Rates, Eligibility, and Top Lenders
Introduction to Personal Loans in India
Personal loans have become one of the most popular financing options in India, offering individuals quick access to funds without collateral for various needs โ from medical emergencies and weddings to home renovations and debt consolidation. As of June 2025, the personal loan market in India continues to grow, with both traditional banks and digital lending platforms offering competitive products tailored to different borrower profiles.
This comprehensive guide examines all aspects of personal loans in India, including current interest rates (updated for June 2025), eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and a detailed comparison of the best loan providers across categories. Whether youโre salaried, self-employed, a student, or an NRI, this article will help you find the most suitable personal loan option.
Current Personal Loan Interest Rates in India (June 2025)
Interest rates are the most crucial factor when choosing a personal loan. As of June 2025, rates vary significantly across lenders based on factors like credit score, income, employment type, and loan tenure.
Bank-wise Interest Rate Comparisonย 39
| Bank/NBFC | Interest Rate (p.a.) | Processing Fee | EMI per โน1 Lakh (5 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Maharashtra | 9.50%-14.30% | Up to 1% (Max โน10,000) | โน2,100-โน2,342 |
| Canara Bank | 10.45%-15.90% | Up to 0.25% (Max โน5,000) | โน2,147-โน2,426 |
| State Bank of India | 10.30%-15.30% | Up to 1.5% | โน2,139-โน2,395 |
| ICICI Bank | 10.85%-16.65% | Up to 2% | โน2,167-โน2,466 |
| HDFC Bank | 10.90%-24.00% | Up to โน6,500 + GST | โน2,169-โน2,877 |
| Axis Bank | 11.25%-22.00% | Up to 2% | โน2,187-โน2,762 |
| IDFC First Bank | 10.99% onwards | 2% | โน2,174 onwards |
| Bajaj Finserv | 10.00%-31.00% | Up to 3.93% | โน2,125-โน3,297 |
| Bank of India | 11.60%-16.20% | 1% (โน2,500-โน15,000) | โน2,204-โน2,442 |
*Note: Rates are indicative and subject to change. Women borrowers often get 0.25%-0.50% concession in some banksย 4.*
Factors Affecting Personal Loan Interest Ratesย 37
- Credit Score: Borrowers with scores above 750 get the lowest rates (9.5%-12%), while those below 600 may pay up to 30% or get rejectedย 3.
- Income Level: Higher-income individuals (โน1L+ monthly) qualify for better rates.
- Employment Type: Government employees and those with MNCs typically get 0.5%-1% lower rates.
- Relationship with Bank: Existing customers with good history may get preferential rates.
- Loan Tenure: Shorter tenures (1-2 years) often have lower rates than longer ones (5+ years).
Top 10 Personal Loan Providers in India (June 2025)
1. State Bank of India (SBI) Personal Loanย 39
- Interest Rate: 10.30%-15.30% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน30 lakh
- Tenure: Up to 5 years
- Processing Fee: Up to 1.5% (Min โน1,000; Max โน15,000)
- Special Features: Lowest rates for government employees, quick approval for existing customers
2. HDFC Bank Personal Loanย 39
- Interest Rate: 10.90%-24.00% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน40 lakh
- Tenure: Up to 6 years
- Processing Fee: โน6,500 + GST
- Special Features: Instant approval for pre-approved customers, doorstep service
3. ICICI Bank Personal Loanย 13
- Interest Rate: 10.85%-16.65% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน50 lakh
- Tenure: Up to 5 years
- Processing Fee: Up to 2% of loan amount + taxes
- Special Features: Same-day disbursal for eligible customers, flexible repayment options
4. Axis Bank Personal Loanย 38
- Interest Rate: 11.25%-22.00% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน40 lakh
- Tenure: Up to 5 years
- Processing Fee: Up to 2% of loan amount
- Special Features: 24ร7 instant personal loan through app, minimal documentation
5. Bank of India Star Personal Loanย 4
- Interest Rate: 11.60%-16.20% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน25 lakh (36 times salary)
- Tenure: Up to 7 years (84 months)
- Processing Fee: 1% (โน2,500-โน15,000)
- Special Features: 0.50% interest concession for women, no prepayment penalty
6. Bajaj Finserv Personal Loanย 29
- Interest Rate: 10.00%-31.00% p.a.
