GSB offers cars to lucky winners of its draw
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) is offering depositors cars as rewards, partly to discourage people from buying underground lottery tickets, its director-general Goanpot Asavinvichit said yesterday.
Those who buy a premium saving certificate (PSC), or a lottery-saving ticket, between December 12 and January 20, have a chance to win a new Toyota Camry 2.4 G. Three cars are on offer, valued at Bt1.5 million apiece. The GSB plans to mobilise Bt10 billion from the latest campaign. "The cars are a special offer from the bank and we also aim to attract customers who may be tempted to buy into the underground lottery," said Goanpot. The Finance Ministry has suspended sales of the controversial two- and three-digit lotteries as it plans to amend the Lottery Act. The lotteries were very popular, and succeeded in encouraging a shift from the underground lottery. But the recent suspension is expected to be a boon for the latter. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula has said the former Thaksin Shinawatra government had violated the law because it issued new types of lotteries without the proper legal consent. Goanpot said his latest products would partly substitute for two- and three-digit lotteries. Depositors who buy the PSC will know whether they have won a car on February 20. They could also win a first prize worth Bt10 million. Altogether, prizes are worth Bt245 million over a three-year period. Depositors have to deposit at least Bt50. PSC holders have to leave their money for three years to get back full principal plus interest, at Bt54.25 a unit. Those who deposit at least Bt500,000 will get a return of 3.53 per cent annually. However, a depositor withdrawing within one year of depositing will get back only Bt48 per unit of principal. They will get back Bt48.50 when withdrawing within two years of the deposit, and Bt49 within three years. The GSB will offer 35 rounds of lottery-drawing during a three-year deposit, with total prizes worth Bt245million. With outstanding PSCs worth Bt150 billion, the latest products would bring in additional funds worth Bt10 billion, he said. New GSB ending this year is estimated to be about Bt110 billion to Bt120 billion, or 9 per cent up from last year. Goanpot targets new lending of Bt140 billion for next year. Wichit Chaitrong The Nation
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