What Are Singapore's Licensed Money Lenders?


All approved lenders who have been granted permission by the Ministry of Law to lend money as a business are considered licensed money lenders in Singapore.

They are governed by Singapore's Ministry of Law and offer instant loans to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and foreigners under strict terms and conditions.

Licensed money lenders in Singapore are the best alternative to traditional bank loans because they are faster, have less stringent terms, and can be your go-to if you are in a pinch and require immediate cash.

All licensed Moneylenders in Singapore are listed in the Registry of Moneylenders, which can be found on the Ministry of Law's website.

It is strongly advised that you check the Registry before borrowing money from anyone.

Is it legal for licensed money lenders to advertise?

Traditional marketing tactics such as phone calls, text messages, and emails are not permitted for licensed Moneylenders in Singapore.

Before obtaining a loan from a licensed Singapore Moneylender citizens and permanent residents are required by law to meet the licensed money lender and conduct a face-to-face verification at the authorized place of business, as listed in the Registry of Moneylenders.

The Ministry of Law prohibits and discourages online loan applications and acquisitions without physical verification.

According to a 2011 directive issued by the Ministry of Law, licensed money lenders are only allowed to publicize their moneylending services through limited means.

By obtaining their information, they can advertise their licensed moneylending business.

Licensed Money Lenders' Fees and Interest Rates

The Ministry of Law has established some rules and regulations concerning the fees, taxes, and interest rates that licensed money lenders in Singapore may charge borrowers.

These laws apply equally to all borrowers, regardless of their annual incomes, the principal loan amount, or whether the loan is secured or unsecured.

The Ministry of Law has limited the interest rate licensed money lenders can charge borrowers to 4% as of October 1, 2015.

If a borrower is unable to return the monthly loan installments on time for any reason or circumstance, the money lender cannot charge them more than 4% late interest for each month the loan amount was returned late.

Licensed money lenders can also only charge a fee.

How to Tell if a Money Lender Is Unlicensed

Make certain that you are dealing with a licensed money lender rather than a loan shark.

There are far too many scams and illegal money lenders posing as licensed businesses, ready to steal people's hard-earned money.

Before signing a loan contract with a money lender, it is highly recommended that you be vigilant and look for the following signs:

·        Before you sign the contract, a licensed money lender is required by law to explain the terms and conditions, late fees, interest rates, and administrative fees to you in clear and understandable terms.

Your loan contract contains all of the details of the terms and conditions under which both parties are entering the business transaction, and these conditions are legally binding on both parties.

·        Any money lender who sends you an online contract or PDF documents via WhatsApp and asks you to pay a deposit before the loan are approved is a scammer and should be avoided.

·        A licensed money lender is not permitted by law to send you text messages, emails, or phone calls to promote their business. It has few advertising options and can only inform the public about its moneylending service through directories, its official website, or by placing advertisements on the walls, doors, and windows of its office.

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