Lunar line-up | Bangkok Post: business

Consumers, already in a cheerful mood for the Chinese New Year celebrations, will receive a further lift this year with special financial products and services being offered by local banks.

Banks are actively promoting special financial products, including deposit accounts with special interest rates to attract customers who want to give ang pao, a red envelope containing money, to family members.

In Chinese and Asian societies, the Lunar New Year is a festival of ancestor worship and family reunion. And ang pao is an important monetary gift presented at family gatherings. The amount of money in the red envelope usually ends with an even digit, especially lucky numbers 8 or 88.