Unlike in the US and UK, where regulations like the Truth in Lending Act(TILA) and Consumer Credit Act have been in place since the 1970s - there is currently no regulation on brokers in Singapore or if one even needs to set up a company or be a formal representative of a brokerage. Sometimes all they get is a company name card while working another full-time job.
These acts typically require loan brokers to disclose any connections they have with lenders. This is to prevent conflicts of interest—for example, recommending a higher-interest loan even though a better rate is available elsewhere, simply because of a personal or financial relationship with a particular lender. Some may also oversell their capabilities to justify their fees.
Naturally, when you engage a broker, you expect them to find the best loan for you—not for themselves. That’s why the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) was amended in 2010 via the Dodd-Frank Act to address the conflicts of interest that contributed to the mortgage crisis.
However, in Singapore and most of Southeast Asia, the industry remains unregulated, and broker conduct is entirely dependent on individual professionalism and ethics.
So if you’re engaging a loan broker, here are 10 tips that might be helpful:
1. Beware of Misrepresentation
Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, it is considered an unfair practice to “represent that the supplier has a sponsorship, approval, or affiliation with respect to the supply of goods or services that the supplier does not have.”
Yet, in practice, some brokers—especially when trying to attract customers—claim affiliations they don’t actually have. We've seen websites displaying the logos of banks that do not offer credit products in Singapore, and others claiming to be official partners of chambers or associations who later confirmed to us that no such relationship exists.
But with thousands of websites from various industries appearing on the internet, there is no easy way for authorities to police false advertising effectively. In fact, a recent study by NUS found that half of the products sold online had overstated their environmental claims.
Therefore we recommend, in your broker agreement, to have them declare any (or lack of) relationship they may have with any lenders.
Especially for those owned by a lender, it helps to ensure that they are faithfully finding the best loan for you. Just like a number of real estate brokers have gone to jail in Singapore for their conduct - It is no secret loan brokers may not just cherry-pick which customers to prioritise, they may also cherry-pick which lenders' offer to only show you. In the event you find out otherwise, you have an agreement that may be used in your favour. FindTheLoan.com connects the lender and borrower directly. If a lender decides to quote you, he or she enters it directly onto your dashboard.
2. Exclusive Agreements
Most brokers use exclusive loan broker agreements, preventing you from using another broker—or even from approaching certain lenders on your own.
We’ve heard of cases where borrowers were sued by brokers after successfully securing a loan themselves. While brokers are unlikely to offer non-exclusive terms, you should negotiate to exclude lenders you can approach directly—whether on your own or through platforms like FindTheLoan.com, which is free to use.
The reality is that many brokers, beyond making introductions, add little to no value to the transaction, which leaves them vulnerable to being bypassed. To protect their fees, brokers resort to terms that are excessive in both scope and duration—something we’ll dive deeper into in Point 3.
Another concern with exclusive agreements is that you're locked into using only one broker, even if you're unsure of their credibility. We've come across brokers on their websites displaying high ratings reviews—but despite extensive searching across Google Reviews, Yelp, and other platforms, we couldn’t find where these reviews were posted. In some cases, they list testimonials from supposed SMEs clients, but we couldn't locate those companies either. That doesn't necessarily mean the testimonials are fake—perhaps the companies no longer exist —but it does mean you shouldn't rely solely on reviews when deciding who to work with.
If you're limited to working with just one broker, make sure you understand the terms you're signing. In the next point, we’ll cover what to look out for in the agreement itself and how to evaluate if the broker truly has the skillset to serve you.
3.Duration of Agreement
Negotiate for a shorter agreement period so that if the broker isn’t actively working on your case, you don’t have to wait until the agreement expires before seeking help elsewhere.
You can also negotiate a clause that reduces their fee after a certain period if they fail to return with loan offers. This encourages brokers to take on your case only if they truly have the bandwidth to serve you, rather than sidelining you in favor of another client—such as someone applying for a larger loan or with a more straightforward credit profile.
Shorter terms give you more control and ensure the broker is motivated to act quickly rather than letting your case sit idle.