- Loan Amount: โน20,000-โน40 lakh
- Tenure: Up to 8 years (96 months)
- Processing Fee: Up to 3.93%
- Special Features: Flexi loan facility (pay interest only on used amount), instant approval
7. IDFC First Bank Personal Loanย 23
- Interest Rate: From 10.99% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน10 lakh
- Tenure: Up to 5 years
- Processing Fee: 2%
- Special Features: High approval rate for existing customers, transparent charges
8. Moneyview Personal Loan Appย 27
- Interest Rate: From 10% p.a.
- Loan Amount: โน5,000-โน10 lakh
- Tenure: 6-60 months
- Processing Fee: Varies by lender
- Special Features: Loans for low credit scores, disbursal within 24 hours
9. IndiaLendsย 10
- Interest Rate: 10.25%-25% p.a.
- Loan Amount: Up to โน25 lakh
- Tenure: 1-5 years
- Processing Fee: 1.5%-6%
- Special Features: Marketplace with 50+ lenders, free credit score check
10. Bank of Maharashtra Personal Loanย 9
- Interest Rate: 9.50%-14.30% p.a. (lowest in market)
- Loan Amount: Varies
- Tenure: Up to 5 years
- Processing Fee: Up to 1% (Max โน10,000)
- Special Features: Most competitive rates for eligible borrowers
Best Personal Loan Options for Specific Needs
For Salaried Individualsย 78
- Top Picks: SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank
- Eligibility: Minimum โน15,000-โน30,000 monthly salary (varies by bank), 1+ year employment
- Documents Required:
- Salary slips (last 3 months)
- Bank statements (6 months)
- KYC (Aadhaar, PAN, address proof)
- Form 16/ITR (for some lenders)ย 58
For Self-Employed Professionalsย 57
- Top Picks: Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv
- Eligibility: 3+ years in business, ITR of โน2.5L+ annually
- Documents Required:
- Business proof (GST, registration)
- 3 years ITR with profit/loss statements
- 6-12 months bank statements
- KYC documentsย 5
Without Salary Slip/Income Proofย 6
- Top Picks: EarlySalary, Fibe, MoneyTap, Nira
- Loan Amount: โน5,000-โน5 lakh
- Interest Rate: 18%-36% p.a.
- Requirements:
- Bank account with regular credits
- Minimum โน20,000 monthly income
- Good repayment history on other appsย 6
For NRIsย 5
- Top Picks: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank
- Eligibility: Indian passport, overseas employment (1+ year)
- Documents Required:
- Passport and visa copies
- Overseas address proof
- Employment contract
- NRE/NRO bank statementsย 5
For Studentsย 7
- Options:
- Education loans (better choice)
- Credit cards with parental guarantee
- Small-ticket loans from apps like mPokket (โน45,000 max)ย 26
Instant Loan Appsย 26
- EarlySalary: โน5,000-โน5L at 12%+ p.a., instant disbursal
- KreditBee: โน1,000-โน5L at 17%-29.95% p.a.
- Moneyview: โน5,000-โน10L at 10%+ p.a.
- CASHe: โน1,000-โน4L at 2.5% monthly (30% p.a.)
- mPokket: Up to โน45,000 at 48% p.a. (students/young professionals)
*Note: App-based loans have higher rates but faster approval (10 mins-24 hours)ย 2*
Personal Loan EMI Calculation
The standard formula for EMI calculation is:
EMI = [P x R x (1+R)^N]/[(1+R)^N-1]
Where:
- P = Principal amount
- R = Monthly interest rate (annual rate/12)
- N = Loan tenure in monthsย 9
Example Calculation:
For โน5 lakh loan at 11% p.a. for 5 years (60 months):
- R = 11%/12 = 0.009167
- EMI = [500000ร0.009167ร(1+0.009167)^60]/[(1+0.009167)^60-1] = โน10,871ย 39
Most banks and financial websites provide online EMI calculators for easy computationย 3.
