CPF interest rate and HDB mortgage rate to remain unchanged

Central Provident Fund (CPF) interest rates will remain the same at 2.5 per cent interest for Ordinary Account (OA) holders, and 4 per cent interest for those with Special and Medisave Accounts.

These rates for 1 July to 30 September this year were outlined in a joint media release by the CPF Board and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on 18 May.

Additionally, the concessionary interest rate for HDB mortgage loans will remain at 2.6 per cent for the period of 1 July to 30 September. The HDB mortgage rate is determined by the CPF interest rate and is pegged at 0.1 per cent above the OA interest rate.

The OA interest rate is derived from the interest rates of major local banks across three months from February to April this year. However, will be maintained at the minimum amount of 2.5 per cent as the interest rate computed with the banks is 0.24 per cent, which is lower than he legislated minimum OA interest rate.

The interest rate for the Special and Medisave CPF accounts will also remain at 4 per cent, as the computed rate of 3.43 per cent is lower than current floor interest rate of 4 per cent per annum. This computed rate was derived from the 12-month average yield of 10-year Singapore Government Securities plus 1 per cent.

The statement also noted that CPF account holders aged 55 and above can earn up to 6 per cent interest per year on their retirement balances as an additional 1 per cent extra interest on the first S$30,000 of their combined balances is earned and paid over and above the current extra 1 per cent interest that is earned on the first S$60,000.