How Does Personal Loan Interest Work in India?

If you’ve ever taken a personal loan or are planning to take one, you’ve probably asked yourself: “How much interest am I paying for this personal loan?”

This is an important question, especially for those who want to make responsible borrowing decisions. While many lenders advertise low personal loan interest rates, the method of calculation and the charges applicable can significantly impact how much you’ll actually repay.

Read on to know more about how personal loan interest rates work in India.

Flat Rate vs. Reducing Balance Method
 

Banks and NBFCs may use either a flat rate or a reducing balance method to calculate interest on your personal loan.

How the flat rate method works

Interest is charged on the entire loan amount for the full tenure, regardless of how much principal you’ve already repaid.

How the reducing balance method works

Interest is charged only on the outstanding principal, which decreases with every EMI.

👉 Example: For a loan amount of ₹1,00,000 for 3 years at 12% p.a.:

• With Flat Rate: You’d pay ₹36,000 in interest.
• With Reducing Balance: You’d pay only about ₹19,800 in interest.

That’s a 45% saving just because of the interest calculation method used.

💡 With FIRSTmoney Personal Loan from IDFC FIRST Bank, interest is always charged on a reducing balance basis, ensuring fairness and transparency. Further, if you want to close your loan early, you can do so without any foreclosure charges.

Types of Personal Loan Interest Rates
 

When applying for a loan, it’s important to know the type of rate you are offered by the bank:

1. Fixed Rate of Interest: The rate remains constant throughout the tenure. Your EMI doesn’t change, ensuring predictability.
2. Floating Rate of Interest: The rate may vary based on market conditions or external benchmarks. Your EMI could go up or down accordingly.

💡 Most personal loans in India, including IDFC FIRST Bank’s FIRSTmoney Personal Loan, come with fixed interest rates, helping you plan your finances with certainty.

Factors Affecting Personal Loan Interest Rates
 

The rate offered to you is not just about the bank—it’s also about your financial profile. Key factors include:

• Credit Score: A higher CIBIL score (750+) often gets you lower personal loan interest rates. In fact, for a FIRSTmoney personal loan you need a CIBIL score of just 730 and above.
• Income Level: Higher and stable monthly income improves eligibility and may reduce rates.
• Employment: Working with a reputed or listed company may fetch you better terms.
• Loan Amount and Tenure: The total amount you borrow and the tenure you choose can affect your loan rate of interest. Longer tenures may have slightly higher effective costs.
• Debt to income ratio (DTI): Having a low DTI ratio, that is when you have low EMI obligations as compared to your monthly income, increases your chances of getting a lower rate.
• Existing Relationship with the Bank: Customers with salary accounts or good repayment history often enjoy better loan rates.

How Personal Loan EMIs Are Structured
 

Now that you know how the personal loan interest rate works, here’s a brief breakdown of how your EMI is structured using a reducing balance method.

Your monthly personal loan EMI is made up of two parts: the principal and interest components.

At the start of your repayment, the interest portion is higher because your outstanding balance is larger. Over time, as your principal reduces, the principal share in each EMI increases.

👉 For example: For a ₹1,00,000 personal loan at 9.99% interest for 3 years, your EMI will be ₹3,226/ Month. The breakup of the EMI will be as follows:

• Month 1: Interest = ₹833; Principal = ₹2,394.
• Month 36: Interest = ₹27; Principal = ₹3,199.

You can find how the proportions change over 36 months by using this personal loan EMI calculator . It gives a detailed amortization schedule for a particular loan offer.

💡An amortization schedule is the exact breakdown of how your EMI is split between principal and interest on a monthly basis. It’s a useful tool that helps in budgeting and understanding the impact of early repayments.

How to Secure A Low Personal Loan Interest Rate
 

If you’re aiming for the lowest personal loan interest rate, here’s how to improve your chances:

• Maintain a high credit score by paying EMIs and credit card bills on time.
• Avoid multiple loan applications within a short span as they impact your creditworthiness.
• Choose the right tenure that balances EMI affordability with total interest outgo.
• Take advantage of your banking relationship to get favourable terms and interest rates.
• Compare lenders and use calculators to see the actual EMI and total cost before finalizing.
• Have a stable income as it strengthens your eligibility for a personal loan.

Why FIRSTmoney Personal Loan Stands Out
 

With IDFC FIRST Bank, you get more than just a competitive personal loan interest rate. You also enjoy:

• Reducing balance method for interest calculations.
• 100% digital application, that requires only your Aadhaar and PAN number and your physical PAN card for video KYC.
• Zero foreclosure charges, giving you the freedom to close your loan early.
• Interest payable only on the amount withdrawn from the approved loan offer.

👉 Apply for FIRSTmoney Personal Loan today and borrow with complete clarity.

Smart Tips Before Taking a Personal Loan
 

• Always ensure the lender is using a reducing balance method.
• Compare the total cost of borrowing and not just the advertised rate.
• Use a personal loan calculator to estimate EMI and overall outgo.
• Check the foreclosure and prepayment charges carefully.