A CIMB personal loan in Singapore is advertised from 1.00% p.a. flat, which works out to an Effective Interest Rate from 1.94% p.a. on a 5-year tenure with zero processing fee (CIMB, as of October 2026). That EIR floor is one of the lowest published by any bank here, but it is a best-case number reserved for clean, higher-income profiles, not the rate most applicants are offered. Shorten the tenure and the EIR climbs fast: a 3- or 6-month loan charges no interest but carries a processing fee from 0.99%, which prices it from 5.99% EIR. This guide gives you the verified 2026 figures for CIMB: the real EIR range, the zero processing fee and when it applies, the cashback running up to S$2,888, every penalty, the income and age rules for citizens, PRs and Malaysians, and a side-by-side check against DBS, UOB and OCBC so you can see whether CIMB is genuinely cheapest for your amount and tenure.
CIMB quotes its personal loan from 1.00% p.a. flat, which translates to an Effective Interest Rate from 1.94% p.a. on a 60-month tenure with no processing fee (CIMB, as of October 2026). The flat rate charges interest on the full original amount for the whole tenure even as you pay the balance down, so the EIR sits well above the headline. The EIR is the only figure worth comparing across banks, because it captures what the money truly costs once fees and the repayment schedule are baked in.
The catch is that the EIR floor is shown on the full five-year tenure. Pick a short tenure and the same product looks very different: CIMB's own worked example shows a 3-month S$10,000 loan at 0% interest with a 0.99% (S$99) processing fee, which prices from 5.99% EIR, and CIMB says the EIR can go as high as 28.06% depending on your profile. Your personalised rate is also driven by annual income, your credit bureau score and existing debt, so the 1.00% flat floor goes to the strongest profiles. Treat the advertised rate as a best case and budget against the EIR you are actually quoted. The mechanics of why flat and EIR diverge are broken down in our guide to low-interest personal loans.
A CIMB personal loan starts at S$2,000 and runs up to S$200,000 (CIMB, as of October 2026). Your ceiling is tied to income through a tiered multiple: earn S$20,000 to S$29,999 a year and you can borrow up to 2 times monthly income; S$30,000 to S$119,999 lifts that to up to 4 times; and S$120,000 or more unlocks up to 8 times monthly income. The higher 8x multiple plus the S$200,000 cap makes CIMB one of the more generous lenders for high earners consolidating larger sums.
Tenure is fixed at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months. Longer tenures cut the monthly instalment but raise total interest paid, because flat interest accrues on the original principal across every month of the term. They also happen to be where CIMB's lowest EIR lives, so the cheapest-looking rate and the largest total interest can sit on the same loan. Before you pick a tenure, model the monthly repayment and total cost against your take-home pay using our personal budget calculator and check the new instalment keeps your debt load comfortable.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum loan | S$2,000 |
| Maximum loan | S$200,000 |
| Income S$20,000 to S$29,999 | Up to 2x monthly income |
| Income S$30,000 to S$119,999 | Up to 4x monthly income |
| Income S$120,000 and above | Up to 8x monthly income |
| Tenure options | 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months |
Update, 13 October 2026: CIMB's early repayment fee waiver covers only loans approved between 22 January 2025 and 26 November 2025, and its late payment fee will rise from S$100 to S$130 on 9 November 2026. The sticker rate is only part of the cost. CIMB's headline pitch is zero processing fee on longer-tenure loans, which is why its EIR floor undercuts rivals that bolt on a 1% to 2% fee. The processing fee, from 0.99%, applies to the 3- and 6-month loans, which charge no interest, so the fee you pay depends on the tenure you choose. Zero is CIMB's lowest published fee on 12 to 60 months; the fee you are offered depends on your credit and income profile and the tenure, so confirm it on the day you apply.
On penalties, CIMB charges a late payment fee of S$100 per missed instalment, and it will rise to S$130 on 9 November 2026 (CIMB, as of October 2026). Early settlement costs 3% of the outstanding principal or S$250, whichever is higher. CIMB waived that fee only for loans approved between 22 January 2025 and 26 November 2025, so a loan approved now pays it if you clear it early. None of these change the headline rate, but they change what you actually pay, so factor them in before committing.
To apply you must be aged 21 to 70. Singapore citizens and permanent residents need a minimum annual income of S$20,000, while Malaysians residing in Singapore need at least S$30,000 a year and a valid work pass (CIMB, as of October 2026). CIMB is unusual in opening its personal loan to Malaysians at all; most other banks restrict standalone personal loans to citizens and PRs. Non-Malaysian foreigners are generally not eligible for this product.
