it can increase your debt load, leading to missed payments or accumulating debt, which could negatively impact your credit score.

To be eligible for a personal loan in Singapore, you generally need to meet certain criteria, which can vary slightly depending on whether you’re applying through a bank or a licensed moneylender. Here’s a general overview of the eligibility requirements:

For Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs):

  • Age: You must be at least 18 years old at the time of loan repayment.
  • Income: Minimum annual income of SGD 20,000 for salaried employees. If self-employed, your annual income should be SGD 30,000 or more.
  • Employment Status: You should have a stable income and employment. If you’re salaried, providing recent pay slips is usually required.
  • Creditworthiness: Your credit score and debt-to-income ratio will be reviewed, and those with a history of timely repayments are more likely to qualify.

For Foreigners:

  • Visa Status: You must have a valid Employment Pass or S Pass.
  • Income: Your minimum income requirement is generally SGD $40,000 annually.
  • Proof of Residence: Foreigners must also provide proof of their residence in Singapore (e.g., utility bills, tenancy agreements).
  • Additional Documents: Foreigners will need to submit extra documentation, such as a passport, employment contract, and staff card (if applicable).

Other Considerations:

  • Existing Debts: If you already have outstanding loans with other financial institutions, it may affect your eligibility.
  • Credit Rating: Your credit score plays a significant role. Lenders assess your ability to repay the loan based on your financial standing.

Taking out a personal loan in Singapore can offer financial flexibility, but it comes with certain risks, including:

  • High-Interest Rates: If you have a poor credit score, you may face higher interest rates, which could significantly increase the total amount you repay.
  • Debt Accumulation: If you’re already struggling financially, taking on more debt can lead to greater financial stress. Missing payments can also result in late fees and higher interest.
  • Impact on Credit Score: Failing to repay the loan on time can negatively affect your credit score. On the other hand, responsible management can improve your credit history.
  • Loan Repayment Pressure: The set repayment schedule could put a strain on your monthly budget, especially if your financial situation changes unexpectedly (such as job loss or medical emergencies).

In Singapore, personal loans generally come with the following terms:

Minimum Loan Tenure: Minimum loan tenure differs from 1 week to 1 month depending on lenders.

Maximum Loan Tenure: The maximum loan tenure is often 5 years, depending on the lender. Longer tenures may be available for larger loan amounts but often come with higher total interest costs.

To choose the best personal loan for your situation in Singapore, consider these factors:

  • Interest Rates: Compare the interest rates from different lenders. Look for fixed rates (consistent payments) if you prefer stability or variable rates (which may change) if you’re comfortable with fluctuations.
  • Fees and Charges: Ensure you understand any additional fees such as processing fees, early repayment fees, or late payment charges. Some lenders offer loans with no additional fees, making them more affordable in the long run.
  • Loan Amount and Tenure: Make sure the loan amount is appropriate for your needs and that the loan tenure fits within your budget. A longer repayment period may make it easier to repay, but it could also increase the total interest paid.
  • Repayment Flexibility: Some lenders allow you to make early repayments without penalties. Check if you can adjust repayment terms if necessary.
  • Eligibility Criteria: Verify if you meet the lender’s eligibility requirements, such as income levels, credit score, and employment status.

QuickLoan Pte Ltd is a licensed money lender in Singapore, serving you since 2010. We reside in International Plaza Tanjong Pagar, giving you the best financial assistance. Our Services include personal loan, payday loan, business loan, renovation loan and foreigner loan and more with instant approval! With our simple application process, you can look forward to fast cash within 20 minutes. What’s more, you can enjoy greater peace of mind with our low interest rates and affordable repayment plans. We’re licensed by the Registry of Moneylenders, so you can rest assured that your dealings with us are fully regulated, legal and transparent.