There are 2 things we all wish we had more of: money and time. When life throws unexpected bills your way, the last thing you want is to wait days—or even weeks!—for a loan to be approved. That’s where instant loans come in.
Whether it’s a medical emergency or urgent home repairs, instant loans promise to get you cash fast. But how do they stack up when it comes to interest rates and fees? Just how "instant" are they really?
In this article, I’ll be sharing with you all you need to know about the top instant loans around, along with all the quickfire information you’ll need to know about them. Beyond that, you’ll also have my take on whether you should take a loan from a bank or a licensed moneylender.
For fair comparison, all loan interest rates, effective interest rates (EIR), and fees in this article assume you’re taking a loan amount of $10,000 and repaying it over 3 years unless otherwise stated. Actual rates will be personalised to your loan amount, loan tenure, credit history, and annual income.
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1. Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan (EIR from 2.09% p.a.)
Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan—Quick facts | |
Age requirement | At least 21 years old |
Minimum annual income | $30,000 |
Interest rates | From 1.08% p.a. (EIR from 2.09% p.a) |
Annual fee | $199 for the first year |
Processing fee | 0% |
Late fee | $100 |
Cancellation/full repayment fee | $150 or 3% of the outstanding amount |
Restructuring fee | $50 to change your loan tenure |
Estimated loan approval time:
It's possible to get instant approval and cash disbursement to any bank account of your choice with the Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan. Of course, this is subject to you meeting Standard Chartered's eligibility criteria, which include factors like annual income and sound credit history.
Loan breakdown:
The Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan stands out for being the lowest in the market right now—and frankly, the lowest I've seen loan interest rates go ever: rates start from 1.08% p.a. (EIR from 2.09% p.a).
You can apply as long as you're 21 years old and earning at least $30,000. Standard Chartered opens their CashOne loan to salaried workers, partial commission-based earners, and full commission earners too.
How do I apply for a Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan?
If you're an existing Standard Chartered credit cardholder, it's going to be a breeze—no documents are required. Otherwise, SingPass holders may apply for a Standard Chartered CashOne Personal Loan with MyInfo.
2. UOB Personal Loan (EIR from 2.65% p.a.)
UOB Personal Loan—Quick facts | |
Age requirement | Between 21 to 65 years old |
Minimum annual income | $30,000 |
Interest rates | From 1.38% (EIR from 2.65% p.a.) |
Processing fee | 0% |
Late fee | $100 (Credit Card Personal Loan Late Payment Fee) / $120 (CashPlus Personal Loan Late Payment Fee) |
Full repayment fee | $150 or 3% of the outstanding amount |
Cancellation fee | $150 or 3% of the outstanding amount |
Estimated loan approval time:
It's possible to get instant approval and cash disbursement with the UOB Personal Loan.
Loan breakdown:
If you’re an existing UOB credit card/CashPlus customer, consider taking a UOB Personal Loan. Aside from its instant approval, another strong point of the UOB Personal Loan is that it’s affordable—it comes with no processing fees and low interest rates from 1.38% (EIR from 2.65% p.a.). You also have a good deal of flexibility in terms of how long you’ll borrow the money, with loan periods of 1 to a maximum of 5 years.
How do I apply for a UOB Personal Loan?
You may apply for a UOB Personal Loan online using a UOB savings account or current account.
3. Mari Credit Card Instant Loan (EIR from 2.79% p.a.)
Mari Credit Card Instant Loan—Quick facts | |
Interest rates | 1.86% p.a. (EIR 2.79%) |
Processing fee | $0 |
Minimum annual income | – $30,000 for those between 21 to 55 years old |
Late interest | – 27.99% p.a. on any outstanding amount if the Statement Due is not paid in full by the due date. |
Estimated loan approval time:
MariBank says: “Your application will be reviewed upon submission and you should receive your funds within 1 to 2 minutes if your loan is approved.”
So most likely, you’ll get your money pretty much instantly (1- 2 minutes) after submitting your application if you are approved.
Loan breakdown:
Mari Credit Card Instant Loan is an option for MariBank customers with a Mari Credit Card. It allows you to convert a portion of your remaining credit limit into cash. For example, if your Mari Credit Card’s credit limit is $20,000 and you charge $5,000 to the card, you have $15,000 that you can draw down from as a Mari Instant Loan.
While the loan interest rate is low, MariBank has incredibly high interest rates if you’re late with your payments: 27.99% p.a. to 30.99% p.a. Do not, and I mean DO NOT, take this loan if you’re unsure of your ability to make punctual repayments.
How do I apply for a Mari Instant Loan?
For existing MariBank customers | If you’re not a MariBank customer yet |
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If you don’t already have a Mari Credit Card and Mari Savings account, these will be issued to you once your loan application is successful.
