Standard Chartered Home Loan Review 2026: Rates & Fees Explained
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) is one of Singapore's most competitive home loan providers, offering 2-year fixed rates starting from 1.68% for private properties and specialized HDB financing through its HDB Home Suite and MortgageOne products[1]. If you're evaluating SCB against other major banks or considering refinancing, understanding their current rates, fees, and loan structures is essential to making an informed decision on Homejourney's trusted platform.
This article breaks down Standard Chartered's 2026 mortgage offerings, compares them with market alternatives, and helps you determine whether SCB is the right choice for your property financing needs.
Standard Chartered Fixed Rate Mortgages: Current Rates (January 2026)
Standard Chartered's fixed-rate home loans are among the most competitive in the market. For resale private properties, SCB currently offers:
- 2-Year Fixed Rate: 1.68% per annum[1]
- Lock-in period: 2 years with free conversion options
- Minimum loan amount: Varies by property type
- Early repayment: Possible with penalty-free conversion after lock-in period
These rates position Standard Chartered competitively against other major banks. For context, Maybank offers 1.65% for 2-year fixed rates, while DBS and HSBC offer 1.75% and 1.70% respectively[1]. However, Standard Chartered provides an advantage through relationship-based pricing—clients with priority banking relationships can access even lower rates without mandatory fund lock-in requirements[1].
For HDB properties, Standard Chartered's rates are structured differently through their specialized HDB Home Suite product, which uses a 36-month fixed deposit rate plus a margin model[2]. As of January 2026, the 36M Fixed Deposit Rate is 1.27% per annum, meaning your actual rate will be this base rate plus the bank's margin[2].
Understanding SCB's Floating Rate Options
Standard Chartered also offers floating-rate mortgages pegged to SORA (Singapore Overnight Rate Average). Following Singapore's 2021 transition from SIBOR to SORA, most banks including SCB now use this benchmark for variable-rate loans[1].
For floating rates, Standard Chartered offers competitive spreads above SORA, typically ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% depending on your loan tier and relationship status[1]. The advantage of floating rates is flexibility—if SORA rates decline, your monthly payments decrease accordingly. However, you face interest rate risk if rates rise.
The chart below shows recent SORA trends to help you understand how rates have moved:
As the chart illustrates, SORA rates have fluctuated significantly. Standard Chartered's shorter lock-in periods (as short as 1 year for 3M SORA packages) allow you to switch to different rate structures more quickly, reducing interest expenses when market conditions change[1].
Standard Chartered Home Loan Products Explained
MortgageOne (Private Properties)
Standard Chartered's flagship MortgageOne product is designed for private property buyers and refinancers. Key features include:
- Flexible rate options: Fixed, floating, or hybrid structures
- Loan repricing: Benefit from lower rates due to your relationship value with the bank[4]
- Tenure options: Typically 25-30 years for residential properties
- Free conversion: Switch between rate types after your lock-in period expires
MortgageOne is particularly attractive if you have an existing relationship with Standard Chartered, as the bank values long-term customers and may offer preferential pricing not advertised publicly.
HDB Home Suite
For HDB flat purchases and refinancing, Standard Chartered's HDB Home Suite uses a unique pricing structure based on the bank's 36-month fixed deposit rate plus a margin[2]. This approach differs from private property loans and is designed specifically for HDB borrowers.
Key details:
- Interest rate calculation: 36M Fixed Deposit Rate + Bank Margin
- Current 36M Fixed Deposit Rate: 1.27% per annum (as of August 2025)[2]
- Rate variability: The underlying fixed deposit rate changes periodically, affecting your mortgage rate
- Eligibility: Available to HDB flat buyers and existing HDB loan holders refinancing to bank financing
HDB Home Suite is valuable because bank financing rates are now significantly lower than the HDB concessionary rate of 2.6%[5]. Many HDB owners are switching to bank loans to reduce monthly repayments, though this decision is permanent—you cannot return to HDB financing once you switch[5].
Green Mortgage
Standard Chartered also offers a Green Mortgage product with promotional rates available through January 31, 2026[8]. This product is designed for environmentally conscious borrowers and may include incentives for properties meeting sustainability criteria.