The fastest route for citizens and PRs is to apply online and verify income through Singpass MyInfo, which pulls your details and Notice of Assessment automatically. Malaysian applicants submit documents manually. If you are a foreigner shut out of bank personal loans, the licensed-moneylender route is rate-capped by law, and we cover those caps in our licensed moneylender guide so you can avoid being overcharged.
As of October 2026 CIMB runs a cashback offer on its personal loan until 30 November 2026: up to S$2,888 back for CIMB Preferred customers and up to S$2,500 for everyone else, tiered by how much you borrow (nothing below S$15,000) and only on tenures of 36 to 60 months (CIMB promotion terms). On a large consolidation loan that cashback can offset a meaningful slice of the interest, especially when paired with the zero processing fee. The top S$2,888 tier requires a sizeable loan, so the cashback most borrowers actually receive steps down with the amount.
Read the terms before you assume the headline. Cashback lands only after six months of prompt payment, CIMB can take it back if the loan ends within a year of approval, and only applications through CIMB's own Apply Now button or a named partner count, not comparison sites such as MoneySmart, SingSaver or Lendela. The loan must also be approved by 30 November 2026. The exact figure you receive depends on the live campaign on the day you apply, so confirm it on the official CIMB promotion page rather than relying on any third-party number. If your real goal is clearing high-interest card debt rather than funding a one-off purchase, weigh the cashback against a dedicated debt consolidation plan, which can undercut even a low personal-loan rate.
On the published EIR floor, CIMB is one of the cheapest banks in Singapore, helped by its zero processing fee on longer tenures. But the cheapest lender for you depends on your exact amount, tenure and profile, and rival floors like UOB's are quoted on different bases. The table below lines up the advertised flat rate and EIR floor for the main banks so you can compare the figure that matters. Always re-pull the EIR for your own quote, since every floor below is a best-case rate.
CIMB's edge is the combination of a low EIR floor, the S$200,000 ceiling and the 8x income multiple, which together suit a high earner consolidating a large balance over five years. For a smaller, shorter loan the fee structure flips and a rival can win. The glossary entry on how bank loans work covers the EIR-versus-flat distinction in plain terms, and you can sanity-check whether a new instalment fits using our net worth calculator before you sign anything.
| Bank | Flat rate from | EIR from | Typical processing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIMB | 1.00% p.a. | 1.94% p.a. | Zero (longer tenure); 0.99% short tenure |
| UOB | 1.00% p.a. | 1.93% p.a. | Waived to 5% by tier |
| DBS | 1.48% p.a. | 3.22% p.a. | 1% (up to ~4% low income) |
| OCBC | 5.42% p.a. | 10.96% p.a. | S$200 or 2%, whichever is higher |
| Standard Chartered | 2.88% p.a. | 5.48% p.a. | Waived on promo |
The CIMB personal loan is advertised from 1.00% p.a. flat, but the Effective Interest Rate starts at 1.94% p.a. on a 60-month tenure with zero processing fee, and starts at 5.99% on a 3- or 6-month loan, which charges no interest but has a processing fee from 0.99%. Compare the EIR, not the flat rate, because it reflects the true cost after fees and your repayment schedule (CIMB, as of October 2026).
Malaysians residing in Singapore with a valid work pass can apply if they earn at least S$30,000 a year, which is unusual since most banks restrict personal loans to citizens and PRs. Non-Malaysian foreigners are generally not eligible. Singapore citizens and PRs need a minimum annual income of S$20,000 and to be aged 21 to 70 (CIMB, as of October 2026).
The minimum is S$2,000 and the maximum is S$200,000. The amount is capped by a tiered multiple of monthly income: up to 2 times for income of S$20,000 to S$29,999, up to 4 times for S$30,000 to S$119,999, and up to 8 times for income of S$120,000 or more (CIMB, as of October 2026).
Yes. Early repayment costs 3% of the outstanding principal or S$250, whichever is higher. CIMB waived the fee only for loans approved between 22 January 2025 and 26 November 2025, so a loan approved now pays it (CIMB, as of October 2026).
Citizens and PRs who apply online and verify income through Singpass MyInfo can get instant approval, with cash disbursed to a PayNow-linked bank account, often the same day. Having a PayNow-linked account ready and a clean credit profile is the main thing that speeds up payout.
This is general financial information for Singapore, not personal financial advice. Figures change, so verify current rates against the official sources above before acting. See our full disclaimer.
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