Documents Required for Personal Loansย 58
Common Documents Across Lenders:
- Identity Proof: PAN card, Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID
- Address Proof: Aadhaar, Utility bills (last 3 months), Passport
- Income Proof:
- Salaried: 3-6 months payslips, Form 16, 6-12 months bank statements
- Self-employed: 2-3 years ITR, balance sheets, profit/loss statements
- Photographs: 2-4 passport-size
- Loan Application Form: Filled and signed
NRIs require additional documents like work permit, overseas address proof, and Indian residence proofย 5.
How to Get the Best Personal Loan Deal in 2025
- Improve Your Credit Score: Maintain 750+ by paying existing EMIs/credit cards on timeย 37
- Compare Multiple Offers: Use platforms like BankBazaar, Paisabazaar to compare rates across 10+ lendersย 37
- Negotiate with Lenders: Existing customers can often get 0.5%-1% lower ratesย 3
- Opt for Shorter Tenure: Reduces total interest payout despite higher EMIs
- Watch for Hidden Charges: Processing fees (0.5%-5%), prepayment penalties (0%-5%), GST on feesย 13
- Check Pre-approved Offers: Banks offer lowest rates to pre-qualified customers (check net banking/app)ย 8
- Time Your Application: Festive seasons (Diwali, New Year) often have special offers with lower ratesย 3
Risks and Precautions
- High-Interest Apps: Some instant loan apps charge up to 48% p.a. โ only use for genuine emergenciesย 26
- Processing Fee Scams: Verify all charges are as per RBI guidelines (max 6.5% including GST)ย 13
- CIBIL Impact: Multiple loan inquiries within short period can reduce score by 10-30 pointsย 7
- Prepayment Terms: Some banks charge 2%-5% for foreclosing before tenure endsย 4
- Fraud Apps: Only download loan apps from official Play Store/App Store with 4+ star ratingsย 2
Future Trends in Personal Loans (2025-26)
- AI-Based Approvals: More lenders using alternative data (utility payments, rent history) for credit scoringย 6
- Dynamic Pricing: Interest rates personalized in real-time based on market conditions and borrower profileย 1
- Blockchain Verification: Instant KYC and document verification reducing processing time to minutesย 10
- Sachet Loans: Micro personal loans (โน5,000-โน50,000) for 7-30 days tenure gaining popularityย 2
- Green Loans: Lower rates for eco-friendly purchases like solar panels, EVs (new SBI/HDFC schemes)ย 9
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Personal Loan
The โbestโ personal loan depends on your specific requirements:
- Lowest Interest Rate: Bank of Maharashtra (from 9.5%) or SBI (from 10.3%)ย 9
- Highest Amount: ICICI Bank or HDFC Bank (up to โน50L)ย 3
- Fastest Disbursal: Bajaj Finserv or IDFC First Bank (same-day)ย 23
- No Credit History: Moneyview or EarlySalary (alternative scoring)ย 26
- Longest Tenure: Bank of India (7 years) or Bajaj Finserv (8 years)ย 49
Before applying, always:
- Check your credit score (free on apps like IndiaLends)ย 10
- Use EMI calculators to assess affordabilityย 3
- Read all terms (especially prepayment clauses and hidden fees)ย 1
- Maintain debt-to-income ratio below 50% (all EMIs โค50% of monthly income)ย 7
With this comprehensive guide updated for June 2025, youโre now equipped to make an informed decision and secure the best personal loan tailored to your financial situation. Remember that timely repayments will improve your creditworthiness, ensuring access to better loan terms in the future.
