Mortgage Repricing vs Refinancing in Singapore (2026)
Repricing keeps you with the same bank (no legal fees, no valuation, 1-2 weeks). Refinancing moves you to a different bank (legal $1.8-3K, valuation $200-500, 6-8 weeks). How to decide for DBS, OCBC, UOB, SCB, Maybank home loans.
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If you took out a home loan 2-3 years ago in Singapore, your fixed-rate or lock-in package is probably ending soon — and your bank is about to either auto-revert you to a punishing variable rate, or send you a repricing letter with a lower offer. At the same time, you'll probably see competing offers from rival banks. The decision between repricing (same bank, new package) and refinancing (different bank, fresh legal work) shapes the next 2-5 years of your monthly payments. This guide walks through the maths, the process for each major SG bank, and when each option wins.
Quick answer: repricing vs refinancing
Repricing = stay with your existing bank, switch package. No legal fees, no valuation, no lock-in penalty (if past lock-in). Faster process (1-2 weeks). Refinancing = move to a different bank. Higher friction ($1,800-$3,000 legal, $200-$500 valuation, possible 1.5% lock-in penalty), but can deliver a bigger rate cut. Rule of thumb: repricing wins unless a competing bank beats your repricing offer by more than ~0.4% per year AND you have 5+ years remaining. Use the Mortgage Repricing Calculator to see exact break-even maths for your loan.
The cost gap that decides everything
| Cost item | Repricing | Refinancing |
|---|---|---|
| Bank admin fee | $200 – $800 (often waived) | typically waived by new bank |
| Legal fees | $0 | $1,800 – $3,000 |
| Property valuation | $0 | $200 – $500 |
| Lock-in penalty (if applicable) | $0 if past lock-in | 1.5% of outstanding |
| Time to complete | 1 – 2 weeks | 6 – 8 weeks |
| Typical break-even (rate gap 0.4%, $500K loan) | 1 – 3 months | 12 – 20 months |
The friction gap is real money. On a $500,000 outstanding loan with 20 years remaining, a 0.4% rate cut saves roughly $1,000/month at first — but refinancing eats $3,000 in upfront costs that take 3+ months to recover, vs repricing's near-instant payback.
When repricing wins
- Your bank's offer is close to market. If your bank's repricing rate is within ~0.4% of competing offers, the friction savings on repricing typically beat the small extra rate cut from refinancing.
- You're past your lock-in period. Repricing past lock-in costs you nothing beyond a possible small admin fee. Inside lock-in, both options trigger penalty — so you might as well shop bank rates if you're going to pay penalty anyway.
- Remaining tenure is short (under 5 years). Refinancing legal + valuation fees ($2,000-$3,500) don't amortise well across a short remaining tenure.
- Loan outstanding is modest (under $500K). Absolute savings on a smaller loan don't justify the $3,000+ refinancing overhead.
- You value speed and minimal paperwork. Repricing is 1-2 weeks, mostly via online banking. Refinancing is 6-8 weeks of conveyancing, valuation appointments, and signing sessions.
- You want to maintain the existing bank relationship. Mortgages are often the anchor for cross-sell offers (credit cards, investment accounts). Staying with one bank can preserve preferred status.
When refinancing wins
- A competing bank beats your repricing offer by 0.5%+. That's roughly the threshold where extra annual savings exceed friction over 5+ years.
- You have 5+ years remaining. Refinancing fees amortise over the full remaining tenure — a longer tenure means more years to recover the upfront cost.
- Loan outstanding is large ($500K+). Absolute monthly savings on a large loan quickly exceed the friction cost.
- You want to switch package type. Refinancing is often easier than repricing if you want to move from floating to fixed (or vice versa) — some banks are more flexible on new applications than existing customers.
- The new bank offers material cashback. Some banks bundle $1,500-$3,500 cashback or vouchers with refinancing — that effectively cancels the friction cost.
- Your existing bank's service has been poor. Mortgage is a 10+ year relationship; if your bank has been unresponsive on previous queries, refinancing is a clean reset.
