Nerfed: Bonus$aver Decreases Interest Rate to Max 4.55% p.a. From 1st January 2026, Imposes Holding Period For Investment

Standard Chartered has announced a reduction of rates for its flagship Bonus$aver Account. To the bank’s credit, StanChart maintained rates for quite a while, even as other accounts underwent second and even third cuts for the year.

Before you panic, however, the new maximum rate of 4.55% p.a. isn’t terrible, though there are some changes made to the Invest category. The new rates and changes will kick in from 1st January 2026.

New Interest Rates From 1st January 2026

As usual, I don’t think we should look at the Insure category given its pricey requirements. The “realistic” interest is hence 4.55% p.a. from 1st January 2026 onwards when you fulfil Salary, Card Spend, and Invest categories.

Category	Interest Rate Before 1st January 2026 (p.a.)	New Interest Rate
Base Interest*	0.05%	0.05%
Salary Credit*	1.50%	1.00%
Card Spend*	1.50%	1.00%
Invest*	2.50%	2.50%
Insure	2.50%	2.50%
Maximum EIR	8.05% p.a. Realistic: 5.55% p.a.	7.05% p.a. Realistic: 4.55% p.a.

4.55% p.a. is really not too bad, given how other bank accounts have dipped significantly below 4% p.a. The account will easily retain its current crown as long as one can complete the 3 categories of Salary, Card Spend, and Invest.

Interest Comparison

What does this mean for absolute amount of interest?

Invest Category now requires S$30,000, holding period imposed

The requirement for the Invest category is also being changed to S$30,000 instead of the current S$20,000. More importantly, bonus interest will only be awarded when the investments are maintained for the full 6-month period.

This is contrary to the experience of users who have managed to sell their investment holdings shortly after buying them which will not be possible after this change.

It also means that the bonus interest will be credited after the 6-month period, as opposed to the monthly crediting users have been enjoying.

What if I have already completed the Invest category?

For those who have completed the Invest category and have sold their holdings, it is a little vague whether they will continue receiving the bonus interest from the Invest category moving forward.

I will try to confirm this, but until more information emerges, I’m going to be more pessimistic and assume that a holding of at least S$30,000 is required to receive the bonus interest from January 2026 onwards. For my own account which I have sold my investment, I would likely be repurchasing and holding the required S$30,000. It is also quite timely since my Invest category has already reached its 6-month mark as of December 2025.

According to the product terms and conditions, StanChart reserves the right to “change the rates of the prevailing interest and bonus interest at any time with prior notice”, so I think it is best to follow the new revised terms and conditions if you want to get your bonus interest.

Insurance category will require S$24,000 annual premiums

At S$12,000 annual premium, it was already a bit ridiculous, but the requirement will double to S$24,000. Needless to say, this is not something I would even bother completing for just 2.50% p.a. bonus interest for 6 months.

Guide will be updated for 2026

For December 2025, this guide is still relevant and will be updated closer to when the new changes take place. Stay subscribed for updates.

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While the news is a little sad, I thought StanChart would announce a rate reduction as early as August 2025, so I was pleasantly surprised that I’ve been receiving my 5.55% p.a. interest for so many months. The reduction is also less harsh than I thought, with 4.55% p.a. still a very attractive rate given what other bank accounts are currently offering.

In fact, this article has been sitting in my drafts for almost 4 months now, and my placeholder rate was 3.55% p.a. (I was expecting the bonus interest from Invest to fall to 1.5%)! It’s quite a good thing that the account remains very viable even after this latest revision. You can see the announcement from StanChart here.

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Thanks to Sean for sharing

Seth Wee was a licensed financial adviser representative from 2009 to 2025, with over 16 years of experience in Singapore’s financial advisory industry.

He started Sethisfy.com in 2019 to share practical insights on credit cards, banking products, and miles strategies, helping readers identify financial products that deliver the best value. Seth has been featured in CNA, Channel 8, Today, and a host of other publications. In 2025, he was also part of a panel at CPF’s Ready For Life festival.

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