In celebration of Avurudu this year HNB PLC announced the launch of the ‘Singithi Jumbo
Avurudu’ campaign for its minor savers, with a wide range of exciting presents and gift
vouchers.
Commencing from the 23rd of March until the 30th of April 2021, HNB is offering an array of
benefits for all HNB Singithi and Teen account holders below 16 years of age.
“We’re extremely pleased to share the joy of Avurudu by supplementing our Singithi Savings
scheme for our young savers. With these promotions, we’re able to encourage the youth on
their path towards a financially secure future, while providing exciting gifts that will boost their
academic journey. In the coming years, we’re hoping to look at expanding the scope of these
schemes so we can continue supporting our young savers,” HNB Head of Deposits Viranga
Gamage said.
In addition to encouraging the continuous academic progress of Singithi account holders, the
bank also provides an exciting array of gifts for its young savers. These range from items
such as pen-holders and caps for deposits of Rs. 5,000, to umbrellas or school bags for
deposits of Rs. 10,000, to a whiteboard fully equipped with accessories for deposits of Rs.
25,000.
Additionally, Singithi savers who make deposits of Rs. 50,000 will receive either a sports bag
or a voucher worth Rs. 1,500. HNB will also provide Singithi account holders with vouchers
valued at Rs. 5,000 for deposits of Rs. 100,000, and Rs. 20,000 for deposits of Rs. 500,000.
The vouchers can be redeemed at outlets of any of HNB’s partner merchants, including
Abans, Arpico Supercentre, DSI, Mallika Hemachandra Jewellers, Nithyakalyani Jewellery,
Stone ‘N’ String, Sarasavi Bookshop, Vijitha Yapa, and Zuzi.
In this manner, the bank aims to enhance financial literacy among Sri Lanka’s youth and
provide the next generation with valuable gifts and a sense of responsibility for their savings
accounts, which in turn will guarantee a stable and robust foundation for a bright future.
As the first to introduce a branded minor savings account in 1991, HNB is committed to
protecting the interests of Singithi account holders. Consequently, working in partnership
with HNB Assurance, the bank launched a special insurance scheme which will operate on
standing orders issued from parents for Singithi and Teen savings accounts.
Notably, parents are only required to set up a standing order between a minimum of Rs.
1000 – Rs. 25,000 to avail themselves of the insurance facility, and no additional premium
will be charged. Encouraging parents to establish consistent funding for their children’s
savings accounts, the insurance scheme will guarantee that in the event of a parent’s
demise – either a natural or accidental death – HNB will continue to fund monthly standing
order to the child’s account. Customers with standing orders up to the value of Rs. 25,000
are eligible to receive this benefit from HNB free-of-charge.
In addition, since the inception of the Singithi account, HNB has embarked on numerous
initiatives to encourage a savings habit among the student population by linking consistent
saving to tangible rewards for the youth.
Along this vein, the Diru Daru scholarship programme was introduced to provide Singithi
savers who passed the Grade 5 scholarship examination with cash prizes. The largest fund
of its kind offered by any Sri Lankan bank, Diru Daru scholarships are also offered to GCE
and London O/L and A/L students with Singithi accounts if account balances are maintained
within a certain threshold. To be eligible for the scholarship, parents can open a Singithi
Lama/HNB Teen account with a minimum deposit of Rs. 500.
HNB is a pioneer in minor savings, offering a comprehensive range of services designed to
provide the most value to its youngest customers. The Singithi Kirikatiyo Account is
designed for new-born children and can be opened by parents within three months from the
child’s date of birth. The account offers one of the highest interest rates and will gift a free
deposit of Rs. 1,000 at the time of opening. Additionally, Kirikatiyo account holders will be
entitled to special gifts on their birthday relative to the balance maintained in their accounts.
On reaching the age of five years, the account will be automatically converted to an HNB
Singithi Lama account and then into an HNB Teen account at the age of 12+.
With 252 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most
technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to
drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. Over the recent past, the bank was ranked
among the World Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker
Magazine. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.
HNB was also declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance
Awards 2020, in addition to winning the coveted Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 11th
time at the Asian Banker Awards 2020, in recognition of its sustainable growth and
continuous improvements in processes, products and services amidst a challenging
macroeconomic environment.