Reason behind Approach to Monthly Computation of CPF Interest Payments Using Lowest Amount Balance

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the justification behind the current approach to monthly computation of CPF interest payments using the lowest amount balance; and (b) whether there have been considerations to perform daily or monthly, instead of annual, compounding.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Central Provident Fund (CPF) system is designed to help members meet their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. The Government takes into account various factors such as the minimum interest rate and technical computation methodology when determining the CPF interest rates holistically. Even during low interest rate environments, the Government has continued to pay generous interest rates due to the floor rates1.

If the pegged rates for CPF interests exceed the floor rates, members will also correspondingly earn the higher interest rates on their CPF savings. On top of that, the Government will also continue to pay 1% of extra interest on the first $60,000 of members' combined CPF balances, as well as an additional 1% extra interest on the first $30,000 of post-55 members' combined CPF balances. While changing how CPF Board computes and compounds CPF interests can translate into marginally higher CPF interest payments, the measures I have laid out already provide CPF members with much higher interest and a greater boost to their CPF savings.

That said, we acknowledge that industry practices have evolved over the years, and we will take this into account as we review CPF interest rates periodically, to ensure that they remain relevant to members' needs and changes in the operating environment.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 56:

1 The legislated minimum of 2.5% applies to the interest rates of all CPF accounts. On top of this, the Government has maintained a floor interest rate of 4% for the Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts since 2008.