Receiving angbaos every CNY is fun, but giving them is a different kind of stress. If you’ve officially “graduated” from collecting red packets and are now on the giving end, we have an angbao guide to help you decide how much to give. But we all know, the real struggle is getting your hands on notes to fill those red packets with.
So we’ve done the legwork for you, breaking down how to book and collect both fit and new notes – especially handy if this is your first year handing out CNY angbaos.
Table of Contents
Image credit: Atlas Handcrafted
Fit notes are notes that aren’t brand new, but are still acceptable for angbao-giving. They’ve been strongly encouraged in recent years, since printing fresh notes creates unnecessary carbon emissions.
To put things into perspective, around 90 to 100 million new notes are issued every year for festive gifting, but most of them only get used once before being returned. When these returned notes exceed replacement needs, the extras are destroyed, which only adds to the carbon footprint.
So even though fit notes might come with a fold line or two, or the occasional stain, they aren’t anything that makes them paiseh to give. And honestly, we’re not about to reject money just because it isn’t pristine. Cash is still cash.
Turns out, many people feel the same way. A 2025 survey by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) found that 2 in 3 people didn’t mind receiving fit notes – rest assured that you won’t be alone if you decide to go the more eco-friendly route this CNY.
For some, and especially the older generation, the practice comes down to CNY tradition. Crisp, new notes symbolise a fresh start, and are believed to usher in good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead.
We say you do you – whether you’re team new notes or fit notes, it’s all still part of the festive spirit. But if you can, doing a small part for the planet by opting for fit notes is always a win in our books.
Mark your calendar – it’s almost time to stock up on notes for your angbaos.
Image credit: @thesmartlocalsg via Instagram
Pre-booking starts from 27th January 2026. DBS, OCBC, UOB, and Standard Chartered customers can reserve both new and fit notes. Take note that Maybank Singapore and CIMB Singapore only allow pre-bookings for new notes.
Here’s a breakdown of the online reservation dates and collection period for different banks:
| Bank | Online reservation date & time | Collection period | Fit notes | New notes | Where to book |
| DBS | 27th Jan 2026, 12am | 3rd-6th Feb 2026 | Yes | Yes | DBS website |
| 2nd Feb 2026, 12am | 9th-13th Feb 2026 | ||||
| OCBC | 27th Jan 2026, 8am – 29th Jan 2026, 11.59pm | 3rd-9th Feb 2026 | Yes | Yes | OCBC website |
| 3rd Feb 2026, 8am – 5th Feb 2026, 11.59pm | 10th-15th Feb 2026 | ||||
| UOB | 27th Jan 2026 | 3rd-9th Feb 2026 | Yes | Yes | UOB website |
| 3rd Feb 2026 | 10th-14th Feb 2026 | ||||
| Standard Chartered | 27th Jan 2026, 12am | 3rd-15th Feb 2026 | Yes | Yes | Standard Chartered website |
| Maybank Singapore | 27th Jan 2026, 9am | 3rd-14th Feb 2026 | No | Yes | Maybank2u Online Banking |
| CIMB Singapore | 27th Jan 2026, 9am | 3rd-9th Feb 2026 | No | Yes | CIMB Singapore website through the EVA chatbot |
| 3rd Feb 2026, 9am | 10th-16th Feb 2026 |
For the rest of the banks in Singapore, there’s no online pre-booking for either fit or new notes. As for walk-in exchanges, most banks do allow them, with a few exceptions.
There will also be pop-up or selected ATMs where you’ll be able to withdraw new and/or fit notes. We’ll get into those below.
Image credit: marcus woon via Google Maps
If you’ve pre-booked your notes online with any of the banks mentioned above, just head down to the branch you selected during booking for collection. Make sure you go on your assigned date and time slot – this helps keep queues short and the entire process smoother.
Some banks will roll out pop-up ATMs or designate selected ATMs where you can withdraw fit and/or new notes. These are usually set up closer to CNY, and it’s a convenient option if you didn’t manage to snag an online booking.
Here’s when to swing by:
| Bank | Withdrawal period | Operating hours | Fit notes | New notes | Locations |
| DBS | 3rd-15th Feb 2026 | 10am-10pm | 17 pop-up ATMs | 54 pop-up ATMs | DBS pop-up ATMs |
| 16th Feb 2026 | 10am-1pm | ||||
| OCBC | 3rd-15th Feb 2026 | OCBC Centre Branch: 9am-6pm All other locations: 10.30am-7pm | 4 ATM locations | 10 ATM locations | OCBC selected ATMs |
| UOB | 3rd-15th Feb 2026 | For fit notes: 9am-7pm For new notes: Varying timings at different locations | 4 ATM locations | 17 ATM locations | UOB selected ATMs |
Beyond these banks, Standard Chartered and Citibank will also offer fit notes at selected ATMs – you don’t need a prior reservation to walk in to one of the branches to get fit notes.
Image credit: Flo Yeow via Google Maps
Many other banks in Singapore still allow walk-in exchanges for those who prefer the old-school way of taking a queue number and heading to the counter to exchange cash. But take note that walk-in exchanges are subject to availability.
Furthermore, most major banks like DBS, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered, and CIMB Singapore are only opening their counters to customers aged 60 and above, as well as persons with disabilities. This move is meant to make it easier for the elderly and more vulnerable groups to get their fit or new notes for CNY.
Don’t fight them for a queue number – just pre-book online if you can, or head to one of the selected ATMs to get your notes instead.
To keep things straightforward, we’ll be covering the major banks that offer pre-booking and ATM withdrawals in this section.
