$ $ $ V A U L T
If you are one of the many collectors who collects money packets just from the financial institutions, here's a separate page from the bankers and investment companies this year again. This money vault is going to be filled up with many treasures from the kings and queens. Taking the spotlight is Deutsche Bank again with their fluttering 3D butterflies and gorgeous floral trio in pink, turquoise and maroon. If you are not convince with their back and front view above, spread them out to see those fine details inside and out below. Skipping my Raya album for a little bit with the last batch of my 2019 multi-festive collection, DB Raya pair is just as breathtaking as their CNY trio and I am absolutely delighted to showcase their beauty here. The soothing lavender and the tropical turquoise compliments each other perfectly making this such a graceful 2P set.
The year of pig has brought us two beautiful Chinese landscape paintings from Mizuho and QBE. Mizuho is definitely a winner with it's 8pcs illustration of the mountains, trees, cranes and swiftlets in two different color shades, way ahead of Singapore's single piece design which is quite a rare sight indeed. QBE used a much lighter and brighter tone of the calming blue reflecting the breathtaking lake view both front and back, though I wonder why there is one design at the back that didn't quite fit (hmm). Joining the 8pcs Mizuho set is their Raya floral pair that is vibrant with an unconventional flap cut. Both of the CNY and Raya packets come in the same ribbon-band but in different color hence a lovely 2P collector set. If you would like to see the back of these packets, just hop over to my FB album as the CNY set has the same adjoining scenery while the Raya pair also has a front-back matching floral.
Another unlikely lead over Singapore version is from China Construction Bank with a stunning three pieces set of floral in red, soft lilac and yellow. Joining the surprise party is Kenanga gorgeous floral that is also one of their first vibrant pair, in my opinion loveliest so far and here comes their Raya design with a perfect match for the double festive series. Unfortunately I do not have their VIP version this year, it's really tough to get unless I have the right bullet to trade them back (grin).
Next up is CIMB with their mass market, preferred and private of course. Using the same purple-pink floral and the character chun (spring), preferred is bigger in size with embossed floral and word while with a bright cyan background and the popular rubbery feel is the prestige private banking, gorgeous! Unfortunately can't say the same for their Raya packet this year, using just their CIMB logo with a plain bronze color for the private ones and pine green for their normal and preferred. And finally the last festive of the 3P (3 Perayaan / 3 Festives), Deepavali. The design is always more vibrant compared to CNY & Raya, this round with the purple feather like patterns that are brighter and catchier.
BNP Paribas Raya floral duo is definitely my cup of tea though one may be mislead by what seems to be a front flap design at first glance. This was a freebie from another senior collector who was kind to share with me. Thanks to Mei Fern for my very first Raya packet from Aberdeen and it's such a catchy piece with it's cerulean blue. My BFF's MUFG contact is no longer servicing her company hence unable to get their Raya packets. The CNY ones were the last batch she could get for me. I find the design quite nice with the mandarin orange theme and the variety of colors, definitely my type compared to the previous years design, maybe next year there will be a surprise? I think so, probably picked up a few tricks from their Singapore counterpart - ahem, hop over to my Singapore treasures!
Ambank CNY has three different themes with a Chinese fan motif for their mass market, a better quality blossom piece for their priority customers while their private design is like Citibank rubbery with glossy Koi. Let's not forget about their lovely "ketupat" (also known as packed rice) theme on a dark green floral background while Deepavali sees a little less vibrant piece of the clay lamps. These clay lamps are lighted outside homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. Ambank Signature zodiac theme started with the horse in 2014 and stopped at the dog in 2018. The blossoms took over in 2019 with a single piece for their CNY while their Raya came in a 4pcs set. Unfortunately I only have the two softer pair and missing their magenta and dark blue partner.
