How to exchange new notes for Chinese New Year in 2026?
Exchanging new banknotes ahead of Chinese New Year is a long-standing tradition in Singapore and other Chinese communities. Freshly printed notes are carefully placed into red packets (Hong Bao in Mandarin or Ang Bao in the Hokkien dialect) and given by elders to the younger generation as a symbol of good luck and blessings during the festive season. Beyond Chinese New Year, red packets are also commonly presented on special occasions such as weddings, baby showers, and birthdays as tokens of good wishes.
In recent years, banks have introduced more convenient options for exchanging banknotes. Gone are the days when elders had to queue at bank branches two to three weeks before the Lunar New Year just to obtain new notes in smaller denominations such as S$2, S$10 and S$50.
For Chinese New Year 2026, in addition to newly printed notes, fit-for-gifting notes will be available under the notes exchange service. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and wastage. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to use these clean, good-quality notes as a more sustainable option for festive gifting.
Below is a summary of the details and policies for each available option for CNY 2026:
Can I walk-in to change new notes at bank branches?
According to guidance issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), walk-in exchanges for new banknotes at selected DBS, POSB, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered, and CIMB branches are available only to customers aged 60 and above, as well as persons with disabilities. All other customers at these banks are required to make an online reservation before collecting their notes.
DBS / POSB
Eligible DBS / POSB customers (limited to senior citizens aged 60 and above and persons with disabilities) may walk in to any of the 30 branches listed below to exchange new banknotes without a prior reservation during the following periods:
- 3 – 14 February 2026: During regular branch opening hours
- 16 February 2026 (CNY Eve): From branch opening hours until 1:00pm
- 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) can visit any UOB branch during branch operating hours from 3 – 14 February 2026 to exchange new banknotes without a prior reservation. Please note that stocks are limited at each branch, and exchanges are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.
OCBC
Eligible OCBC customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities) can visit any OCBC branch during branch operating hours from 3 – 16 February 2026 to exchange new banknotes without a prior reservation. Stocks are limited at each branch, and exchanges are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
CIMB Bank
Eligible CIMB customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities) can visit CIMB Raffles Place Branch from 3 February 2026 during branch operating hours to exchange new banknotes without a prior reservation. Please note that stocks are limited, and exchanges are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to freshly minted notes, all CIMB customers can also visit the branch to exchange for fit-for-gifting notes without prior reservations.
Standard Chartered Bank
Eligible Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) customers (senior citizens aged 60 and above & persons with disabilities) can visit any SCB branch during branch operating hours from 3 February 2026 to exchange new banknotes without a prior reservation. Stocks are limited at each branch, and exchanges are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other than brand-new notes, all SCB customers can also visit any branch to exchange for fit notes without prior reservations.
Other banks offering walk-in CNY new notes exchange service
While walk-in CNY new note exchanges at DBS, OCBC, UOB, CIMB, and Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) are limited to eligible customers, there are no such 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 ATMs in Singapore?
Apart from POSB / DBS’s Bank Teller Machines (BTMs) where new notes can be exchanged throughout the year, you can also obtain new notes from DBS/POSB pop-up ATMs and selected UOB and OCBC ATMs starting 3 February 2026 (Tuesday) for Chinese New Year (CNY). No pre-booking or online reservation is required to withdraw new notes from these machines.
Based on previous years’ experience, long queues are expected at these CNY ATMs. Customers are advised to check queue status and note availability before visiting.
DBS / POSB Pop-up ATMs
- 54 pop-up ATMs loaded with new notes and 17 pop-up ATMs with fit notes are available at 47 locations islandwide
- Available from 3 – 15 February 2026 (10:00am to 10:00pm), and on CNY Eve, 16 February 2026 (10:00am to 1:00pm)
- Each customer is limited to three withdrawals throughout this period.
- Customers will be able to withdraw new notes / fit 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 3 – 15 February 2026 during machine operating hours. Start times vary, but all ATMs close at 7:00pm.
- OCBC customers cannot withdraw new notes from these UOB LNY machines
- Each customer is limited to a maximum of three withdrawals during the 13-day period.
