Standard Chartered Personal Loan Review: Low Fees, One Big Question

Standard Chartered’s Personal Loan is one of the most straightforward in Bangladesh: Tk 50,000 to Tk 20 lakh, for any purpose, repaid over 1 to 5 years, with a processing fee that tops out at Tk 10,000 on the largest loan and a 0.5% charge to repay early. Money can arrive within 2 working days. The catch is not in the loan itself. In October 2026, Standard Chartered announced it plans to sell its retail banking business in Bangladesh. Here is what the loan offers, what it costs, and what the sale could mean for you.

How we reviewed this loan

We read Standard Chartered Bangladesh’s Personal Loan page, its eligibility and document lists, FAQs and loan calculator, and its Schedule of Charges for retail lending, valid from 1 June 2026, in November 2026. We also read newspaper reporting on the bank’s planned sale of its retail business, and on personal loan rules and rates in Bangladesh. EMI figures are our own calculations using the standard reducing-balance formula. Standard Chartered did not review this article, and we have no commercial relationship with the bank.

The loan at a glance

The big news: Standard Chartered is selling its retail business

On 8 October 2026, Standard Chartered announced that it intends to explore the sale of its Wealth and Retail Banking business in Bangladesh, which includes personal loans, The Daily Star reported. The bank will keep its corporate and investment banking business in the country.

• Timeline: the bank’s Bangladesh CEO said the transition is expected to take about 18 to 24 months, subject to the deal and regulatory approval.
• For now: the bank says there is no immediate impact on retail clients and that the business will run as usual during the process.
• Buyers: no deal had been announced at the time of writing. Pubali Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, BRAC Bank and City Bank have confirmed preliminary talks, according to The Daily Star, and The Business Standard reported interest from Dhaka Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank as well.
• Size: Standard Chartered’s retail and small business loans were about Tk 8,479 crore at the end of 2025, The Business Standard reported.

What it means for borrowers. A personal loan is a contract. If the retail business is sold, your loan would most likely move to the buying bank, and the terms in your signed agreement should continue to apply. But the reports do not yet say how existing loans will be handled, and after a transfer you could be dealing with a different bank for service, statements, top-ups and any rate changes. Practical steps:

• Keep copies of your sanction letter, loan agreement and repayment schedule.
• Prefer a shorter tenure, so most of the loan is repaid before any handover.
• Do not count on future top-ups or offers from Standard Chartered.
• Ask the bank in writing what will happen to your loan if the business is sold, and whether you can repay early without a fee at that point.

Interest rate

Standard Chartered does not publish a personal loan rate range. Its online calculator uses 12.5% a year as an illustrative rate, with a clear note that the actual rate is subject to credit approval. Across Bangladesh, consumer loan rates were about 11% to 14% in late 2025, Prothom Alo reported, so 12.5% sits in the middle of the market. Your rate will depend on your income, employer, credit history and whether your salary is paid into Standard Chartered.

Ask whether your rate is fixed for the whole loan or can change, and get the answer in your sanction letter.

What the EMI looks like

Monthly instalments and total interest at the bank’s illustrative 12.5% (our calculation):

The rate matters: on a Tk 10 lakh, 5-year loan, the EMI is about Tk 21,700 at 11% and Tk 23,300 at 14%. Over five years, that difference adds up to about Tk 92,000. And going from 3 to 5 years cuts the EMI on Tk 10 lakh by about Tk 11,000 a month but adds about Tk 1.46 lakh in interest.

Fees and charges in full

From Standard Chartered’s Schedule of Charges for retail lending, valid from 1 June 2026. VAT at 15% applies to invoiced fees.

These fees are low by Bangladeshi standards, where processing fees of 0.5% to 2% are common. Because the processing fee is capped at 0.5%, the most you would pay on the maximum Tk 20 lakh loan is Tk 10,000 plus VAT. The 0.5% early settlement fee is also modest, which matters now: if the retail business is sold and you would rather not move with it, clearing the loan early is relatively cheap.

Who can apply

The location rule is a real limit: if you live outside Dhaka and Chattogram, you may not qualify at all.

Documents you will need

Everyone

• National ID card and a passport-size photo
• E-TIN certificate, and proof of tax return submission if you are tax-eligible
• A personal guarantee for loans above Tk 5 lakh

Salaried

• Original letter of introduction (salary certificate) or payslip
• Latest 6 months’ bank statement showing salary, if your salary account is not with Standard Chartered

Business owners and self-employed

• Updated trade licence, with proof of at least 3 years in business
• Partnership deed, or RJSC certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles and relevant forms for companies
• Business supporting documents, such as work orders

The bank may ask for more. If you need finance for the business itself rather than personal use, our guide to getting an SME loan in Bangladesh covers that route.

Features worth knowing

• Payroll advantage: if your employer pays salaries through Standard Chartered, you get a lower income threshold, faster disbursement and “preferential treatment” on the loan.
• Loan takeover: you can move an existing personal loan from another bank, with no processing fee. Weigh this carefully given the planned sale.
• EMI from any bank: the bank can collect your EMI from an account at another bank through BEFTN, so you do not need to hand over post-dated cheques. Our explainer on how BEFTN works explains the system.
• Insurance: optional loan insurance from leading insurers can cover repayment if something happens to you; the bank advertises “200% coverage”. Ask what is covered and what the premium costs before you accept it.
• Top-up: if you have repaid regularly, you can borrow more during the loan.

Personal loan rules in Bangladesh

In May 2026, Bangladesh Bank raised the limit on unsecured personal loans to Tk 10 lakh and on secured personal loans to Tk 40 lakh, The Financial Express reported. Standard Chartered lends up to Tk 20 lakh and asks for a personal guarantee above Tk 5 lakh, so ask what security or guarantee you will need for a larger loan. Lenders also look at your credit history with the central bank’s Credit Information Bureau (CIB), your repayment capacity and your debt-to-income ratio. Consumer lending grew by more than 26% in 2025, and the central bank has warned that easy approval can lead to over-borrowing, Prothom Alo reported. A useful rule: keep all your EMIs well below half of your take-home pay.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. What exact rate am I being offered, and is it fixed for the whole loan?
2. What is the total cost of the loan, including processing fee, stamp and CIB charges, and insurance?
3. Is the insurance optional, and what does it cost?
4. If the retail business is sold, what happens to my loan, and will my terms stay the same?
5. Can I repay early without the 0.5% fee if my loan is transferred to another bank?

Who it’s for, and who should skip it

Good fit: salaried professionals in Dhaka or Chattogram, especially those paid through Standard Chartered, who want a quick, low-fee loan for a clear short-term purpose and plan to repay within one to three years.

Think twice: anyone outside the bank’s branch areas, anyone wanting a long relationship with the same lender, or anyone planning to rely on top-ups or a takeover from another bank. With the retail business up for sale, a local bank where you already hold your salary account may be the steadier choice.

How to apply

1. Apply online from the bank’s Personal Loan page, visit a branch, or call the Client Centre.
2. Submit your NID, photo, E-TIN, income documents and any other papers the bank asks for.
3. The bank checks your CIB report and repayment capacity.
4. Read the sanction letter: rate, fees, insurance and prepayment terms.
5. Money is disbursed within about 2 to 5 working days, and EMIs start the following month.

This review is for general information only and is not financial advice. Rates and charges change, and the bank’s retail business may change hands. Check the current terms with Standard Chartered before you commit.