A rather popular choice by the banks this year, besides AmPrivate, the auspicious fishes, are swimming from HSBC to RHB and to Maybank. HSBC has quite a vibrant pair with their bold and added glitters (and an additional fish) for their premier and business gold fishes that I quite like. It's definitely a bright and joyful light festival for HSBC purple and blue duo. As for Raya, HSBC pair is simpler but glittering in blue and pink. While HSBC used the same gold fishes across it's three divisions both RHB and Maybank took on something different. RHB continued with a similar design for their premier banking cutting back from three to two pieces taking on just the phoenix but giving them a male and female illustration i.e. the Feng Huang 鳳凰. Their mass market, also a pair is made up of the golden Goldfishes and Koi. Just like HSBC, their Raya packets are not matching with CNY and just like HSBC, they are glittery. Look out for the blue peacock for their Deepavali edition. I can almost feel the soft mystical touch if this gem was printed on fabric (grin).
Fun facts: During the Han dynasty (2,200 years ago) two phoenixes, one a male (feng, 鳳) and the other a female (huang, 凰) were often shown together facing one other. Later, during the Yuan dynasty the two terms were merged to become fenghuang, but the "King of Birds" came to symbolize the empress when paired with a dragon as a dragon represented the emperor.
Next we have Citibank not only with colors and in pairs but the quality that separates them from the rest, rubbery! Even for the normal ones as well as their Deepavali (and Raya which I missed out) are all the same quality. For CNY the gold class was given an additional box as casing and folded flaps with citi logo. The vase and bamboo is a very traditional motif which I quite like but wished they were a front and back match for a complete picture perfect. Nevertheless it's definitely one of the better ones from the banks this year. Do check out the other lovely vases below. MPI Generali also has it's share of the bamboos which they presented them in die cut adding on three other symbolic items, the rice bowl, traditional wine jar and cheongsam.
AIG continued it's flap design from last year single piece to a pair of Koi and Chinese character this year, I must say the gold embossing is looking really elegant. Maybank mass market featured just the Koi and took the same design adding on another three other motifs, the peacock, butterfly and crane to their premier set using thick quality paper with die-cut and picturesque inserts. There are four sets that comes in a box and just like RHB, the box has an illustration of the chosen motifs, relatable and meaningful for us collectors. Their Raya and Deepavali designs are not a matching series with one another, quite a disappointment for the 3P theme. Raya is a one color piece while Deepavali, also using the color yellow, is much more striking especially with the purple kolam patterns. Coincidentally the same design is being used by TNB and they have a beautiful 3P. Hop back to my main 2019 page to catch them there.
Below we have OCBC mass market, premier banking for all 3 festives, CNY, Raya and Deepavali. Their lion dance theme is a joyful one and is quite a favorite among families to use for angpow giving. Finally got the lovely Allianz Raya, a year later and then another year later to scan and upload. This is a sweet and delightful 2P with their CNY lion dance, a pair of soft touch northern lions with adorable kids in orange and red floral. Northern lions are not commonly used on red packets and so there is this other unique illustration from Schroders (click here to find it under my 2018 Singapore page).
OCBC Raya design is glittering in gold with a darker minty tone for the mass market while the premier design has a softer nutty brown shade with a unique flap design. They have also released a premier design during Deepavali and the lovely front and back matching purple beauty featured the graceful peacock, symbolizing the cycle of time for the Hindus. Hong Leong Bank apparently did a 2019/2020 3P series with the chosen side flap layout and they make a perfect match collectively. Scroll to the bottom to find their 2019 CNY set.
AIA conjured a dragon with their bù bù gāo shēng 步步高陞 trio signifying step by step we rise just like climbing the corporate ladder in this case via three different stairways. From reunions to festive decorations, these red packets tell beautiful stories including their Raya and Deepavali packets as well, a wonderful multi-festive match. The Raya piece took on the famous "balik kampung" theme in green while Deepavali showcased a purple celebration with the blue sacred bird with it's long stairway tail feathers as well as the white sacred mammal with it's strong trusty trunk. Moving on to more lion dancing red packets we have Tokio Marine and SP Advisory both bursting with their choice of colors and heartwarming tales.
Hitachi Capital took on the same die cut design that Wisdom Tree used in 2018 with delightful flowery illustration for the vase, sycee, orange and koi. While Hitachi vase is in a soft turquoise tone, Fundsupermart antique vases is wrapped in a mystical violet followed with an all purple Principal CIMB with flowers and birdie. SMBC brought texture to their plum blossom, known as meihua 梅花 in Chinese. Scroll further down to find another Tokio Marine set from their Life Insurance division as well as KFH raya set that definitely outnumbered and outshines it's CNY single design.
