30/10/2012
It's Raining Incentives
SBI has halved its processing fee on home and car loans last week, while ICICI BankBSE -2.59 % reduced rates on housing loans. Similarly, many other banks also have either slashed interest rates or waived off processing fees on loans on both auto and housing loans.
ICICI Bank is offering floating rate home loans at 10.25% for ticket sizes under Rs 30 lakh and at 10.50% for amounts above Rs 30 lakh and up to Rs 3 crore until the end of the calendar year. The rate is around 0.25% to 1% lower than the normal rate on housing loans.
HDFC, too, has followed suit by reducing its rates. For loans of up to Rs 30 lakh, the effective rate is now 10.25%, while it is 10.5% for loans above Rs 30 lakh.
Vijaya Bank has also announced its festive scheme, valid till January 31, where it is charging between 10.5% and 11.5% on home loans. Interest rates on car loans, too, have been reduced by 30 basis points to 11%.
Similarly, Bank of BarodaBSE -4.92 % has slashed interest rates on home loans by up to 1.50% and auto loans by up to 1.75% in addition to waiving off processing charges. These concessions are on offer till November 30.
Union Bank of India's offer period — processing fee waiver for home and vehicle loans - extends till the Republic Day, January 26.
Corporation BankBSE -1.59 % is offering a concession of 0.25% on interest rate for vehicle loans, if the borrower avails of both home and car loans. It has done away with the processing fee as well. Both these offers will be valid only if the borrower applies for a loan before November 30.
Similarly, UCO BankBSE -3.59 % offers a 'combo' proposition to its borrowers taking both car and home loans, albeit in the form of waiver of processing fee on the latter.
The reduction in interest rates may be a reflection of a softening interesting rate scenario. In that sense the rates may remain lower or go down further even after the festive season.
However, the discounts on processing fees are available only for a limited period. For instance, SBI's reduction in processing charges will be valid till December 31. During the period, SBI will charge a minimum of Rs 1,000 and a maximum of Rs 5,000 as home loan processing fee.