Bank-by-bank repricing process
DBS
- How to apply: Log into DBS iBanking → My Mortgage → Reprice Now, OR call your DBS mortgage specialist
- Available packages: 1y / 2y / 3y / 5y fixed, plus SORA-pegged options
- Typical admin fee: $300-$500 (sometimes waived)
- Repricing letter received: 3 months before lock-in ends
- Acceptance window: 14 days to sign
- New rate effective: Start of next interest period (next month for floating, next reset for SORA)
OCBC
- How to apply: Call OCBC mortgage hotline (1800 363 3333) or visit a branch
- Available packages: Fixed-rate (1-5y) and SORA-pegged floating
- Typical admin fee: $500
- Repricing letter received: Sent automatically near lock-in end
- Distinctive feature: OCBC's RateLock+ allows mid-tenure rate locking for an additional fee
UOB
- How to apply: Contact UOB mortgage specialist (typically tied to the original application)
- Available packages: Fixed and SORA-pegged
- Typical admin fee: $200-$500
- Repricing letter received: 60-90 days before lock-in ends
- Distinctive feature: UOB sometimes offers existing-customer-only packages not available to new applicants
Standard Chartered
- How to apply: Online via the SC banking app or via your mortgage specialist
- Available packages: Fixed, SORA-pegged, and the SC MortgageOne offset facility
- Typical admin fee: $0-$500
- Repricing letter received: Closer to lock-in end (occasionally less proactive than other banks)
Maybank
- How to apply: Maybank2u online banking or call mortgage hotline
- Available packages: Fixed and floating
- Typical admin fee: $200-$500
- Distinctive feature: Smaller share of SG mortgage market — competitive rates but smaller package menu
Worked example: $500K outstanding, 20 years remaining
Scenario: SC homeowner, currently on a 3-year fixed at 3.5% ending next month. Bank A (current bank) offers repricing to 2.8%. Bank B (competing) offers refinancing at 2.5%. Bank C offers refinancing at 2.6% with $2,000 cashback.
| Path | Monthly | Net cost over 5 years | Net benefit vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay at 3.5% | $2,900 | — | $0 (baseline) |
| Reprice to 2.8% (no friction) | $2,711 | $0 upfront + $0 penalties | +$11,340 |
| Refinance to 2.5% (legal $2,500 + val $350) | $2,649 | $2,850 upfront | +12,210 |
| Refinance to 2.6% with $2,000 cashback (net $850 upfront) | $2,669 | $850 net upfront | +12,990 ← winner |
Bank C wins here because the cashback nearly cancels the friction cost, leaving a meaningfully better net benefit. Without cashback, refinancing to 2.5% wins by only ~$870 over 5 years — too close to the friction gap to justify the extra paperwork.
Use the Mortgage Repricing Calculator with your exact numbers to see your specific break-even.
Common mistakes
- Looking only at headline rate. A 2.5% rate with $3,000 legal fees often loses to a 2.8% rate with $0 fees on shorter tenures or smaller loans.
- Reprictng during lock-in. Both repricing and refinancing typically trigger the 1.5% lock-in penalty inside lock-in. Wait until you're past it.
- Forgetting the new lock-in. If you reprice into a 3y fixed package, you've just signed up for 3 fresh years of lock-in. If you may sell or refinance again sooner, prefer a floating package or a shorter fixed term.
- Not negotiating. Banks have multiple packages at any given time; the first offer isn't always the best. Ask for the "best alternative package" or "current promo" — sometimes there's a better tier they don't volunteer first.
- Ignoring SORA reset dates. If you're on a SORA-pegged package, the rate resets monthly or quarterly. Repricing changes apply from the next reset date — not immediately.
Related calculators and guides
- Mortgage Repricing Calculator — exact break-even maths
- Mortgage Refinancing Calculator — refinancing-only detailed math
- Mortgage Calculator — base mortgage payment maths
- TDSR Calculator — confirm you still pass TDSR if changing tenure
- HDB Loan vs Bank Loan guide — the prior decision (and when to switch from HDB to bank)
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