Bank Rakyat took on the Chinese charm while Affin bank has two unrelated designs with different paper quality this year; The same goes with their Raya packets but I only have the mass market version. Affin Hwang on the other hand went with a shimmering pair and another rubbery version for it's VIP. Bangkok Bank was plain and simple for CNY but outshines many others with their silver leave piece sampul (packet). Bank Islam lantern and red floral looks nice with a little yellow and blueviolet while BNP Paribas hotstamping floral and Chinese knot design is quite elegant followed by a simpler Suria KLCC Citibank.
We have another two lovely white SDR above the taller better quality Manulife and the purplish mosque from MBSB. I quite like them both because we will never get white angpows for CNY (lol). Prudential PRUPrestige a.k.a. the premium version is a rubbery floral pair that is standing tall and elegant while their mass market designs are going horizontal on normal papers. Prudential Raya is not a matching series with their CNY design, a total different layout, color tone and paper material.
Kuwait Finance House floral motif is beautiful with a unique mix of plum and lavender color for it's CNY edition while Raya brought us a set of five elegant batik flower prints that is filled with traditional flavors. Zurich CNY pair has a plain front but a catchy floral illustrated flap while their Raya pair is also just as catchy with hot-stamping floral up front and a beautiful floral flap.
The only bank that actually uses the zodiac image, well at least an artistic illustration of the 12th animal is none other than UOB. Using just circles to make up a rounded piggy while separating their mass, commercial and private with colors like before. Find the privates ones from Singapore over at The Lion City (click here). Standard Chartered is so different from their Singapore counterparts with just a normal gold embossed floral piece each for their mass market and their priority customer. Continuing the Raya series we have Standard Chartered forest green, Great Eastern kampung theme in pine green, Alliance mosaic patterns and UOB cream piece. Both UOB and Standard Chartered took on the pink shade with UOB taking on abstract brush strokes and Standard Chartered featured the kolam designed peacock. While UOB has graciously given collectors a lovely envelope casing to hold the pink money packets, Standard Chartered delivered a better quality piece.
Here comes the auspicious and beautiful Fu福 from Affin Hwang Capital, Alliance mass market, their embossed privilege designs and Manulife Asset Management.
Tokio Marine Life Insurance has a better quality floral trio over the General Insurance 4pcs set. Great Eastern like many other companies skipped the zodiac motif hence not as popular this year among the collectors especially when compared to their patchwork doggy pair. Maybank Etiqa continued their series with similar flavors by maintaining the size and layout extending the same for their Raya trio but with more variety in terms of the flowers and colors. Besides the single maroon floral design, AXA Affin also has another trio set version that is of better quality with lighter shades of purple, pink and red. Public Mutual is looking a little old school with a traditional floral and mandarin orange illustration.
Hong Leong Bank and Public Bank both didn't do any better than previous year as well, to me they looked a little plain and somber. However both the banks went with more colors for their Raya and Deepavali packets. Public Bank Raya came in a pair of mother-child quadrant floral abstracts that can be joined back-front with the resemblance of the kolam art while Deepavali took on the real kolam art with the Peacock. Their CNY pair uses the Fu character branching out to form a mini ancient city all using just the color yellow. Hong Leong Bank floral trio didn't go far with their choice of monochromatic colors but came back in brighter shades and a lovelier front-flap design for their 2019/2020 3P. Scroll back up if you have missed the lovely 3P earlier.
Another seasonal 3P is definitely BSN with a simple lamp iight a.k.a lampu pelita raya motif in 2018 and patterned circles in 2019. Maintaining the three major colors i.e. greeen for Raya, purple for Deepavali and the auspicious red for CNY as well as the same flap layout, both the 3P are looking really beautiful together. I missed out on their 2017/2018 3P but I did manage to complete their 2016/2017.
For more of my latest collection, please visit my facebook page or get the links to my collection by years via my facebook album here. (๑‵●‿●‵๑)