Thanks Gen-X for the timely info.

I have found the OCBC promo link as follow. It says the 9-months FD is 3.8%. (But it is still good. )
http://www.ocbc.com.my/personal-banking/Pr...eal%20Deal.shtm

I will go for this as well.

Okay, here is my encounter with OCBC...
This morning, I withdrawn from SCB eSaver and headed to OCBC with the intention on 5% & 3.8% FD promo. (As it is the best combo so far.) The RM said they just got a new memo yesterday that combo promo is not allowed as per clause "4.3. This Promotion is not valid with any other promotion or other promotions as specified by OCBC Bank from time to time". I told some friends got it, she said at end Jan, the backend will revalidate and rectify accordingly.

So I left with option of 5% & 2.95% for 3-month which give effective 3.98% p.a. Of course she tried promoting some investment plan with 4.5% guaranteed returns but no uplift for the next 5-year. Hmm, this does not suit me.
At the end, I decided on 9-month 3.8% promo just to avoid the frequent "musical chair" spin.

When the RM brought up the form, I was surprise to see the 12-month 4.0% Real Deals promo!!!
I was like huh? Is this some kind of joke or what? This is NEW... I verified and confirmed it is the current promo. She says "Yes". Great! I know this is an Islamic product and based on indicative profit sharing concept. It is covered by PIDM. I have tried similar product in AmBank last year.

At the end I loaded all my fund onto this 12-month GIA-i for 4% p.a. Save me some energy to stare at the musical chair for the next 12 months. Of course I open multiple contracts just in case I uplift some as opportunity fund, there are interests paid as long as it is over 3-month. If not because of the RM took the wrong form, I din even know this existed.

I went home to search for this promo, but cant find it online. I scanned the form here for those who are interested.
 OCBC_GIA_i_Real_Deal_Q1_2012.pdf ( 1.66mb ) Number of downloads: 352

The pdf is only 2 page mah...
In fact the focus is at the top of page 1 that says:
3-month 3.6%
9-month 3.8%
12-month 4.00%.

No, no other bundle product required. I just opened the GIA-i acct only.

I happen to "sapu" back the brochure, I have scanned it here.  OCBC_Credit_Link_Strutured_Investment.pdf ( 136.22k ) Number of downloads: 37

The 5-year lock-in period does not fit my financial goal.

As mentioned in my earlier post, I have personnally tried similar product in AmBank in Dec 2010, where the AmBank Islamic having promo for 11-month tenure with indicative 3.321% p.a. (The calculation is based on 54:46 profit sharing, I work it out it is based on 6.15% being shared). I din know about Affin Bank 3.6% back then. Upon maturity in Nov 2011. I get exactly the mentioned interest at 3.321% p.a. no more no less. I was skeptical at first back then, but the AmBank teller told me that the Islamic products always having slighly higher rate than convensional products. (I remember seeing ronnie also pointed out the same a couple of page back). Due to this past experience, that's why I have the confidence in taking up the OCBC GIA-i product now. I had looked at Bank Rakyat 4.01%, but someone here said it is not really a bank and not covered by PIDM, and I had no prior experience with them before, hence I backed off. Now this OCBC GIA-i is covered PIDM, and I had FD with them before, so personally feel more confortable.

But, if transfer fund for new FD promo in another bank, most banks do not accept personal cheque.

Hmm, what I meant was to take part for the FD promo that says required fresh fund, the term & condition always go like this one from OCBC: " Cheques issued in the name of the customer from another bank in Malaysia other than OCBC Bank and OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad". There after when I read the T&C for any FD promo, no mention of accepting personal cheque.

My experiences were from OCBC, AmBank, where over the counter the teller says no to personal cheque. Maybe the reason is the bank could not verify the cheque on the spot to open the new FD acct. So far I always use Banker's Cheque. Unless someone can share their experience that they were accepted by bank on this type of promo before.

