Most of the banks and mobile financial services are going to offer a bundle of packages and discounts for shoppers to net in new clients on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh.
The mega packages on the use of credit or debit cards include discounts, cashback, buy-one-get-one-free offer on fashion and lifestyle brands and foods at restaurants ahead of the Bangla New Year, which falls on April 14.
From the first day of April, most of the banks are offering discounts ranging from 10% to 60% on shopping with their credit and debit cards.
Mutual Trust Bank is offering up to 40% price cut for credit cardholders at 40 popular fashion stores and buy-one-get-one-free buffet offer at 30 hotels and restaurants. The offer is valid until April 14.
“We are offering various packages and discounts every year ahead of Pohela Boishakh as well as others festivities to promote digital banking,” Mohammad Anwar Hossain, head of the card division of Mutual Trust Bank, told to the Dhaka Tribune.
City Bank has the highest number of credit card clients — one million (credit and debit) — in the country.
Masudul Haque Bhuian, head of cards division of City Bank, says that like every year City Bank has an array of offers for its American Express card members.
The Pohela Boishakh campaign features exclusive savings at prominent retail outlets, dining, online shops and buy-one-get-one-free buffet offers till April 15, 2019.
City Bank American Express Card members will enjoy up to 35% savings at 40+ retail merchants, up to 20% savings at 30+ dining outlets and up to 20% savings at 9 e-commerce sites of Bangladesh, he details.
The bank’s clients will enjoy buy-one-get-one-free offers at nine top restaurants.
Prime Bank is offering buy-one-get-one-free buffet offers at 7 top restaurants, 10% price cut at 13 restaurants and 10% to 20% discount at 24 lifestyle brands till 14 April.
Southeast Bank is offering up to 60% price cut for credit cardholders at 34 popular fashion house and buy-one-get-one-free free buffet offer at eight hotels and restaurants.
The bank also offers 10% cashback available on April 5, 12 and 14 in super shops, says Abdus Sabur Khan, head of the card division of Southeast Bank.
Standard Chartered is offering 10% to 25% discount on purchases at a host of clothing, jewelry, perfume and shoe stores and beauty salons.
bKash, the largest mobile financial services provider in the country, is offering up to 20% cashback for its customers in the purchase of garments, jewelry, shoes, bags, house-making products and goods. The offer, which began on April 1, is valid until April 14.
According to the Bangladesh Bank latest data, the number of debit, credit and pre-paid cards increased by about 24%, compared to 2017. At the end of December 2018, the total number of cards stood at 1 crore 57 lakh. Of them, 1 crore 43 lakh are debit cards, 11 lakh 80 thousand credit cards and 2 lakh and 10 thousand pre-paid cards.
