⚖️ Bank Comparison

BPI vs SB Finance

By the Nook Editorial Team · Reviewed to Nook's editorial standards

BPI and SB Finance both offer home loan products in the Philippines, but their rates, requirements, and refinancing options differ significantly. Here's a side-by-side comparison to help you decide — and find out how to get as low as 5.99% p.a. through Nook.

Our Verdict

BPI Edges Out SB Finance for Refinancing — Especially Through Nook

BPI offers more competitive fixed rates, a wider range of eligible loan purposes including refinancing, and broader employment type acceptance — making it the stronger choice for most Filipino homeowners looking to lower their monthly payments. SB Finance may suit buyers with simpler purchase needs, but for refinancing, BPI's 6.50% 5-year fixed rate (available through Nook) is hard to beat. Best of all, applying through Nook costs you nothing — Nook's mortgage brokering service is completely free to borrowers.

BPI vs SB Finance: Home Loan Rate Comparison

When choosing between BPI and SB Finance for a home loan or refinance in the Philippines, interest rates are typically the first thing borrowers look at. Here's how the two stack up based on currently available information.

FeatureBPI (via Nook)SB Finance
1-Year Fixed Rate6.70% p.a.Not publicly listed
5-Year Fixed Rate6.50% p.a.Not publicly listed
Home Equity Rate6.70% p.a.Not publicly listed
Best Rate via NookFrom 5.99% p.a.Not a Nook partner
Min. Monthly Income₱40,000Varies by product
Typical Approval Time~52 daysVaries
Max Debt-to-Income Ratio40%Not publicly disclosed

Note: Interest rates are subject to change. Always verify current rates directly with the lender or through a licensed broker like Nook before making a decision.

Loan Purpose Eligibility

One of BPI's strongest advantages is the breadth of loan purposes it supports. Whether you're refinancing an existing loan, purchasing a ready-for-occupancy unit, building a new home, or tapping your home equity, BPI covers the full spectrum.

SB Finance's home loan products are more focused on property purchases. If your primary goal is to refinance your existing home loan to a lower rate, BPI — especially when accessed through Nook — is the more capable and better-documented option.

Who Qualifies? Employment Type Eligibility

BPI accepts a wide range of employment backgrounds, which is important for the diverse workforce in the Philippines:

This makes BPI accessible to a large portion of Filipino borrowers, including OFWs who are often underserved by traditional lenders. SB Finance also serves a broad market, but BPI's documented eligibility criteria and Nook's broker support give BPI applicants a clearer path to approval.

How Much Can You Save by Refinancing with BPI Through Nook?

Let's look at a concrete example. If you have an outstanding home loan balance of 3,000,000 with a remaining term of 20 years, here's what your monthly payments might look like at different rates:

ScenarioRateEst. Monthly PaymentTotal Interest (20 yrs)
Typical bank rate8.50% p.a.~26,035~3,248,400
BPI 5-Year Fixed (via Nook)6.50% p.a.~22,353~2,364,720
Best Nook Rate5.99% p.a.~21,493~2,157,840

That's a potential saving of over 883,000 in total interest over 20 years just by switching from a typical 8.50% rate to BPI's 6.50% fixed rate — and even more if you qualify for Nook's best available rate of 5.99% p.a. Nook's service is 100% free to borrowers, so every peso saved goes straight to you.

Curious how BPI stacks up against other major lenders? Check out our detailed BPI vs Metrobank home loan comparison to see how rates differ across the big banks.

The Nook Advantage: Why Apply Through a Broker?

Nook is the Philippines' first digital mortgage broker. Rather than going directly to a single bank and hoping for the best rate, Nook lets you compare offers from multiple partner banks — including BPI — in one place. Here's why that matters:

Whether you're currently with BPI, SB Finance, BDO, Metrobank, or any other lender, Nook can help you find out if refinancing makes sense — and how much you could save.

BPI vs SB Finance: Side-by-Side Summary

CriteriaBPI (via Nook)SB Finance
Competitive Refinance Rates✅ Yes (from 5.99% via Nook)⚠️ Limited info available
Refinancing Eligible✅ Yes⚠️ Limited
OFW / Seafarer Eligible✅ Yes⚠️ Check directly
Self-Employed Eligible✅ Yes⚠️ Check directly
Home Equity Loan✅ Yes⚠️ Limited info
Free Broker Support✅ Via Nook❌ Not available via Nook
Transparent Published Rates✅ Yes❌ Not publicly listed

If you're comparing BPI with other major lenders, you may also want to read our BDO vs BPI home loan comparison for another popular head-to-head.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is BPI or SB Finance better for home loan refinancing?

For refinancing, BPI is the stronger option. BPI explicitly supports refinancing as a loan purpose, offers competitive fixed rates (as low as 6.50% for a 5-year fix, and even lower through Nook), and accepts a wide range of employment types including OFWs and self-employed individuals. SB Finance is more focused on home purchase products, making BPI the preferred choice for homeowners looking to reduce their monthly payments through refinancing.

What is BPI's current home loan interest rate?

Through Nook, BPI currently offers a 1-year fixed rate of 6.70% p.a. and a 5-year fixed rate of 6.50% p.a. Borrowers who apply through Nook may also access rates as low as 5.99% p.a. depending on their profile and the loan amount. Note that rates are subject to change — always confirm the latest rates through Nook or directly with BPI.

How much do I need to earn to qualify for a BPI home loan?

BPI requires a minimum monthly income of ₱40,000 for home loan applicants. This applies to employed individuals, self-employed borrowers, and professionals. OFWs and seafarers are also eligible. BPI's maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is 40%, meaning your total monthly loan obligations should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.

Can OFWs apply for a BPI home loan through Nook?

Yes. BPI accepts OFWs and seafarers as eligible borrowers for home loans, including refinancing. Nook's digital process makes it especially convenient for OFWs who may not be physically present in the Philippines, allowing them to submit documents and track their application remotely. Nook's service is completely free for borrowers.

What is the best home loan rate available in the Philippines right now?

Through Nook, the best available refinance rate is currently 5.99% p.a. This is significantly lower than the 7%–10% rates many Filipino homeowners are currently paying. By refinancing at 5.99%, a borrower with a ₱3,000,000 outstanding balance could save hundreds of thousands of pesos over the life of their loan.

Is Nook's mortgage brokering service really free?

Yes, Nook's service is 100% free to borrowers. Nook earns a referral fee from the bank when a loan is successfully processed — you pay nothing extra. In fact, because Nook negotiates competitive rates on your behalf, you typically end up paying less than if you walked into a bank branch directly.

How long does it take to get approved for a BPI home loan?

The typical approval timeline for a BPI home loan through Nook is approximately 52 days. This includes document submission, credit evaluation, property appraisal, and final loan offer. Nook's team helps streamline the process by ensuring your documents are complete and properly prepared before submission, reducing back-and-forth delays.

What loan purposes does BPI support?

BPI supports a comprehensive range of home loan purposes including: refinancing of existing loans, purchase of ready-for-occupancy (RFO) units, pre-selling property purchases, new construction, home equity or loan against property, renovation, resale/reselling, and foreclosed properties. This makes BPI one of the most versatile lenders available through Nook.