ALSO READ: 9 Things to Look Out For When Taking Out Personal Loans
4. GXS FlexiLoan (EIR from 3.00% p.a.)
GXS FlexiLoan—Quick facts | ||
Loan type | ||
Loan tenure | 4 – 12 months | 2 – 60 months |
Interest rates | 0% interest | From 1.60% p.a. (EIR 3.00% p.a.) |
Processing fee | From 1.35% (EIR 4.13% p.a.) | None |
Late fee | No late fee but there is late interest that is chargeable at a default rate of 28% p.a. upon late repayment for both Balance Transfer and Instalment Loan. | |
Early partial/full repayment fee | None | |
Minimum annual income | $20,000 p.a. (Singapore Citizen or a Singapore Permanent Resident) | |
Estimated loan approval time:
According to GXS, eligible applicants will usually only wait 3 minutes or less for their application to be approved.
Loan breakdown:
The GXS FlexiLoan comes in 2 iterations:
- Balance Transfer: 0% interest but has a one-time processing fee. This option is more suitable for short-term loans of up to 1 year.
- Instalment Loan: From 1.60% p.a. (EIR 3.00% p.a.) but no processing fees. This option is suitable for longer loan periods of up to 5 years.
Between the 2 options, choose Balance Transfer for smaller, shorter loans. This loan comes with 0% interest and one-time processing fees starting from 1.35% (EIR 4.13% p.a.). Tenure can be 4 to 12 months, and monthly repayments start from as little as 1% a month.
However, if you need a loan period longer than 1 year (perhaps if you’re taking a larger loan), choose the Instalment Loan option. This allows you to repay a loan over a maximum of 5 years. The interest rate start from 1.60% p.a. (EIR 3.00% p.a.), but you can enjoy lower interest rates with GXS Reno Club if you're a prospective homeowner.
For both Balance Transfer and Instalment Loan, a high late interest rate of 28% p.a. is chargeable if you fail to make your repayments on time (there is a 2-day grace period). So make sure you have the means for repayment sorted before you apply.
Another thing to note is that you’ll only be able to take the Balance Transfer option once. Any future loans you want to take with the GXS FlexiLoan have to be under the instalment loan plan.
How do I apply for the GXS FlexiLoan?
- Download the GXS Bank app and sign up for a GXS FlexiLoan account.
- Customise your loan by entering your loan amount, choosing your repayment tenure, and selecting your preferred monthly repayment date.
- Receive your funds.
5. Trust Instant Loan (EIR from 3.00% p.a.)
Trust Instant Loan—Quick facts | |
Age requirement | Between 21 to 65 years old |
Minimum annual income | $30,000 (Singaporean or Permanent Resident) |
Interest rates | 1.56% (EIR 3.00% p.a.) |
Processing fee | None |
Late interest rate / fee | 27.9% p.a. & $100 late fee |
Early partial/full repayment fee | 3% |
Estimated loan approval time:
According to Trust, you’ll get your loan approved and money deposited into your Trust account within 60 seconds from application.
Loan breakdown:
Like the Mari Credit Card Instant Loan, the Trust Instant Loan lets you convert part of your Trust credit card’s credit balance into cash. This cash will be put into your Trust savings account. So, as you can guess, applying for a Trust Instant Loan means you’re also applying for a Trust credit card and savings account (if you don’t already have them).
As you're charging the loan to your Trust credit card, you'll incur the late charges that apply to your card if you're late to repay your loan. That's a whopping 27.9% p.a. on top of a $100 late fee.
Currently, Trust Instant Loan rates are very low—they start from just 1.56% (EIR 3.00% p.a.).
How do I apply for a Trust Instant Loan?
Apply for a Trust Instant Loan on the Trust app:
For existing Trust customers | For new Trust customers |
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6. DBS/POSB Personal Loan (EIR from 3.22% p.a.)
DBS/POSB Personal Loan—Quick facts | |
Minimum annual income | $20,000 for Singaporeans/PR |
Maximum loan tenure | 5 years |
Interest rates | 1.48% p.a. + 1% processing fee (EIR 3.22% p.a.) |
Processing fee | 1% of approved loan amount |
Late fee | $100 |
Early repayment fee | $250 |
Estimated loan approval time:
You can get your cash disbursed instantly if you have an existing relationship with DBS/POSB, i.e. have DBS/POSB Cashline and/or DBS/POSB credit cards. If you don't have these, DBS will issue you a Cashline account to come with your personal loan.
Loan breakdown:
The main thing that caught my attention for the DBS/POSB Personal Loan is that you don’t have to be earning a regular salary in order to take this loan. Self-employed individuals and freelance workers can also go for this one.
It also has a low interest rate. As you go on and view the other loans listed in this article, you’ll see that few can beat its 1.48% p.a. + 1% processing fee (EIR 3.22% p.a.)
How do I apply for the DBS/POSB Personal Loan?
You can apply for the DBS/POSB Personal Loan using your available credit limit easily via the respective digibank mobile apps. Existing customers don't need to submit new documents.
7. OCBC ExtraCash Loan (EIR from 10.96% p.a.)
OCBC ExtraCash Loan—Quick facts | ||
Annual income requirement | Singaporean/PRs above 21 years of age: At least $20,000 | |
For annual income $30,000 and above | For annual income between $20,000 to $29,999 | |
Interest rates | From 10.08% p.a. (EIR 10.96%) | 22% p.a. (EIR 23.10%) |
Processing fee | $200 or 2% of the approved loan amount, whichever is higher | $100 |
Late fee | $80 | |
Early partial/full repayment fee | 3% of amount to be repaid ($1,000 minimum repayment) | |
Restructuring fee | 3% of outstanding loan amount | |
Estimated loan approval time:
Instant approval and cash disbursement when you apply via Myinfo.
