My rate of interest is linked to I-Base. How will the rate change affect it?

I-Base Rate has decreased by 25 bps i.e. I-Base has reduced from 10.00% to 9.75% effective April 23, 2012. Thus, the rate of interest for existing customers bench-marked to I-Base will decrease by 0.25%.

My rate of interest is linked to Prime Lending Rate(PLR)/Floating Reference Rate(FRR). How will it be affected by the rate change?

PLR and FRR have decreased by 25 bps. New PLR is 17.50% and FRR is 15.50%.

This change in PLR and FRR will decrease the interest rate of those loans whose loan is bench-marked to FRR/PLR by 0.25%.

From when are the new rates applicable?

The new rate of interest will be applicable from April 23, 2012.

Why is the reset done from May 1, 2012 ?

For all home loans with first disbursal before July 4, 2006 the rate of interest will be reset on QUARTERLY basis.

Thus, the change in the rate of interest will be effective from the next reset date i.e. from July 1, 2012.

For all home loans with first disbursal on or after July 4, 2006 the rate of interest will be reset on MONTHLY basis.

The reset dates for affecting the rate of interest changes for these existing customers will be the first date of the coming month after reset.

Thus, the change in the rate of interest will be effective from the next reset date i.e. from May 1, 2012 as applicable.

FLOATING RATE LOAN

I am an existing customer of home loans and have taken the loan on floating rate. How will the change in rate affect me?

In case your loan is linked to I-Base the rate of interest on your loan would decrease by 0.25%.

Loans linked to FRR and PLR the rate of interest will decrease by 25 basis points (i.e. 0.25%), due to the change in the FRR/PLR on April 23, 2012. This will correspondingly, impact your EMI or tenor.

What is the impact as my floating rate loan is fully disbursed?

In case your loan is fully disbursed and is on FRR/PLR Benchmark, the rate of interest on your loan will be decreased by 25 basis points (0.25%). In case your loan is fully disbursed and is on I-Base, the rate of interest on your loan will be decreased by 25 basis points (0.25%). The new PLR/FRR/I-Base will be applicable from the next reset date i.e. May 1, 2012.

What is the impact as my floating rate loan is partly disbursed and is on I–Base benchmark?

For all past disbursements, the new rates will be applicable on the disbursed amount from April 23, 2012 onwards.

All further disbursements would be at revised rates.

I have taken a sanction on floating rate and have not availed any disbursement till date, how will the change impact me?

The margin communicated to you in sanction letter will be applicable (valid for one month). So the effective rate would lower by 25 bps. After one month, then applicable rate of interest would apply.

What is my new loan tenor? OR By how many months will my loan tenor decrease?

Your new loan tenor would be dependent on the number of years that are remaining for your loan and your rate of interest.

This rate change will impact your EMI or tenor. For further details, you can also walk into your nearest ICICI Bank Home Loans branch after May 1, 2012.

(This is applicable for fully disbursed loans on FRR/PLR/I-Base only)

What is my new EMI? OR How much has my EMI increased by? Will my current EMI cheques have to be changed and where do I have to submit them?

This rate change will impact your EMI or tenor. We will be sharing a text communication regarding the same after May 1, 2012. The same communication will include the process for changing your EMI. In case of further clarifications or to know about the reset process, you can also visit your nearest ICICI Bank Home Loans branch after May 1, 2012.

What should I do to change my EMI? Will there be any charges if I want to change my EMI?

This rate increase will impact your EMI or tenor.

If you wish to further change your EMI you can contact our nearest ICICI Bank Home Loan branch on or after May 1, 2012. There would be no additional charges applicable for changing your EMI.

Please carry 36 cheques with you, as the earlier cheques would need to be replaced

In case you have opted for ECS as repayment mode for your loan and your final disbursement was taken after July 01, 2007, you are requested to come to our branch and submit a new ECS mandate form.

However, in case you have opted for ECS or AD as your mode of repayment and your final disbursement was taken before July 01, 2007, you don't need to change the current mandate.

I have just switched my loan to floating rate of interest, how will the changes impact me?

If you have switched to floating rate and have availed full disbursement, the new rates will be applicable to your loan from the next reset date i.e. May 1, 2012.

For all past disbursements, the new rates will be applicable on the disbursed amount from the next reset date i.e. May 1, 2012.

When you avail of further disbursement, the fresh disbursements will be at new rates.

I had taken a Loan under Dual rate scheme. How will this change in FRR/PLR/I-Base impact me?

The change in FRR/PLR/I-Base will not have any immediate impact on your EMI as your rate is fixed for the first two years from the date of first disbursement. From third year onwards your rate changes to floating and the benchmark rate applicable then will determine what rate you will pay.

I am Dual rate home loan customer. What happens when my fixed rate tenure ends?

Under dual rate home loan, your loan is fixed for a specified period as communicated to you in the sanction letter. Post completion of the fixed rate period, your loan would convert to floating rate. The applicable floating rate is determined based upon the benchmark rate at the time of completion of fixed rate period. Your effective floating rate would be benchmark rate plus margin that was communicated to you at the time of sanction.

For example the interest rate on your home loan has now changed from fixed to floating w.e.f. from April 1, 2012. The applicable floating interest rate would be calculated basis the following methodology:

  • Margin (communicated at the time of sanction) : 1.0%
  • Benchmark rate (Prime Lending Rate/FRR/I-Base) : I-Base at 10%
  • Effective floating rate (1 +2) : 11.00%
I had taken a Loan under 1 year / 2 year / 3 year fixed rate scheme. How will this change in FRR/PLR/I-Base impact me?

