CPF OA vs SA Interest Rate Singapore
The CPF Ordinary Account (OA) earns 2.5% p.a. while the Special Account (SA) earns 4% p.a. — a 1.5% difference that compounds significantly over a working lifetime. This is not financial advice.
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OA Interest Rate
The CPF Ordinary Account earns a minimum of 2.5% per annum, guaranteed by the Singapore government. The actual rate is reviewed quarterly and pegged to the 3-month average of the major local banks’ savings rates, subject to a floor of 2.5%. As at Q1 2026, the OA rate remains at 2.5% p.a. — the floor rate has been in effect for over a decade, as domestic bank savings rates have not consistently exceeded it.
OA funds can be used for housing (HDB/private property purchase and loan repayment), education, investment under CPFIS-OA, and insurance premiums. The flexibility of OA comes at the cost of a lower guaranteed return compared to the SA.
SA Interest Rate
The CPF Special Account earns a minimum of 4% per annum — 1.5 percentage points higher than the OA. This rate is pegged to the 12-month average yield of Singapore Government Securities (10-year SGS) plus 1%, subject to a floor of 4%. SA funds are earmarked for retirement and have very restricted withdrawal uses: they cannot be used for housing or most CPFIS investments (with limited exceptions). This restriction is the trade-off for the higher guaranteed interest rate.
Note: As of 1 January 2025, the SA is closed for members aged 55 and above. See CPF SA Closure 2025 for details. Members below 55 continue to have an active SA earning 4% p.a.
OA vs SA: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | OA (Ordinary Account) | SA (Special Account) |
|---|---|---|
| Interest Rate (2026) | 2.5% p.a. | 4% p.a. |
| Use for Housing | Yes | No |
| Use for CPFIS | Yes (OA-approved instruments) | Limited |
| Withdrawal Flexibility | Higher | Lower |
| Closed at age 55? | No | Yes (from Jan 2025) |
| Primary Purpose | Housing, education, investment | Retirement accumulation |
OA to SA Transfer (Before Age 55)
Members below 55 can voluntarily transfer OA funds to their SA via the CPF Board portal. This is a one-way, irreversible transfer — you cannot move funds back from SA to OA. The transfer makes sense if you do not need OA funds for housing or other approved uses, and want to earn 4% instead of 2.5% on those funds for the long term.
A S$50,000 OA balance earning 2.5% grows to approximately S$80,000 over 20 years, while the same amount in SA earning 4% grows to approximately S$110,000 — a S$30,000 difference through compounding alone. See the CPF OA to SA Transfer Singapore page for full details on eligibility and process.
Extra Interest on First S$60,000
CPF members earn an additional 1% interest on the first S$60,000 of combined CPF balances (capped at S$20,000 for OA). This extra 1% is credited to the SA (or RA if aged 55+). Members aged 55 and above earn an extra 2% on the first S$30,000 and an extra 1% on the next S$30,000 of their combined balances. This makes it especially advantageous to retain CPF balances rather than withdraw them prematurely. For retirement planning context, see the CPF LIFE page and the TKN Retirement Calculator.