Published on Nov 24, 2020Updated on Jul 13, 2026
Personal loans for most people have become synonymous with everyday life. Be it buying appliances, going on a holiday, starting a business or even meeting emergency expenses, personal loans are the easiest way to finance your needs and even the occasional indulgences.
In recent times, getting personal loans sanctioned has become a much more simplified process. For example, SMFG India Credit approves personal loans up to Rs. 30 lakhs online, with minimal documentation.
Having said that, you also need to have a precise understanding of how to repay your personal loan, quickly. Planning your repayment strategy smartly not only saves valuable time but also improves your overall financial standing.
Take a look at these 5 simple ways of how to repay your personal loan fast.
Personal loans are often used to fulfil short-term financial deficits. But a personal loan comes with an interest rate and a repayment tenure of 12 to 60 months. Therefore, while you were able to meet your immediate financial requirements, you are laden with a financial burden that requires you to pay back an additional interest component on the principal amount borrowed. Plus, you will have to abide by a minimum of a 12 month period repayment tenure.
The best way out here is to foreclose your personal loan if you have sufficient funds to do so. This can be done as soon as your lock-in period of the loan is over. Even though you may have to pay a penalty charge, prepayment of your personal loan saves on a lot of interest and definitely lessens your financial burden.
Remember that even if you meet the personal loan eligibility, getting one means attracting a higher interest rate than home or car loans. While everyone agrees to the fact that personal loans are a necessary route when it comes to financing, it can also lead you towards a debt trap if you are unable to repay it within the specified timelines.
If you have other existing loans on lower interest rates, it makes a lot of sense to repay your personal loan that comes with a much higher interest rate, first. Prioritising debt is also a smart way of ensuring that you repay it quickly.
You may struggle to repay your monthly EMIs on time if you have multiple debts including personal loans. To make sure that you do not lag behind in your personal loan payments too often, it is best to opt for a debt consolidation loan.
You can club all your loans, including credit card debts into a unified entity with a debt consolidation loan. As opposed to making several repayments on varying interest rates this results in a convenient single pay-out every month on a fixed interest rate. As a matter of fact, in most cases, you will be paying a lower interest rate with a debt consolidation loan on your monthly instalment making it easier for you to manage your finances better.
Must Read: How to Clear Overdue Payments with a Personal Loan?
If you have an existing home loan, you can take up a home loan top-up to cover any unexpected expenses with regards to home improvement instead of a personal loan. Home loans come with more economical interest rates in comparison to personal loans and even credit cards.
Not only does it help to consolidate your debt, but your monthly pay-out decreases too. Plus, you are servicing a single loan account rather than spreading out your debt across multiple loan platforms.
If you have a credit card with a significant spending limit, or are displeased with your current lender, you can even choose to go for a personal loan balance transfer as a mode of repaying it off quickly. Under this facility, your previous outstanding balance is completely closed. Plus, you may get a higher loan amount sanctioned at a more affordable interest rate.
This makes sense if you are paying a higher interest rate on your personal loan and your credit card service provider offers you the option to transfer it at a lower rate of interest. Having said that, this is only possible if you have a good credit score.
Most importantly, never miss a single EMI payment on your loan. Opt for the auto-debit / ECS facility which is offered by most lenders, and always make sure that your bank account is funded sufficiently so as to manage the payment. Any delay in paying an EMI will attract penalty charges, and lack of sufficient funds in your account will attract bounce charges, thereby making your loan more expensive.
For personal loan pre-closure, SMFG India Credit, like many other lenders, charges a pre-payment penalty of up to 7% of the loan amount. Borrowers who want to pay off their loan before the end of the term must pay this penalty. The penalty is intended to repay the lender for the interest that would have been received if the borrower had continued to make regular payments until the loan term ended. Borrowers must carefully read the terms and conditions of their loan agreement in order to fully understand the pre-payment penalty and other penalties that may apply.
Borrowers must present specific documentation to their lender in order to commence loan pre-closure. The particular documents necessary may vary based on the type of loan and the lender's requirements; however, the following are some typically required documents:
Borrowers should consult with their lender to understand the exact documentation needed for loan pre-closure and to verify that they have all essential documents before beginning the process.
Here is what you need to do to apply for a personal loan from SMFG India Credit:
Put in your primary details like mobile number, PAN, pincode, and employment nature (self-employed or salaried).
Verify your mobile with the received OTP.
Enter more information such as email address, DOB, gender, and annual household income. Be sure to confirm your email ID.
Add in details of your employment if you are in a salaried position.
Please submit your bank statement through Net Banking, an Account Aggregator, or by uploading it. We will use this information to generate a loan offer (only applies to salaried employees).
Verify your identity (take a selfie to complete the process) and share location details using the provided digital verification options – CKYC, Offline Aadhaar XML-based KYC, or DigiLocker.
Provide bank account details which will be verified by us.
Once bank account verification is done, enter the required details in the ‘Additional Details’ section. These can include the purpose of the loan, marital status, and so on.
Choose the re-payment mode you prefer, debit cards or internet banking, and complete your E-NACH setup.
Conclude by reviewing and digitally endorsing the loan agreement, and confirming it with an OTP.
Following these straightforward steps will take you closer to your financial objectives.
While it has become the norm to meet high-value consumptions with the help of personal loans, it is also necessary for the borrower to be aware of how to repay your personal loan in simple and easy steps. Ultimately, the aim is to reduce your debt obligation whilst building your financial stability.
* Please note that this article is for your knowledge only. Loans are disbursed at the sole discretion of SMFG India Credit. Final approval, loan terms, disbursal process, foreclosure charges and foreclosure process will be subject to SMFG India Credit's policy at the time of loan application. If you wish to know more about our products and services, please contact us
Here are some ways to repay a personal loan faster:
Depending on the conditions of the loan agreement and the borrower's ability to make higher installments, it may be possible to repay a personal loan in 6 months. Nonetheless, it is critical to confirm with the lender that there are no pre-payment penalties or other expenses linked with early loan repayment.
You have the option of paying extra than the normal EMI. The surplus money will not only lower your outstanding debt but will also minimise your interest expense. Every year, you can pay one additional EMI (in addition to the standard amount of EMIs). This is a good strategy to shorten the term of your loan and lower your interest rate.
Missing even one EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) might have serious implications. To begin, you may be charged a late payment fee or penalty. Second, it can have a negative impact on your credit score, affecting your capacity to receive future loans or credit. Eventually, missed payments can lead to legal action or loan default.
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