Loan breakdown:
With the OCBC ExtraCash Loan, you can get instant approval and disbursement of your money when you apply via Myinfo. The major downside? Interest rates are sky-high. You’re looking at an EIR of 10.96% if your annual income is $30,000 and above, or a whopping 23.10% if it’s $20,000– $29,999. These rates are assuming you’re taking a 5-year repayment plan.
How do I apply for an OCBC ExtraCash Loan?
Apply via Myinfo (which is authenticated using Singpass) for a smooth, secure and fast application process. This will also help you get your cash disbursed instantly.
8. Credible.sg Personal Loan (EIR from 14.93% p.a.)
Credible.sg Personal Loan—Quick facts | |
Age requirement | 21 and above |
Minimum annual income | $20,000 (Singaporeans and PR) $40,000 (Foreigners) |
Interest rates | 14% p.a. (EIR from 14.93% p.a.) |
Processing fee | From 5% |
Late fee | 2% of the outstanding balance |
Full repayment fee | No penalty |
Restructuring fee | No penalty |
Estimated loan approval time:
According to Credible.sg, you’ll be able to complete the digital application in under 5 minutes and receive same-day approval.
Loan breakdown:
So, you probably realised that this loan isn’t coming from a bank—and you’d be right because Credible.sg is actually a platform that helps you connect to licensed moneylenders. And if the company’s name didn’t clue you in, the slightly higher interest rates might’ve.
You’re probably thinking—why would I opt for a loan with a 14% interest rate when banks are offering way lower than that. Well, Credible.sg serves borrowers who are looking for alternatives to banks—which may mean borrowers with less than perfect credit scores are still eligible to apply. That’s the main draw. While interest rates are low for banks, you might not even be able to get your foot through the door with a bad credit score. So when all else fails, a platform like Credible.sg might be your best option.
On the bright side, you dodge early repayment and restructuring fees, plus there are no pesky processing charges. Whether you’re a full-time employee or a freelancer figuring it out as you go, they’ve got you covered—and the best part? You get your loan funds on the same day.
How do I apply for a Credible.sg Personal Loan?
Credible.sg has a really quick process from start to finish:
- Gather up some key documents (Proof of income, ID etc) and fill out the straightforward application form.
- Wait for the Credible.sg team to process your application and documents.
- Visit your selected outlet for a quick appointment, sign the relevant documents, and pick up your funds.
9. Loans from banks vs licensed moneylenders
The loans we recommended above are all from physical or digital banks. Considering taking a loan from a licensed moneylender instead?
Here are the key differences:
| Bank loan | Moneylender loan |
Credit history | Stricter, generally requires good credit score | More flexible |
Annual income | Typically requires annual income of at least $20,000 | Possible with an annual income below $20,000 |
Loan amount | Smaller: | |
Loan period | Typically longer, 1 to 7 years | Typically shorter, within 1 year |
Interest rates | Usually lower, starting from around 3% p.a. | Usually higher, but capped at 4% per month |
Approval time | Usually longer, from a day up to a week | Usually shorter—from as little as within 30 minutes |
So as you can tell from the comparison above, there are a unique set of advantages when borrowing from a licensed moneylender.
Which brings us now to the big question.
10. Should I take a loan from a bank or licensed moneylender?
If you qualify for a bank loan (i..e you have a good credit score and earn at least $20,000 a year), it might be the best option for you. It’s the more cost-effective option, and you’ll also be allowed to take a larger loan amount if need be. While some bank loans require a longer wait to get your loan approved and money disbursed, the loans we highlighted above are very fast.
Consider a loan from a licensed* moneylender only if:
- You have a poor credit history, and/or
- Your annual income falls below $20,000
*Note that we said licensed moneylender. Read the next section to find out how to verify your institution is legit.
Whether you take a loan from a bank or licensed moneylender, always only borrow within your means. You can use our personal loan comparison tool to calculate your monthly repayments so you can be sure that you can manage the loan.
We actually explore this topic more extensively in another article—so take a read!
11. How do I know if a loan is legit?
- If you’re taking a bank loan, verify that your bank is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) using their Financial Institutions Directory.
- If you’re taking a loan from a moneylender, verify that it is licensed using the Ministry of Law’s Registry of Moneylenders in Singapore.
In both cases, never respond to unsolicited messages, emails, or calls about loan offers—banks and moneylenders are not allowed to advertise their loans this way.
You’re either dealing with an unlicensed lender or a licensed one that is breaking the rules. Either way, don’t proceed!
Report such advertisements immediately to the relevant authorities.
Registry of Moneylenders | 1800-CALL-LAW (1800-2255-529) |
Police | 1800-255-0000 |
ALSO READ: Personal Loan vs Renovation Loan in Singapore: Which Is Better for Home Improvement?
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