For DBS customers, fit notes are capped at $1,400, while new notes are limited to $800.
| Type of notes | Denominations |
| Fit notes | $2 |
| $10 | |
| $50 | |
| New notes | $2 |
| $10 | |
| $50 |
Image credit: DBS Bank
Each customer is limited to 3 withdrawals of fit and/or new notes at DBS pop-up ATMs. These ATMs dispense $2, $10, and $50 notes in the following options:
| Options | Amount | Denominations |
| 1 | $100 | $2 x 50 pcs |
| 2 | $300 | $10 x 30 pcs |
| 3 | $500 | $50 x 10 pcs |
| 4 | $600 | $10 x 20 pcs $50 x 8 pcs |
Screenshot from: OCBC
OCBC offers the same denominations across the board – $2, $10, and $50 – but the amount you can reserve varies.
| Type of customer | Denominations | Limit for fit notes | Limit for new notes |
| Personal Banking | $2 | $800 | $200 |
| $10 | $1,000 | $300 | |
| $50 | $1,000 | $800 | |
| Maximum amount for each customer | $2,800 | $800 | |
| Premier Banking | $2 | $2,000 | $400 |
| $10 | $5,000 | $1,000 | |
| $50 | $25,000 | $5,000 | |
| Maximum amount for each customer | $32,000 | $6,400 | |
| Premier Private | $2 | $2,000 | $600 |
| $10 | $10,000 | $2,000 | |
| $50 | $50,000 | $10,000 | |
| Maximum amount for each customer | $62,000 | $12,600 | |
BTW, if you happen to be a Premier Private client, you can opt to collect your notes at any Premier Banking Centre, instead of being limited to a Premier Private Client Centre.
Image credit: Isaac Wong Jun Yi (Bpghs) via Google Maps
Head to selected OCBC ATMs to withdraw up to $1,800 worth of fit or new notes per customer. There are 4 options available:
| Options | Amount | Denominations |
| Prosperity Bundle | $100 | $2 x 50 pcs |
| Abundance Bundle | $500 | $10 x 50 pcs |
| Luck Bundle | $500 | $50 x 10 pcs |
| Success Bundle | $900 | $10 x 40 pcs $50 x 10 pcs |
Screenshot from: UOB
UOB customers can reserve new notes capped at $800, and fit notes capped at $1,400 per person.
| Type of notes | Denominations |
| Fit notes | $2 |
| $10 | |
| $50 | |
| New notes | $2 |
| $10 | |
| $50 |
Image credit: H P Lim via Google Maps
You’ll be able to make a maximum of 3 withdrawals at selected UOB ATMs.
| Options | Amount | Denominations |
| 1 | $100 | $2 x 50 pcs |
| 2 | $300 | $10 x 30 pcs |
| 3 | $800 | $50 x 16 pcs |
| 4 | $800 | $10 x 30 pcs $50 x 10 pcs |
Screenshot from: Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered offers different denominations for fit and new notes when you make an online reservation.
For new notes:
| Type of notes | Denominations | Maximum amount |
| New notes | $2 | $200 |
| $5 | $100 | |
| $10 | $500 | |
| $50 | $200 | |
| Per customer | $1,000 | |
For fit notes:
| Type of notes | Denominations | Bundles |
| Fit notes | $2 | $2 x 100 pcs |
| $10 | $10 x 100 pcs | |
| $50 | $50 x 20 pcs | |
| Per customer | $2,200 | |
Note that only $5 new notes are available, so if you’re set on stuffing your angbaos with those green notes, new ones are your only option.
Screenshot from: Maybank
Each Maybank customer can reserve 1 Lunar New Year Fortune Bundle online.
| Denominations | Amount | Total value |
| $2 | $2 x 100 pcs | $800 |
| $10 | $10 x 60 pcs |
Image credit: Xin Hao via Google Maps
New $2 and $10 notes are limited to customers aged 60 and above, as well as persons with disabilities. If you don’t fall under these categories, you can still exchange new $5 and $50 notes, along with fit $2 and $10 notes instead.
Walk-in exchanges are subject to availability, so it’s best to go early if you’re planning to try your luck. That said, the 1st operating hour of each branch is set aside for elderly customers aged 60 and above and customers with disabilities.
| Denominations | Exchange limit | Maximum amount for each customer |
| $2 | Up to $200 | $800 |
| $10 | Up to $300 | |
| $5 or $50 | Up to $800 |
CIMB Singapore offers the same denominations across the board, but the amount you can reserve varies.
| Type of customer | Denominations | Maximum amount |
| Personal Banking | $2 | $200 |
| $5 | $100 | |
| $10 | $200 | |
| $50 | $300 | |
| Preferred Banking | $2 | $400 |
| $5 | $200 | |
| $10 | $600 | |
| $50 | $1,000 |
Image credit: DBS Bank
If dealing with notes feels like too much of a hassle, there are cashless alternatives. Many banks now offer QR angbaos and e-gift options, letting you send money digitally without the mad rush for physical notes.
For example, DBS lets you choose between gifting a physical QR angbao or sending a personalised digital red packet via eGift. Those keen on the QR angbao route can request one at any DBS/POSB branch.
You’ll see more banks actively encouraging these cashless options – some even sweeten the deal with cash prizes or freebies when you use them. These alternatives are also perfect for serial procrastinators or anyone who’s left their angbao prep to the very last minute. We know some of you are guilty of that.
Are you Team Crisp or Team Fit? Either way, your recipients will appreciate the thought, so don’t sweat it. Instead, focus on the practical stuff, such as planning which option works best for you by checking collection dates and ATM locations.
More CNY guides:
Cover image adapted from: DBS Bank
Make life easier by planning for your CNY angbaos stat.
Don’t miss the 40th anniversary special exhibition.
Here are all the best things to do this weekend in Singapore.
Featuring hacks like daily discounts and free shopping bags.
Add a scoop of cuteness to the Huat vibes this CNY.
North side cool side.