Standard Chartered Fees and Charges
Beyond interest rates, Standard Chartered charges various fees that impact your total borrowing cost:
- Processing Fee: Typically 0.3%-0.5% of loan amount (varies by product)
- Valuation Fee: Usually S$300-600 depending on property value
- Legal Fees: Approximately S$600-1,200 for conveyancing
- Stamp Duty: Government-mandated fee (0.1%-0.3% of loan amount)
- Early Repayment Penalty: May apply if you repay during lock-in period (varies by rate type)
- Conversion Fee: Typically waived for free conversion after lock-in period
When comparing Standard Chartered against other banks, always request a full fee schedule and facility letter. Some banks offer fee waivers or rebates for larger loan amounts or refinancing customers. For example, Standard Chartered may provide cash rebates of S$2,300-2,800 for refinancing loans above S$1 million[3].
How Standard Chartered Compares to Other Major Banks
To help you evaluate whether Standard Chartered is the best choice for your situation, here's how they compare on key metrics:
| Bank | 2-Year Fixed Rate | Floating Rate (3M SORA) | Lock-in Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Chartered | 1.68%[1] | 3M SORA + 0.40%[1] | 2 years |
| Maybank | 1.65%[1] | 3M SORA + 0.40%[1] | 1 year |
| DBS | 1.75%[1] | 1M SORA + 0.25%[1] | 2 years |
| HSBC | 1.70%[1] | Varies by tier | 2 years |
While Maybank offers slightly lower fixed rates (1.65% vs 1.68%), Standard Chartered remains competitive and may offer better terms through relationship pricing. The key differentiator is that Standard Chartered doesn't require mandatory fund lock-in for priority customers, providing more flexibility[1].
To compare all available options and find the best rate for your specific situation, use Homejourney's bank rates comparison tool at Bank Rates . You can instantly see current rates from DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Maybank, and other major banks, then calculate your eligibility and apply through multiple banks simultaneously using our Singpass integration.
Eligibility Requirements for Standard Chartered Home Loans
Before applying for a Standard Chartered mortgage, ensure you meet their eligibility criteria:
- Age: Minimum 21 years old; loan must be repaid by age 65-70 depending on employment status
- Employment: Stable employment with minimum 6-12 months in current role (varies by sector)
- Income: Minimum gross monthly income requirements (typically S$3,000-5,000 depending on loan amount)
- TDSR (Total Debt Service Ratio): Maximum 60% of gross monthly income for all debt obligations[1]
- Credit Score: Good credit history with no defaults or late payments
- Property Value: Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio typically capped at 75-80% for private properties, 90% for HDB flats
To instantly calculate your borrowing power and eligibility, use Homejourney's mortgage calculator at Bank Rates . Enter your income, existing debts, and desired loan amount to see how much you can borrow and which banks will likely approve your application.
Should You Choose Standard Chartered? Key Considerations
Standard Chartered is a good choice if:
- You have an existing relationship with the bank and can access preferential relationship pricing
- You value relationship flexibility and want to avoid mandatory fund lock-in requirements
- You're refinancing an HDB loan and want competitive rates through HDB Home Suite
- You prefer a globally recognized bank with strong customer service reputation
- You're purchasing a property above S$1 million where SCB's tiered pricing becomes more attractive
You might consider alternatives if:
- You're seeking the absolute lowest advertised fixed rates (Maybank currently offers 1.65% vs SCB's 1.68%)
- You want maximum flexibility with shorter lock-in periods (some banks offer 1-year lock-in vs SCB's 2 years)
- You're refinancing and prioritize the highest cash rebates (some competitors offer up to S$2,800)
- You prefer a bank with lower processing fees or fee waivers
The best approach is to compare offers from multiple banks simultaneously. Through Homejourney's multi-bank application system, you can submit one application and receive personalized offers from Standard Chartered, DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Maybank, and other major lenders. This ensures you're making a decision based on actual offers tailored to your financial profile, not just published rates.
Refinancing with Standard Chartered: Is It Worth It?
If you currently have a mortgage with another bank, refinancing to Standard Chartered might save you money. SCB offers competitive refinancing rates and cash rebates of up to S$2,300-2,800 for loans above S$1 million[3].
To determine if refinancing makes sense:
- Calculate your breakeven point: Compare the refinancing costs (legal fees, valuation, processing) against monthly savings from a lower rate
- Assess rate differences: A 0.25% rate reduction on a S$500,000 loan saves approximately S$104 per month or S$1,248 annually
- Consider lock-in periods: Ensure you're not paying early repayment penalties on your existing loan
- Evaluate tenure:
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