4. Compare Fees — Just Like You Compare Loans
If you're comparing lenders to get a better loan, why not compare broker fees too? Or better yet—use FindTheLoan.com, which is free.
That said, as the saying goes: “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.” The goal isn’t to go with the cheapest, but to choose a broker who offers value for money—someone who’s capable and transparent.
One more tip: don’t reveal how desperate you are for a loan.
We’ve encountered brokers who told us they found lenders but withheld that information from the client—claiming the case was "too complicated." Magically, the next day, the loan was approved… but only after the client agreed to pay a higher fee. Urgency can be used against you, so keep that in mind when negotiating.
5. Ask About Their Data Policy
Always ask how a broker handles your personal data. We've had customers tell us they started receiving calls and messages from unlicensed moneylenders shortly after using certain brokers.
At FindTheLoan.com, we work directly with licensed lenders, not just individual RMs. This allows us to have legal agreements in place governing how your data must be handled. Plus, you have full control—you choose exactly which lender receives your information.
Even Singapore's digital banks are stepping up on this front. They now require brokers to obtain explicit consent from the borrower before any data is shared with them. So if a broker’s website claims to work with a digital bank but doesn’t offer a consent form or link, they may be misrepresenting that relationship.
6. Be Cautious When They Claim They Can "Negotiate a Better Interest Rate"
Unless you’re a high-net-worth individual or running a very large company, most loans fall under program lending—where rates are algorithmically determined and not negotiable, no matter what some brokers may claim.
In fact, many lenders today use machine scoring., where credit decisions are made by software based entirely on your submitted financial data. There’s no one to "negotiate" with—your profile either qualifies or it doesn’t.
So your best chance of securing a favourable rate isn’t negotiation—it's by comparing across as many lenders as possible. And that’s exactly what FindTheLoan.com helps you do.
7. Touting That They Speak to Multiple RMs from the Same Bank Is Not a Selling Point
Some brokers claim they contact multiple relationship managers (RMs) from the same financial institution to see who responds faster. We’ve seen this on a few broker websites—but frankly, we’re not sure why they think it’s a strength.
In reality, this approach can work against you. If you were the RM and knew the same enquiry was sent to five other colleagues, would you take the lead seriously? Most RMs would deprioritize such cases, seeing them as a waste of time or a race they didn’t ask to run.
8. Promising Fast Approvals They Don’t Control
It’s common to see brokers or their websites touting quick turnaround times, despite having no control over the lenders themselves. Unfortunately, as some brokers engage in false advertising, others follow suit just to stay competitive—resulting in a race to the bottom in transparency.
This ultimately hurts borrowers, who are left trying to navigate a landscape filled with overpromises and little accountability.
If you're working with a broker on a success basis and no exclusive agreement is involved, then there’s little harm in giving them a try. But if you're being asked to sign exclusivity, it’s best to take these "fast loan" claims with a pinch of salt.
9. Test Their Knowledge
While some brokers are ex-bankers, many others have little to no prior industry experience—or only worked briefly in a narrow segment. Some may have come from lenders offering only a limited range of loan products, which means they may not fully understand other loan types or how to compare offers accurately.
This lack of experience can lead to poor advice—or worse, you may be "accidentally" introduced to a more expensive loan simply because the broker doesn’t know better.
To test their knowledge, it’s worth learning a few basics yourself. We’ve built an glossary to help you understand the key loan types and terms. Use it as a tool to assess whether the broker truly knows their stuff—or is just winging it.
10. Watch Out for Fraud
The majority of loan fraud cases involve brokers is a well known industry fact. If you've been turned down by multiple lenders in the same category, but a broker suddenly secures you an approval, it’s worth verifying what was submitted on your behalf.
Ask the lender directly for a copy of the financial documents they received. This helps ensure the broker didn’t alter or fabricate any part of your application, which could later backfire on you—not them.
To learn more about how this sort of broker fraud works and how it can affect you, check out our detailed article here.
Think we are biased against brokers? Well, check out this blog from one of our financing partners directly.
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