Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and the note-changing frenzy has begun for some, and a new bank rule setting the maximum sum of money a customer can change has riled Chua Li Lian.

She had gone to a DBS branch to change new notes for the season, and the most she could change to get $2 denominations was set at $400.

“This is absolutely absurd,” seethed Li Lian as she needed to change more than $1 000.

She wonders how she can circumvent the situation.

“Does that mean I have to queue three to four rounds, with each queue taking about 30 minutes just to do so?

And the ATMs do not dispense $2 notes!”

Li Lian feels this should not be done, as she exclaims in her email:

“Come on, DBS, this is not the way to serve your customers!”

After checking with OCBC bank, was found that the same cap was put in place. Customers are able to change up to $400 worth of $2 notes, and no limit has been set for all other denominations.

Elsewhere at UOB, no cap has been put in place. However, the number of notes exchangable is up to the availability in each branch.

Last year, DBS allowed the change of $2 notes in multiples of $200, while OCBC placed a cap of $600 per customer.