actually need a Singapore bank a/c to credit my SREIT dividend(been losing too much money to CIMB admin fees lol $10/quarter).so it seems if you say you are interested in opening a Securities A/c,they will allow to open a bank a/c?
any minimum deposit?

yes im on cimb itrade sgd nominee a/c.i once asked Hong Leong Investment how much is their charge and its SGD6 + RM$10(not much of a difference)
yes you are correct,nominee a/c there will be sgd10 charge
so i am looking at the possibility of opening my own bank a/c in singapore,as well as a direct trading a/c and transfer over my current shares with CIMB to my own direct trading a/c(one time transfer fee applicable though $10.70 per 1000 shares but still better than $40 go to CIMB every year)

currently looking whether its possible to open an OCBC account.i went to Singapore few months back,only enquired at Standard Chartered but not OCBC

I think it would be doable since my uncle told me he went SIngapore, managed to exchange old currency notes with banks in Singapore for new currency. He didn't mention which currency. Another alternative is as below. V
To prevent IB from charging us the USD10, can use IB to buy S-REITS provided that the commission they earned is enough to offset the USD10/month. But I am not sure about whether the stocks will be under custodian account or under our own account.

I understand about the spread. But if it can give better rates than Moneychanger (in SG/MY), it won't be much of a problem. Try asking AVFAN and rjb123 regarding the exchange rate. Is it worth it or not or is it better to direct bank in.

Do share with us what bank after you have tested. 

If an institution allows direct bank-in of foreign currency notes without charges, then you control the spread. When you control the spread. a whole new world of currency exchange tactic opens up to you in terms of which currency you wish to use, where to exchange, and another factor ! From my experiments and experience, if I control the spread, I stand to gain all and nothing to lose.

Yes bro,... 

Does IB allow banking-in and withdrawal of foreign currency notes, eg the USDs without charging 1% ?