Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
8 Minute
24 Feb 2025
Have you ever felt trapped by your monthly loan payments, wondering if there’s a way to make them more manageable? What if we told you you could reduce your EMI with just one click? This isn’t some hidden financial trick. It’s a feature banks and financial institutions offer, yet most people remain unaware.
With rising inflation and increasing interest rates, loan repayment has become a significant financial burden for millions.
According to recent data, credit card defaults increased to 1.8% in June 2024 from 1.7% six months prior and 1.6% in March 2023. Yet, banks provide solutions that can ease this stress but don't actively promote them.
Let’s break this down with a simple example:
This hidden feature is what we’ll uncover in this article. If you’ve been looking for a way to lower your loan payments without refinancing, keep reading to find out how banks let you reduce EMI with a single action.
EMI, or Equated Monthly Installment, is the fixed amount a borrower pays monthly to repay a loan. It includes both principal and interest components. The formula for EMI calculation is:
EMI = P x R x (1+r)^n/((1+r)^N – 1
Where:
For example, if you take a personal loan of ₹5 lakhs at an interest rate of 12% per annum for 5 years (60 months), your EMI calculation will be:
Using the EMI formula, the monthly payment comes out to ₹11,122.
Several factors influence how much EMI you pay every month:
Factor | Description |
Loan Amount | The higher the loan amount, the higher the monthly EMI. |
Interest Rate | Even small changes in interest rate can affect the EMI, either increasing or decreasing it. |
Tenure | A longer loan tenure reduces the monthly EMI but increases the total interest paid over time. |
Loan Type | Secured loans (like home or car loans) typically have lower EMIs than unsecured loans (such as personal or credit cards). |
Processing Fees & Additional Charges | Some banks include processing fees and other charges, which can increase the overall cost of the loan. |
Struggling with high EMIs can disturb your entire financial plan:
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Impact | Explanation |
Fewer Savings | High EMIs leave little room for investments or saving for emergencies. |
Risk of Debt Trap | Missing EMI payments can result in penalties and a lower credit score. |
Reduced Flexibility | Necessary cutbacks on other expenses may delay important goals like home renovation, travel, or funding children’s education. |
Many assume that once an EMI is set, they have no choice but to stick with it. However, banks offer EMI reduction features that allow borrowers to adjust their payments in a more manageable way. This is where the one-button EMI reduction option comes into play.
Many banks and financial institutions provide an EMI adjustment feature, allowing borrowers to reduce their monthly payments by restructuring their loan tenure or adjusting repayment schedules.
This option is available under different names, such as:
Loan Restructuring: Banks change your original loan agreement to make your repayments more manageable. This may include increasing the time you have to repay the loan or changing the loan terms to lower your monthly payments.
EMI Adjustment: This allows you to adjust your monthly pay. You can choose to pay less now and more later as your income changes.
Flexible Repayment Plans: These plans let you choose a payment schedule that fits your income pattern. You can pay more when you earn more and less when you don't.
Step-Down EMI Option: This plan starts with higher payments that gradually decrease over time. It's helpful if you expect your income to reduce in the future, like nearing retirement
Home Loan EMI Reduction Through Restructuring
Let’s say you have a home loan of ₹75 lakhs at 9% interest for 15 years. Your EMI would be ₹76,019 per month.
Now, extending the tenure to 20 years, the new EMI would drop to ₹67,493—saving you ₹8,526 per month!
This simple adjustment can provide significant financial relief while keeping your repayment on track.
While EMI reduction options exist, banks do not actively advertise them. The reason? More interest earnings.
This is why you must take the initiative to explore whether your bank offers EMI adjustment features and how to activate them.
If EMI feels too high, you have two main options: reduce EMI with your existing bank or refinance the loan with another lender. Which one is better? Let’s compare.
This means working with your existing bank to reduce your EMI without changing the lender. Banks allow:
Say you have a personal loan of ₹10 lakhs at 12% interest for 5 years.
Refinancing means transferring your loan to a different bank for a lower interest rate. This works best if:
You have a home loan of ₹40 lakhs at 8.5% interest with 15 years left.
If your bank doesn’t provide an instant EMI reduction option, there are still ways to lower your monthly payments.
For example, if you have a ₹5 lakh personal loan with an EMI of ₹11,122, prepaying ₹1 lakh can bring your EMI down to ₹8,897. This means you instantly save ₹2,225 per month.
A loan balance transfer can be brilliant if you’re paying a high interest rate. This means shifting your loan to another bank that offers a lower interest rate. However, always check the processing fees before switching, as they can sometimes reduce the benefits of lower EMI.
Many banks now allow EMI adjustments through their mobile apps and online services.
Comparison Table
Bank | Interest Rate Flexibility | Loan Types Eligible | Digital Access |
SBI | Yes | Home, car, personal | App & website |
HDFC | Yes | Home, personal | App only |
ICICI | Yes | All loans | Full online |
Axis | Yes | Personal, home | Website & app |
Kotak | Yes | Personal, business | Online & branch |
Rahul, a software engineer, had a ₹50 lakh home loan at 9% interest. His EMI was ₹44,986. After restructuring his loan to increase tenure by 5 years, his EMI dropped to ₹36,512. That’s ₹8,474 saved per month!
Amit, a restaurant owner, struggled with a ₹20 lakh business loan. He refinanced his loan at a lower 10% rate, cutting his EMI from ₹44,222 to ₹40,567, saving ₹3,655 monthly.
Here are the mistakes presented in a simple format:
Common Mistakes | Explanation |
Ignoring Hidden Charges | Check for fees banks might charge for EMI adjustments. |
Extending Tenure Too Long | Lower EMIs can result in higher total interest over time. |
Not Checking Credit Score Impact | Frequent loan adjustments can lower your credit score. |
Forgetting to Compare Offers | Always verify if other banks have better refinancing deals. |
Lowering EMI isn’t a mystery anymore. If you adjust EMI through your bank, refinance, or prepay your loan, you can cut your monthly payments and save money.
Banks won’t promote this feature, but now you know it exists. Take action today!
1. How can I reduce my EMI instantly?
Use your bank’s EMI reduction feature, prepay a part of your loan, or extend the tenure.
2. Do all banks allow EMI adjustment?
Most major banks in India offer EMI flexibility through loan restructuring, but you must request it.
3. Does EMI reduction affect my credit score?
No, but frequent restructuring or refinancing might impact it slightly.
4. Can I lower EMI without increasing tenure?
Yes, making a partial prepayment lowers EMI without extending tenure.
5. Does refinancing always reduce EMI?
Not always. It depends on the new interest rate and fees.
6. Which banks offer EMI reduction in India?
SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and Kotak Mahindra offer EMI reduction options.
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
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