SINGAPORE, 2 November 2020 – Amid the Covid-19 safe distancing measures, those celebrating Deepavali can choose DBS’ digital option of gifting Deepavali packets and exchanging well wishes with loved ones, even if they cannot gather in large groups.

Hosted on DBS PayLah!, one of Singapore’s most popular mobile payment platforms with close to 1.8 million users, DBS eGift is a digital alternative to traditional gifting. To send an eGift, users simply need to tap on the eGift icon or ‘Pay’ button on DBS PayLah!’s dashboard, and enter their desired amount. Users can also add a personal touch by including a message and choosing their preferred sticker from the eGift sticker pack, which includes new festive Deepavali-themed designs.

Before tapping on the ‘Send an eGift’ button, customers are reminded to check that they are sending the eGift to official mobile numbers tagged to the recipients’ DBS PayLah! and/or PayNow^[1] accounts.

Said Jeremy Soo, Managing Director and Head of Consumer Banking Group (Singapore), DBS Bank, “The Festival of Lights is a joyous celebration of Hindu culture, and a time when family and friends would come together to celebrate. Whilst large group festivities won’t be possible this year, we hope the DBS eGift will help keep the meaningful tradition of exchanging Deepavali packets alive, and bridge the physical distance by enabling users to still share warmth and goodwill with their loved ones, in a safe and convenient manner.”

DBS PayLah! eGift Contest: Top 200 users stand to win cash prize

For the week of 14 to 20 November 2020, users who successfully send or receive a DBS eGift will be eligible to participate in the DBS PayLah! eGift contest.

A cash prize of SGD 18 will be awarded to the top 200 users who perform the highest number of qualifying transactions by the end of the week. A qualifying transaction is at least SGD 2 in value, and defined as a successful DBS PayLah! eGift transaction between a unique giver-receiver pair (i.e. multiple transactions between the same giver-receiver pair are counted as one transaction).

The DBS eGift was the first-of-its-kind in Singapore when launched in 2015, and has since gained strong traction amongst the community. Users are also increasingly comfortable with sending higher amounts of money digitally, with the average monetary value of DBS eGifts rising 32% year-on-year as of September 2020. Beyond cultural festivities such as Deepavali, DBS eGift can also be sent all-year round as well wishes for other meaningful occasions, such as birthdays and weddings. For more details, visit: go.dbs.com/sg-eGift.

^[1] PayNow is a peer-to-peer funds transfer service available to retail customers of nine participating banks in Singapore, including DBS/POSB. Launched in July 2017, PayNow enables customers to instantly send and receive Singapore Dollar funds from one bank to another in Singapore through FAST by using their mobile number or Singapore NRIC/FIN. This allows senders to do away with the recipient’s bank and account number when transferring money.  More information here: https://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/deposits/pay-with-ease/paynow