How to change new notes for Chinese New Year in 2025?
Changing new notes before the Chinese New Year is a tradition in Singapore and other Chinese communities. Freshly printed currency notes are carefully packed into red packets (Hong Bao in Mandarin or Ang Bao in the Hokkien dialect) to be given by elders to the younger generation as a symbol of good luck during the festive season. Apart from Chinese New year, red packets are also given during special occasions such as weddings, baby showers, or birthdays as tokens of good wishes.
Fortunately, in recent years, banks have offered more options for those who wish to exchange new notes. Gone are the days when the elders of a family will have to queue at the banks two to three weeks before the Lunar New Year to exchange new notes in smaller denominations of S$2, S$10, and S$50.
For CNY 2025, on top of newly printed notes, fit-for-gifting notes will also be made available under the notes exchange service to reduce carbon emissions and wastages. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to use these notes that are deemed clean and of suitable quality for sustainable festive gifting.
We have compiled the details and policies for each of these options in 2025 as follows:
Can I walk-in to change new notes at bank branches?
According to the guidance published by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, walking into selected DBS, POSB, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered, CIMB bank branches to exchange for new notes is only available to customers aged 60 years and above, or persons with disabilities. All other customers who do not fall within these two groups have to make their reservations online prior to collecting the notes.
DBS / POSB
Eligible DBS / POSB customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities only) can walk-in to any of the 30 branches below from 14 January 2025 to 27 January 2025 during branch operating hours and on 28 January 2025 till 1pm to exchange new notes without reservation:
- DBS Ang Mo Kio Central | Blk 712A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 [Map]
- DBS Bishan | Junction 8 [Map]
- DBS Bukit Timah | Bukit Timah Plaza [Map]
- DBS Century Square | Century Square [Map]
- DBS Choa Chu Kang | Blk 304 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 [Map]
- DBS Clementi Central | Blk 449 Clementi Avenue 3 [Map]
- DBS Harbourfront | Harbourfront Centre [Map]
- DBS Holland Village | Raffles Holland V [Map]
- DBS Kovan | Blk 204 Hougang Street 21 [Map]
- DBS Marina Bay Financial Centre | MBFC Tower 3 [Map]
- DBS Parkway Parade | Parkway Parade [Map]
- DBS Plaza Singapura | Plaza Singapura [Map]
- DBS South Bridge | Hong Lim Complex [Map]
- DBS Suntec City | Suntec City [Map]
- DBS Thomson | Thomson Plaza [Map]
- DBS Toa Payoh | HDB Hub [Map]
- DBS Towner Road | Blk 101 Towner Rod [Map]
- DBS Westgate | Westgate [Map]
- DBS Woodlands | Woodlands Civic Centre [Map]
- POSB Bedok Central | Blk 213 Bdeok North Street 1 [Map]
- POSB Bukit Batok Central | Blk 636 Bukit Batok Central [Map]
- POSB Compass One | Compass One [Map]
- POSB Hougang Central | Blk 805 Hougang Central [Map]
- POSB Jurong Point | Jurong Point [Map]
- POSB Paya Lebar | Singapore Post Centre [Map]
- POSB Square 2 | Square 2 [Map]
- POSB Tiong Bahru | Tiong Bahru Plaza [Map]
- POSB Waterway Point | Waterway Point [Map]
- POSB White Sands | White Sands [Map]
- POSB Yishun West | Blk 101 Yishun Avenue 5 [Map]
UOB
Eligible UOB customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities only) can visit any of UOB branches during branch operating hours from 14 January 2025 to 27 January 2025 for notes exchange without prior reservation. However, there are limited stocks at each branch and exchange is offered on first-come first-served basis.
OCBC
Eligible OCBC customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities only) can visit any of OCBC branches during branch operating hours from 14 January 2025 to 27 January 2025 for notes exchange without prior reservation. However, there are limited stocks at each branch and exchange is offered on first-come first-served basis.
CIMB Bank
Eligible CIMB customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities only) can visit CIMB Raffles Place Branch during branch operating hours for new notes exchange without prior reservation. However, there are limited stocks and exchange is offered on first-come first-served basis.
Standard Chartered Bank
Eligible SC customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities only) can visit any of SC branches during branch operating hours from 14 January 2025 to 28 January 2025 for new notes exchange without prior reservation. However, there are limited stocks at each branch and exchange is offered on first-come first-served basis.
Other than brand new notes, all SC customers can also visit any of SC branches to exchange for fit notes without prior reservations.
Other banks offering walk-in CNY notes exchange service
Though walk-in CNY note exchange is limited only to eligible customers for DBS, OCBC, UOB, CIMB and Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), there are no restrictions for customers of the following banks:
- Maybank
- Bangkok Bank
- Bank of America
- Bank of China
- Bank of India
- BNP Paribas
- Citibank
- Deutsche Bank
- HL Bank
- HSBC Bank
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)
- KEB Hana Bank
- P.T. Bank Negara Indonesia
- RHB Bank
- State Bank of India
- The Bank of East Asia
- UCO Bank
Where to withdraw new notes from the ATMs in Singapore?
Apart from POSB / DBS’s Bank Teller Machines (BTMs) where you can exchange new notes all year round, you can also get new notes by withdrawing from DBS / POSB pop-up ATMs and at selected UOB & OCBC ATMs from 14 January 2025 this Chinese New Year (CNY). No pre-booking or online reservation is required to draw new notes from these machines.
From previous year’s experience, long queues are expected at these CNY ATMs. Customers are advised to check the status of the queues and the availability of the notes prior to visiting them.