Good to hear that. I'll ask the next time when taking up new FD promo.
Seems like my encounters were faced with picky tellers. Since I used Banker's Cheque, so far no real issue to me.

Yes... Just sharing my own real life experience of similar Islamic product in AmBank back in Dec 2010, where the AmIslamic Bank having promo for 11-month tenure with indicative 3.321% p.a. return. Upon maturity in Nov 2011. I get exactly the indicative 3.321% p.a. up to the 3rd decimal places, no more no less, no surprises. Been there, done that, tested.

Hi guys, just want to voice my 2 cents on this...
ya I personally tried FX before but no more...didn't know it is illegal...if so, will invest on something else..

Frankly, before I go for 4% FD with ocbc in Jan this year, I was toying the idea to place my money into AUD FD, but after counting the spread, not much gain as compare to local FD...(of course if your timing is right, then diff story). If there is a separate thread talks about this, please put a link here, I am interested too. Can diversify my investment a bit.

I am in PCI (Premier Currency Investment) for the past 3 years with SCB, similar like DCI cherroy mentioned, it is an interesting product which yield rather well, but it is OT to discuss here... Is there a thread on this?

Hi all, this one seems very attractive. Anyone tried? Planning to give it a try when my current FD matured at end July.

Hmmm, even with the RM500 in HSBC Amanah Advance Account-i, it still yield higher than other bank at the moment.
E.g. 10k with 5% interest after 3 month = RM10,125, hence effective interest rate = 4.76%.
If 50k with 5% interest after 3 month = RM50,625, hence effective interest rate = 4.95%.

Seems the highest among all current promotional FD, right?

Does anyone know if HSBC accept personal cheque (instead of Banker's Cheque) for opening new FD?
Hope they don't ask to go and collect the FD cert a few day later (like what I read here for Bank Rakyat's FD).
Not sure if the reason is to ensure cheque is cleared and then dated the FD start from cheque cleared date.

This post has been edited by tbheng: Jun 16 2012, 10:07 AM

Hi all, just for sharing....

I've just returned from HSBC Amanah Kota Damansara.
Took their new branch opening offers: 5% 3 month TD-i for non-premier category.
The requirements and process seems rather straight forward.

Required the following 2 products to be openned:
1. Term Deposit-i: min RM5k, max RM50k.
2. Amanah Advance Acct-i: min RM100.
(I have highlighted about the T&C said min RM500, the teller said RM100 is enough. RM500 is for Amanah Advance Acct-i alone.).
She said the TD-i slips will be ready when my cheque cleared. I requested her to mail it to me instead of collecting at branch.
I also requested for internet banking. It is FOC.
I was given a big golf umbrella and recycle bag as welcome gifts.

This should be the highest FD rate for the moment. Highly recommended.

This post has been edited by tbheng: Jun 25 2012, 02:05 PM

Hmm...didn't ask about that just now.
If bank draft is too costly, I may consider interbank GIRO (which is the standard RM2 I guess).

I asked the same, the teller said no charges. It is no charge for the entire 12 months from the date of opening. No penalty to close it after I uplifted the TD-i.
Share your experience as well when you returned.

Somehow I was not able to find the promo from the hsbc amanah site. (It only promotes the premier category.)
But thanks to all the sifu here that share the promo link
Should be for the 3 new branches as detailed in the promo.
I have been eyeing for this until my previous FDs matured.
According to the teller, the Kota Damansara branch is < 1 month old.

This post has been edited by tbheng: Jun 25 2012, 09:38 PM

It is for these 3 branches in KL/PJ:
1. HSBC Amanah Maluri New Branch Opening Promotion
2. HSBC Amanah City Centre New Branch Opening Promotion
3. HSBC Amanah Kota Damansara New Branch Opening Promotion
Please click the link I provided above to read more.

You are welcome. It is the whole purpose of this forum. Info sharing. Knowledge is power.
I gained from reading here, and I hope my experience/sharing benefits others too.