StanChart launches interest only home loan facility

Mumbai: Standard Chartered Bank, India, has launched an innovative Interest only Home Loan facility aimed at and the Bank's existing and new clients looking at availing a home loan.

Interest Only Home Loan is a facility provided for purchase of completed residential properties where during a limited period of the loan tenure, the clients will pay only the interest accrued on the principal outstanding - referred as 'interest only period'.

No principal will be deducted during this interest only period. This product is available to new as well as existing clients of Standard Chartered Bank. Clients can also avail the Interest Only Home Loan facility to transfer their existing home loans from another financier to Standard Chartered.

Clients can choose to pay only the interest amount via equated monthly installments (EMIs) for an initial period of up to 1 – 3 years. After this interest only period is over, the home loan facility will be treated like a normal loan account where the EMIs comprise of both the principal and interest till the maturity of the loan. Clients will also have the flexibility to commence their full installments earlier with no penalty fees as well.

The product will help clients reduce their upfront cash outflows by paying less for the initial tenor of the loan. This offering will also help clients buy larger or better properties of their choice without feeling constrained due to higher installment payments at the outset of the loan.

Jinesh Shah, Head, Mortgages and Retail Loan against Property, Standard Chartered Bank, India, said, "We continually strive to offer innovative products and offerings that provide convenience and greater flexibility to our clients.

We believe that Interest Only Home Loan is in line with this endeavour as it provides an alternative to our clients who wish to take advantage of the prevailing conditions and reduce their EMI burden for the initial tenure of their loan. The residential housing sector has picked up pace from last year. Stamp duty cuts announced by state governments, unfulfilled demand due the Covid-19 related restrictions and moderation in interest rate of home loans have led to a growth in sales of retail properties in the primary and secondary markets as well as home loans."

Clients can avail of the Interest Only Home Loan facility for a loan amount ranging from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 3.5 crore. The maximum tenure set for the loan is 30 years for salaried individuals and 25 years for self-employed individuals.