DBS / POSB Pop-up ATMs
- 72 ATMs loaded with fit and new notes are made available in 48 locations island wide
- Available from 14 January 2025 to 27 January 2025 (10am to 10pm), and on the 28 January 2025 (10am to 1pm)
- Each customer is limited to three withdrawals throughout this period.
- Customers will be able to withdraw new notes in sums of:
- S$100 (S$2 x 50)
- S$300 (S$10 x 30)
- S$500 (S$50 x 10)
- S$600 (S$10 x 20 + S$50 x 8)
- Check the waiting time and locations of these pop-up ATMs and self-service touchpoints here.
- For more information on the pop-up ATMs, you can check the FAQs here.
UOB Lunar New Year (LNY) Machines
- 4 Fit-for-Gifting Notes ATMs and 17 New Notes ATMs locations
- Available from 14 January to 27 January 2025 during machine operating hours (various starting time but all ends at 7:00pm)
- OCBC customers would not be able to withdraw new notes from these UOB LNY machines
- Each customer is limited to a maximum of two new notes withdrawals per ATM/Debit card daily on a first come, first served basis and subject to availability
- Customers may withdraw up to a maximum of S$1,600, in 4 available options as follows:
- S$100 (S$2 x 50)
- S$300 (S$10 x 30)
- S$800 (S$50 x 16)
- S$800 (S$10 x 30 + S$50 x 10)
- Check the locations, notes availability, and FAQs of the UOB LNY machines here.
OCBC CNY Bundles ATMs
- 10 New Notes & 3 Fit Notes CNY Bundle ATMs located across the island
- Available from 14 January to 27 January 2025 from 10:30am to 7:00pm for all locations except OCBC Centre. CNY Popup ATM at OCBC Centre operates from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
- UOB customers would not be able to withdraw new notes from these CNY Bundle ATMs
- Customers may withdraw up to a maximum of S$1,800, in 4 available bundles as follows:
- S$100 (S$2 x 50) – Prosperity (兴旺) bundle
- S$500 (S$10 x 50) – Abundance (丰富) bundle
- S$500 (S$50 x 10) – Luck (幸运) bundle
- S$900 (S$10 x 40 + S$50 x 10) – Success (胜利) bundle
- Each customer is limited to a maximum of one bundle per withdrawal and maximum of two withdrawals (ATM/Debit/Credit card or app combined) on a first come, first served basis and subject to availability
- Check the locations, notes availability, and FAQs of the OCBC CNY ATMs here.
How to reserve new notes online?
You can also make an online reservation (or pre-booking) for new notes from 7 January 2025 this CNY 2025. By reserving the notes online, you can pick your preferred timing and avoid the long queues at the branches or ATMs. Check out how you can pre-book your slot below:
- DBS / POSB
- DBS/POSB CNY new notes reservation website
- Customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$800 for new notes with the following denomination options:
- S$2 notes – Value of S$0, S$200, S$400
- S$10 notes – Value of S$0, S$100, S$200, S$300, S$400, S$500
- S$50 notes – Value of S$0, S$100, S$200, S$300, S$400, S$500
- Customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$1,400 for Fit-for-Gifting notes with the following denomination options:
- S$2 notes – Value of S$0, S$200, S$400, S$600, S$800
- S$10 notes – Value of S$0, S$100, S$200, S$300, S$400, S$500
- S$50 notes – Value of S$0, S$100, S$200, S$300, S$400, S$500
Booking Window #1: 7 to 12 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 to 20 January 2025
Booking Window #2: 13 to 19 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 21 to 27 January 2025
- UOB
- UOB CNY new notes reservation website
- Customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$800 new notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$10 notes – Multiples of S$100 | Limited to S$300
- S$50 notes – Multiples of S$100 | Limited to S$300
- Customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$1,400 fit notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$10 notes – Multiples of S$100 | Limited to S$600
- S$50 notes – Multiples of S$100 | Limited to S$600
- Booking Window #1:
From 7 January 2025 until slots are filled(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 to 20 January 2025
- Booking Window #2: From 14 January 2025 until slots are filled (Fully Booked)
- Collection Period: 21 to 27 January 2025
- OCBC
- OCBC CNY new notes reservation website
- Personal banking customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$800 new notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$300
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$800
- Personal banking customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$1,600 fit notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$400
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$600
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$1,600
- Booking Window #1:
7 to 10 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 to 21 January 2025
- Booking Window #2:
14 to 17 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 22 to 27 January 2025
- Standard Chartered Bank
- Standard Chartered (SC) new notes reservation site
- Customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$800 new notes from the following denominations:
- S$2 notes – Multiples of S$200
- S$5 notes – Limited to S$100
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$300
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$200
- Booking Window:
7 to 10 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 January to 27 January 2025
- Note: Booking opens at 12:00am on 7 January 2025.
- Maybank
- Maybank CNY new notes reservation website
- Customers may exchange 1 Lunar New Year Fortune Bundle of new notes with a total value of S$1,200. Each bundle comprises of the following denominations:
- S$2 notes – 100 pieces
- S$10 notes – 100 pieces
- Booking Window #1:
7 January 2025, 9:00am to 13 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 January to 27 January 2025
- Booking Window #2:
14 January 2025, 9:00am to 20 January 2025(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 January to 27 January 2025
- CIMB
- CIMB CNY new notes reservation website
- Personal banking customers may reserve new notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$5 notes – Limited to S$100
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$400
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$300
- Preferred banking customers may reserve new notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$400
- S$5 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$800
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$1,000
- Booking Window #1:
From 7 January 2025, 9:00am until slots are filled(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 14 January to 20 January 2025
- Booking Window #2:
From 14 January 2025, 9:00am until slots are filled(Fully Booked)- Collection Period: 21 January to 28 January 2025
