[Real-World Finance] New Year, New Resolutions... How About Specialized High-Interest Savings Accounts?

Earn "Celebratory" Interest Rates by Donating and Staying Healthy
Annual Rates Up to 7% Available
Unique Savings Accounts Offer Extra Interest for Marriage
One-Month Missions... "Fun Savings" Products Also Attract Attention

The New Year is just a day away. Most people are likely revisiting the goals they fell short of this year, such as managing their health or saving a substantial sum of money. To ensure that your New Year's resolutions don't fizzle out after just a few days, why not seek help from financial products? Achieving your goals could earn you extra interest, and these tools can help strengthen your resolve, which often falters for various reasons.

Starting a Donation Habit with Small Amounts... Preferential Interest Rates as a Bonus

If you want to cultivate a habit of donating in the upcoming Year of the Fire Horse, you should pay attention to high-interest products offering up to 5.5% per annum.

On December 26, Hana Bank launched the "Lucky Donation Run Installment Savings" in collaboration with McDonald's Korea, an ESG-focused financial product. With this installment savings account, if you donate a specified amount at maturity, you can receive a maximum annual interest rate of 5.5%-a base rate of 2.0% plus a preferential rate of 1.5%. The donation amount can be chosen from 3,000 won, 5,000 won, 10,000 won, or 20,000 won, and it is automatically donated from the principal and interest at maturity to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Korea. The donations are used to support children and families in need of long-term treatment.

This installment savings product will be available until the end of January next year, limited to 30,000 accounts. The savings period is six months, with a monthly deposit range of 50,000 to 200,000 won. If you deposit 200,000 won each month for six months and qualify for the highest interest rate, you will receive 19,197 won in pre-tax interest at maturity. Even with small amounts, you can benefit from relatively high interest rates and develop a habit of donating. Additionally, Hana Bank will match a 1,000 won donation for each account opened.

The More You Walk and Run, the More Interest You Earn... Strengthening Your Weakened Resolve

Health management is a perennial favorite among New Year's resolutions. Many people plan to prioritize their health, but busy daily life often pushes these goals aside. In such cases, signing up for health-related financial products can help you set concrete goals and gain practical experience. You can also earn extra interest each time you achieve a milestone.

Major domestic banks offer a variety of financial products that combine health incentives with interest benefits. Shinhan Bank has the "One Month Installment Savings 20+ Let's Run" product, which merges running and finance. The base interest rate is 1.8%, and if you verify completion of a running event, you receive an additional 2.0%. If you also make weekly deposits, you get a preferential rate of 2.0%, resulting in a maximum annual rate of 6.6%. This structure helps you manage your health through running while building a savings habit. If you run at least 1 km daily, you accumulate "Running Cash" based on your total distance, and you can earn 2 MyShinhan Points per 1 km (up to 10 points per day). This installment savings product is available on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 42,195 accounts until February 13 next year.

KB Kookmin Bank's "Health Installment Savings" increases your interest the more you walk. With a base rate of 1.0%, walking more than 100,000 steps per month qualifies you for a preferential rate, allowing you to earn up to 6.0% per annum. This is a six-month product with a maximum monthly deposit of 200,000 won. Subscribers simply need to achieve their step goals and check their step count in the bank app once a month. Hana Bank also offers the "Challenge 365 Installment Savings," which links the bank app with smartphone step data to provide interest benefits. This is a one-year product with a monthly deposit range of 10,000 to 200,000 won. The base rate is 1.8% per annum, with additional rates based on step counts: ▲100,000-2,000,000 steps: 1.0% ▲2,000,000-3,650,000 steps: 1.5% ▲over 3,650,000 steps: 2.0%. Subscribers aged 65 or older can receive an extra 0.4% preferential rate.

Preferential Rates for Marriage, One-Month Participatory Savings, and Other Unique Products

There are also specialized savings accounts that encourage marriage. BNK Busan Bank has launched "Neomansolo Installment Savings," which helps you save for marriage and offers preferential interest rates. You can deposit up to 300,000 won per month for up to 36 months. The base rate is 1.9% per annum, and if you get married, you receive an additional 2.0%, bringing the maximum annual rate to 7.0%.

There are also savings products that promote environmental protection. Shinhan Bank's "Beautiful Courage Installment Savings" offers a preferential rate of 0.5% for pledging to participate in the disposable cup deposit system and another 0.5% for uploading a photo of using a reusable cup via the bank app, making it easy to practice environmental protection. KB Kookmin Bank's "Clear Sky Installment Savings" provides an additional 0.7% for signing up without a paper passbook and 0.4% for using public transportation.

If you want to spark your interest in New Year's financial planning, starting with ultra-short-term participatory savings products is another option. K Bank's "Curious Installment Savings with Zootopia" offers a maximum annual rate of 6.7% if you complete the daily Zootopia story mission for one month. You can deposit up to 50,000 won per day, and if you meet the monthly limit, you will receive 4,552 won in pre-tax interest. Even with small amounts, you can enjoy the process and develop a savings habit.

A financial industry official said, "These goal-oriented products may not be suitable for building a large nest egg, but they can boost your motivation while offering relatively high interest rates. They also help individuals achieve social value, such as health management, donations, and environmental action," adding, "We can expect to see more high-interest, lifestyle-oriented products in the future."