The change in FRR/PLR/I-Base will not have any immediate impact on your EMI as your rate is fixed for the first 1/2/3 years from the date of first disbursement. From 13th/25th/37th month onwards your rate changes to floating and the benchmark rate applicable then will determine what rate you will pay.

FIXED RATE LOANS

I am a fixed rate loan customer, what is the new rate in my case?

f you have opted for fixed rate of interest there is no impact on rate of interest.

(a) I have availed full disbursement how will the rate change impact me?

There would be no change in your rate.

(b) I have taken a part disbursement how will this change in interest rate affect me? What rate will I get?

If you have taken a fixed rate loan, the rate of interest on the already disbursed amount will not change with the FRR/PLR change. There are no changes in fixed rate rate of interest offered by us, hence rate of interest will not change for further disbursements in fixed rates also.

I have just taken a fixed rate loan sanction? Will I get the rate mentioned on my sanction letter?

The rate mentioned in sanction letter is valid for one month from the date of sanction letter. If you take the loan before this date, you will get the rate mentioned in the sanction letter.

I have just switched my loan to fixed rate of interest, before April 23, 2012, how will the changes impact me?

If you have switched to fixed rate and have availed full disbursement, the new rates will not impact your loan.

If you have switched to fixed rate and have availed part disbursement, the rate of interest on the already disbursed amount will not change. For your balance loan amount the rate applied would be as applicable at the time of disbursement. The rate of interest on the total loan will be the weighted average rate of interest.

INCOME TAX BENEFITS

How will the new rate affect my tax savings / IT benefits?

The total interest payable by you i.e. inclusive of the interest amount would qualify for deduction under Section 24 for Income Tax purpose up to overall limit of Rs. 150,000. So you will continue to enjoy the tax benefits.

Principal repayments would qualify for deduction from taxable income under Section 80C up to overall limit of Rs. 1,00,000/-.

INSURANCE BENEFITS

I had availed of a home insurance Home Safe Plus / Home Assure. How will it get affected due to the change in rate of interest?

In case you have availed of Home Safe Plus by ICICI Lombard, the insurance cover is applicable for a period of 5 years from the first disbursement of the home loan and will continue to be applicable for the 5-year period.

In case you have availed of Home Assure by ICICI Prudential, the insurance cover is applicable for original loan tenure and will continue to be applicable for the original loan tenure. The insured amount is the loan outstanding (as per the original amortization schedule) at the time of death.

Change in rate of interest will not effect the terms of insurance cover.

CUSTOMER QUERIES REGARDING FUTURE ACTION

What will be my new repayment / amortization schedule? Can I get my new repayment schedule?

In case you would like to know about your changed tenor or revised rate of interest you can either walk in to a branch or contact us by e-mail through the "E-mail Us" option at ICICIBank.com.

Can I change my current loan from a floating rate loan to a fixed rate loan? What will be the rate that I will get? Are there any fees that I will have to pay for conversion?

Yes, you can change your current loan from a floating rate home loan to a fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed / 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed).

The fixed rate of interest for home loans would be the prevailing rate as applicable at the time when you approach home loan branch for conversion from floating rate home loan to fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed/ 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed).

To change from floating rate home loan to fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed / 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed) you will have to pay a conversion fee of 0.50% (+ applicable Service Tax) on your outstanding loan amount at the time of such conversion.

What is the process for changing from a floating rate home loan to a fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed / 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed) ?

For changing from a floating rate home loan to a fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed / 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed) you will have to execute an agreement for conversion and pay a fee of 0.50% (+ applicable Service Tax) on your outstanding loan amount. For this you should approach a home loan branch.

Can I close my home loan? What is the charge for foreclosing my loan?

You can make part prepayment of your home loan. There is no charge on part prepayment of your home loan.

For prepayment of Loan-
a)When your home loan is on fixed rate of interest or Top-up loan -
In case you prepay your loan, you will be charged prepayment charges of 2% (+ applicable Service Tax) on the outstanding amount in your loan account at the time.

b)When your home loan is on floating rate of interest -
In case you prepay your loan, their will be no prepayment charges applicable for your loan.

c)When your loan is a non-residential premises/Loan Against Property/Lease Rental Discounting -
In case you prepay your loan, you will be charged prepayment charges of 4% (+ applicable Service Tax) on the outstanding amount in your loan account at the time of prepayment and amounts prepaid in the last one year, if any.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Are the interest rates going to reduce again in the future?

It is not possible for us to predict future interest rate movements.

I am an existing customer, why is the rate of interest higher than the new customers?

The rate of interest depends on the prevailing rate at the time of disbursement. It could also be different because of special schemes offered by ICICI Bank from time to time and market conditions.

When will I receive any communication on the change of interest rate?

You will be receiving a communication after May 1, 2012 informing you about the change in interest rate.

Can I make a part pre-payment on my Home Loan Account through NEFT with ICICI Bank?

Yes, you can change your current loan from a floating rate home loan to a fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed / 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed).

The fixed rate of interest for home loans would be the prevailing rate as applicable at the time when you approach home loan branch for conversion from floating rate home loan to fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed/ 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed).

To change from floating rate home loan to fixed rate home loan (1 year fixed / 2 year fixed / 3 year fixed) you will have to pay a conversion fee of 0.50% (+ applicable Service Tax) on your outstanding loan amount at the time of such conversion.