Synopsis: Personal loan interest rates have fallen sharply in 2025 after the RBI cut the repo rate. This article lists the banks that provides personal loans with cheap interest rates, processing fees and more.
Taking a personal loan has always been considered expensive. Just a few years ago, interest rates above 11% or 12% were common. But 2025 has changed that completely. Thanks to lower RBI rates and reduced bank funding costs, borrowing has become much more affordable.
What may surprise you is that SBI is no longer the cheapest option. While SBI has reduced its rates significantly to 10.05% p.a., some banks are now offering even lower interest rates, especially to salaried borrowers with a good credit score.
If you are planning a personal loan this year, here are the banks that are currently offering lower rates than SBI.
Bank of Maharashtra
- Rate of Interest: Starting from 8.75%, based on your CIBIL score and income profile
- Processing Fee: 1% of the total loan amount + GST
- Tenure: Up to 7 years, depending on eligibility
Eligibility: For a salaried person, the age limit is between 21-58 years with a minimal annual income of 3 lakh per annum. The loan amount is 20 times of the monthly income. While for professional and self-employed
Bank of Maharashtra offers separate personal loan schemes for salaried customers, professionals, and business class individuals, with terms designed to suit each income type. It is currently one of the cheapest personal loan options in 2025. This makes it clearly more affordable than SBI for borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria.
HDFC Bank
- Rate of Interest: Starting from 9.99%, based on your CIBIL score and income profile
- Processing Fee: Up to ₹ 6,500 + GST
- Tenure: Up to 5 years, depending on eligibility
Eligibility: The applicant must be an Indian resident aged between 21 and 60 years with at least 2 years of total work experience. The minimum monthly income required is ₹25,000.
HDFC Bank’s XPRESS Personal Loan lets you borrow from ₹25,000 up to ₹50 lakh for various personal needs like travel, a wedding, home repair, or a medical emergency. If you are a pre-approved HDFC Bank customer, you can get the loan approval within 10 seconds. For other customers it usually takes 4 working days after document checks.
Axis Bank
- Rate of Interest: 9.99% p.a.
- Processing Fee: 2% of the loan amount + GST
- Tenure: Up to 84 months
Eligibility: Any salaried employees and employees of public or private companies, as well as government and PSU employees can apply for the loan. Applicants must be between 21- 60 years. The minimum net monthly income required is ₹15,000 for Axis Bank customers and ₹25,000 for non-Axis Bank customers.
Axis Bank personal loans offer to borrow up to ₹40 lakh. In many cases, approval comes within 30 seconds. You can use the loan for things like a wedding, home repair or renovation, or a holiday. The bank clearly tells you all charges in advance, so there are no hidden fees. You can also choose a repayment period that fits your monthly budget.
Also Read: This NBFC Is Offering Home Loans at Just 7.15%; Check Eligibility, EMI & Other Details
IDFC First Bank
- Rate of Interest: 9.99% p.a.
- Processing Fee: 2% of the loan amount
- Tenure: Up to 5 years
Eligibility: Any salaried and self-employed individuals can apply. Applicants must be 21 to 60 years old with a CIBIL score of 710 or above.
IDFC First Bank offers its digital personal loan under FIRSTmoney, designed for instant and flexible borrowing. One of the biggest benefits is that there are zero foreclosure charges. This means you can repay the loan early without paying any extra fee. You also get the option to choose your EMI date and even take multiple loans if you are eligible. IDFC First Bank is a strong option and cheaper than SBI in 2025.
Final Takeaway
If you are planning a personal loan in 2025, the timing is better than it has been in years. Interest rates are lower, competition among banks is high, and borrowers have better options.
Even if SBI felt safe, secure and a good option to rely on, the recent bank rates might help you think better before applying for a high-interest loan. To improve your chances of getting a cheaper loan, keep your credit score high, control your existing EMIs, and compare offers from multiple banks.
Written by Supriya
