SINGAPORE - DBS Bank customers looking to spread the festive joy by giving out digital red packets are reminded that each QR gift card can be used only once, and can be cancelled via the PayLah! app if it is misplaced after it is loaded with money.

DBS QR gift cards are physical gift cards that can replace traditional red packets, or hongbao, and allow users to scan a QR code to load cash. Non-DBS customers can also receive the QR gift as long as they have registered for PayNow.

Customers can obtain these gift cards at any DBS or POSB branch, and should avoid scanning those that look tampered with or are from unknown sources, said the bank.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the bank said those giving the QR gift cards this Chinese New Year season can load the card with money through the PayLah! app.

Recipients can redeem the cash by using the app to scan the QR code. They can also redeem it through their PayNow-linked account via Singpass, using the phone camera app.

Recycle red packets

DBS also said it was increasing its efforts to recycle physical red packets, given “the growing momentum of digital gifting”.

It noted that in 2023, it collected 4,300kg of packets through its annual festive packet recycling initiative. The amount is twice the volume collected in 2021, when the initiative was launched.

In 2024, more than 40 recycling bins have been placed at all DBS or POSB full-service branches and at selected self-service branches so far, a 30 per cent increase from 2023.

These bins are available year-round, and collect packets given during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and weddings. The packets are then sent to Tay Paper Recycling to be recycled or repurposed into paper products.

Earlier in 2024, seniors from Lions Befrienders and the bank’s volunteers helped to assemble a 2.5m-tall art piece made of 8,500 recycled packets collected from the recycling initiative.