- Customers may withdraw up to a maximum of S$2,400, available in 4 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 & 4 Fit Notes CNY Bundle ATMs located across the island
- Available from 3 – 15 February 2026, 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 cannot withdraw new notes from these CNY Bundle ATMs
- Customers may withdraw up to a maximum of S$1,800 worth of new or fit notes, 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 one bundle per withdrawal, with a maximum of two withdrawals in total (combined across ATM, debit/credit card, or app). Exchanges are 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?
- DBS / POSB
- DBS/POSB CNY new notes reservation website (Prepare your ATM, Credit or Debit Card for verification)
- 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: (Fully Booked)
From 27 January 2026 (Tuesday), 12:00am- Collection Period: 3 – 6 February 2026 (Tuesday – Friday)
- Booking Window #2: (Fully Booked)
From 2 February 2026 (Monday), 12:00am- Collection Period: 9 – 13 February 2026 (Monday – Friday)
- 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: (Fully Booked)
From 27 January 2026 (Tuesday), 12:00am- Collection Period: 3 – 9 February 2026 (Tuesday – Monday)
- Booking Window #2: (Fully Booked)
From 3 February 2026 (Tuesday), 12:00am- Collection Period: 10 – 14 February 2026 (Tuesday – Saturday)
- 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 – Multiples of S$200 | 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$800
- Personal banking customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$2,800 fit notes with the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Multiples of S$200 | Limited to S$800
- S$10 notes – Multiples of S$100 | Limited to S$1,000
- S$50 notes – Multiples of S$100 | Limited to S$1,000
- Premier Banking and Premier Private clients are entitled to higher limits for both new notes and fit-for-gifting notes.
- Booking Window #1: (Fully Booked)
27 January 2026 (Tuesday), 8:00am – 29 January 2026 (Thursday), 11:59pm- Collection Period: 3 – 9 February 2026 (Tuesday – Monday)
- Booking Window #2: (Fully Booked)
3 February 2026 (Tuesday), 8:00am – 5 February 2026 (Thursday), 11:59pm- Collection Period: 10 – 15 February 2026 (Tuesday – Sunday)
- Standard Chartered Bank
- Standard Chartered (SC) new notes reservation site
- Customers may reserve up to a combined value of S$1,000 new notes from the following denominations:
- S$2 notes – Multiples of S$200 | Limited to S$200
- S$5 notes – Limited to S$100
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$500
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$200
- Customers can also choose to reserve a S$2,200 fit-for-gifting notes bundle as follows:
- S$200 (S$2 x 100)
- S$1,000 (S$10 x 100)
- S$1,000 (S$50 x 20)
- Booking Window: (Fully Booked)
From 27 January 2026 (Tuesday), 12:00am- Collection Period: 3 – 15 February 2026 (Tuesday – Sunday)
- CIMB
- CIMB CNY new notes reservation website
- Personal banking customers may reserve new notes, subject to the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$5 notes – Limited to S$100
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$300
- Preferred banking customers may reserve new notes, subject to the following denomination limits:
- S$2 notes – Limited to S$400
- S$5 notes – Limited to S$200
- S$10 notes – Limited to S$600
- S$50 notes – Limited to S$1,000
- Booking Window #1: (Fully Booked)
27 January 2026 (Tuesday), 9:00am- Collection Period: 3 – 9 February 2026 (Tuesday – Monday)
- Booking Window #2: (Fully Booked)
3 February 2026 (Tuesday), 9:00am- Collection Period: 10 – 16 February 2026 (Tuesday – Monday)
- 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$800. Each bundle comprises of the following denominations:
- S$200 (S$2 x 100)
- S$600 (S$10 x 60)
- Booking Window #1: (Fully Booked)
From 27 January 2026 (Tuesday), 9:00am to 2 February 2026 (Monday)- Collection Period: 3 – 15 February 2026 (Tuesday – Sunday)
- Booking Window #2: (Fully Booked)
From 3 February 2026 (Tuesday), 9:00am to 9 February 2026 (Monday)- Collection Period: 3 – 15 February 2026 (Tuesday – Sunday)
