19/07/2026
𝟭 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳: 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗻𝘀.
And that is exactly the problem.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗕𝗡𝗠 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁
Flat rate charges interest on your full loan amount.
From the first month to the last.
RM100,000 at 5% flat for 10 years.
Interest is RM5,000 a year.
In year 9, you only owe RM10,000.
But you still pay interest like you owe RM100,000.
Total interest: RM50,000.
Locked in from day one.
Pay early, save nothing.
BNM decided this is unfair.
From 1 Jan 2027, all new personal loans must use reducing balance.
Interest only on what you still owe.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂
The ban only covers new loans.
The flat rate loan you signed 3 years ago?
It stays flat rate until the final payment.
The regulator called the method unfair.
Your contract keeps it anyway.
Anyone holding a flat rate loan today will keep paying under the old rules.
𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴
From the same date, borrow above RM100,000 and you must complete a short financial education module first.
About 15 minutes, through AKPK or your bank.
RM100,000 is the bankruptcy threshold in Malaysia.
BNM wants you to see the full picture before you cross it.
So check your offer letter tonight.
If it says flat rate, you now know what you are really paying.
And you know there is a date on the calendar when better structures become the law.
What you do between now and then is the part worth planning.