Fewer bank deals as deposits increase


Savers will have to work harder to find a good deal to park their reduced bonuses and smaller hongbao because fewer banks are running Chinese New Year (CNY) savings promotions.

None of the three local banks have launched the traditional CNY fixed deposit (FD) promotion. Their current 12-month FD rates range from DBS Bank's 0.35 per cent to OCBC Bank's 0.9 per cent. United Overseas Bank has a 13-month FD that pays 1 per cent.

To get more than 1 per cent, savers will have to look to Chinese and Malaysian banks, and Standard Chartered Bank.

The poor economy is to blame for the industry's relatively meagre deposit-rate offerings as their growing mountain of savings is making it harder to eke out profits, since selling loans have become much harder.

Savings have been growing five times faster than loans.

Interest rates promotions are relatively lower compared to last year, said one analyst, who did not want to be named.

"I think FD rates have come down across all the banks. But, in the absence of loan demand, it is still a drag on margins," the analyst said.

Plus, the series of privatisations last year, such as Temasek Holdings' $1.2 billion buyout of SMRT, have added to the savings pile, said a banking source.

Deposits of non-bank customers in November rose 6.3 per cent from a year ago to $596.5 billion, while loans were up only 1.1 per cent to $610.6 billion, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Standard Chartered's FD promotion pays 1.28 per cent for a 10-month tenure, with a $25,000 minimum placement. The offer expires on Jan 31.

A spokesman said: "The bank regularly runs best-in-class deposit promotions to reward our clients, including themed promotions during festive seasons."

And for every $128,000 deposited, savers get a Risis Prosperity Tree (worth $368) while stocks last, she added.

I think FD rates have come down across all the banks. But... it is still a drag on margins. An analyst, who did not want to be named

"To date, the take-up rate for the time deposits has been very positive," she said.

Interestingly, ANZ, which has sold its Asian wealth and retail business to DBS, is offering a six-month FD promotion of 1.25 per cent. But it requires a minimum placement of $150,000.

DBS is expected to complete the integration of ANZ assets in March or April. Upon legal completion of the transaction, their customers will be transferred to DBS, said a DBS spokesman.

HONOUR

DBS will also definitely honour the interest rate for the duration they had signed up for, he said.

Malaysian bank CIMB has a 12-month FD promotion that pays 1.25 per cent for a minimum $20,000 deposit and 1.3 per cent for those with $100,000 and more.

Its promotion had included abalone gifts and received overwhelming response, the bank said. All the abalone gifts have been redeemed, it added, but the FD deal remains until Feb 11.

RHB, also Malaysian-owned, has a 12-month FD promotion that pays 1.2 per cent to 1.35 per cent, with placement amounts starting from $50,000.

The deal, which is valid until March 31, is not a CNY promotion but a quarterly FD campaign, said an RHB executive.

Bank of China has a six-plus-six months FD paying 1.25 per cent for amounts of at least $50,000.

It will pay 1.25 per cent for the first six months, and the customer can either withdraw upon maturity or continue to enjoy the same rate for another six months.

To attract customers during the CNY season, OCBC is dangling a "festive rate" tied to insurance sales.

OCBC said customers who purchase any of its regular premium insurance plans with a minimum premium of $7,000 a year can enjoy a festive rate of 11.88 per cent per annum on a three-month FD.

lisen@sph.com.sg

• The full report appeared in The Business Times yesterday.