DBS remains one of the strongest choices for Singapore home buyers in 2026, especially if you value stability, digital convenience and competitive fixed or SORA-pegged rates, but it is not always the absolute cheapest – which is why comparing DBS home loan packages against other banks on Homejourney is essential before you commit.
This cluster guide sits under Homejourney’s main Singapore mortgage pillar, where we cover home loans end‑to‑end from basics to advanced optimisation. Here, we focus specifically on a DBS Home Loan Review Complete vs Other Banks Comparison, so you can decide when DBS is the right fit – and when another lender might serve you better.
DBS home loan overview: where DBS stands in 2026
DBS is Singapore’s largest local bank with the biggest pool of SGD deposits after absorbing POSB, giving it strong funding advantages for home loans.[4] It is one of the “Big 3” local banks alongside OCBC and UOB, and collectively these three command the bulk of the mortgage market in Singapore.[1][4]
For home buyers, DBS offers a wide range of DBS housing loan options for:
- HDB flats (new and resale, under construction and completed)
- Private properties (condos, landed, ECs, BUC projects)
- Refinancing of existing HDB and private bank loans
- Selected commercial / shophouse properties[4][6]
DBS was an early innovator with its Fixed Deposit Home Rate (FHR) peg, and today it actively offers DBS fixed rate packages, DBS SORA loan packages, and FHR-based floating options for specific segments.[2][4] As someone who has personally refinanced an East-side resale HDB through DBS and tracked their packages closely since the FHR days, I’ve found DBS tends to prioritise stability and ease of use over aggressive teaser rates.
Types of DBS home loans vs other banks
To assess any DBS mortgage review, you need to understand the main rate structures and how they compare with other banks like OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Maybank, CIMB, RHB, Public Bank, Hong Leong Bank and Citibank.
1. DBS fixed rate packages
DBS typically offers 2‑year and 3‑year fixed rate packages for HDB and private properties. As at late‑2025, market data shows 2‑year fixed rates from major banks in the 1.4%–1.8% p.a. range, with DBS around the middle of this band rather than the absolute lowest.[2][3] For example, recent comparisons show some foreign banks like Maybank or Standard Chartered slightly undercutting DBS by around 0.05–0.10 percentage points on headline fixed rates in certain campaigns.[2]
Where DBS stands out is its ability, thanks to its deposit base, to maintain competitive 3‑year fixed packages even when other banks pull back or widen their spreads.[1][4] In practice, this is valuable if you’re buying a long‑term family home in mature estates like Bishan or Marine Parade and you want certainty on monthly repayments while your kids are still in primary school.
2. DBS SORA loan (3M SORA floating)
Like most Singapore banks, DBS offers packages pegged to the 3‑month Singapore Overnight Rate Average (3M SORA), the MAS-endorsed benchmark rate.[2][4] Typical structures are:
- Interest = 3M SORA + spread (e.g. +0.50% to +0.80% p.a., depending on property type and loan size)[2][4]
- Lock‑in periods commonly 2–3 years
- Partial prepayment penalties during lock‑in
Comparisons from independent mortgage sites show DBS’s SORA spreads often matching or very slightly above the most competitive lenders, such as UOB, OCBC, Maybank or Standard Chartered, within a narrow band of about 0.03%–0.10% p.a.[2] This means DBS is usually “in the pack” for SORA deals, not an outlier.
The chart below shows recent interest rate trends in Singapore:
As floating rates have eased from their 2023 peaks to multi‑year lows by late‑2025, many DBS borrowers have switched or refinanced into SORA loans to take advantage of the lower monthly repayments.[3]
3. DBS Fixed Deposit Home Rate (FHR) and hybrid loans
DBS’s FHR (e.g. FHR6) packages peg your mortgage to a fixed deposit rate that DBS itself controls, with a spread above that rate.[2][4][5] DBS historically marketed FHR as more stable than interbank benchmarks, and past rate moves have indeed been slower and less volatile than SIBOR or SORA swings.[4][5]
As of late‑2025, independent comparisons note that DBS is the only major bank still actively using a fixed deposit peg for some packages, giving borrowers a differentiated option compared with the SORA-only approach of most competitors.[2] Some BUC (Building Under Construction) packages also allow you to start on FHR and lock in a SORA spread upfront, giving flexibility as your condo in areas like Punggol or Tampines takes shape over a few years.[2][5]
Current DBS home loan rates vs market averages
Rates change frequently, so always verify live data, but based on late‑2025 comparisons across major banks:[2][3]
- Fixed rates: 2‑year fixed packages from banks like Maybank, Standard Chartered, HSBC and DBS cluster around 1.55%–1.75% p.a., with DBS usually slightly above the very lowest promotional rates but still very competitive.[2][3]
- SORA floating: For refinancing, many banks – DBS, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered – offer 3M SORA + ~0.50% p.a. for the first few years, meaning DBS is aligned with peers.[2]
- HDB refinance: Some sources highlight DBS as particularly attractive for HDB refinancing, not just for competitive rates but also for cash rewards that can more than offset typical legal and valuation costs of around S$1,800–S$1,900.[2]
Homes in heartland estates such as Sengkang, Yishun or Jurong West frequently fall into the S$400,000–S$700,000 loan size band. At these levels, a 0.10% p.a. gap in interest rate between DBS and a marginally cheaper bank can translate to about S$400–S$700 per year – meaningful but not decisive if DBS’s service, digital tools and stability matter more to you.
For up‑to‑date DBS rates versus other banks, use Homejourney’s real-time bank comparison tool at Bank Rates .
Pros and cons of DBS home loans compared with other banks
Key advantages of DBS
- Strong reputation and stability: As the largest local bank with deep SGD funding, DBS is perceived as a safe long‑term mortgage partner, especially important for 20–30 year tenors.[1][4]
- Competitive – though not always lowest – fixed and SORA rates: Typically within a small margin of the cheapest offers from rivals like OCBC, UOB, HSBC or Maybank.[2][3]
- Unique FHR peg: Offers a differentiated alternative to SORA-only packages from other banks, which some risk-averse borrowers in mature estates like Toa Payoh or Clementi appreciate.[2][4]
- Attractive HDB refinance perks: Recent comparisons highlight DBS’s combination of low rates plus cash rewards that can more than cover standard refinancing costs for HDB owners.[2]
- Excellent digital banking: DBS digibank app and online channels make it easy to monitor instalments, make partial prepayments, and manage GIRO payments once your loan is active.[6][8]
Potential drawbacks of DBS vs other lenders
- Not always the absolute lowest rate: Some foreign or regional banks (e.g. Maybank, Standard Chartered, HSBC, CIMB) occasionally undercut DBS by a small margin on headline rates or offer higher cash rebates for private property refinancing.[2][9]
- Strict documentation and income checks: As a major local bank, DBS can be more conservative for borrowers with variable income or complex profiles (e.g. self‑employed or multiple overseas income sources) compared with some foreign banks that specialise in these segments.
- Standard lock‑in and penalties
References
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 4 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 1 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 6 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 2 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 3 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 5 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 8 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 9 (2025)
