A BABBLE of grumbles has been buzzing among the people who, under pressure from a fast-changing society, are finding it hard to bear the burden of livelihood.
Things are said to be back to normal after the economic woes. Yet, before people's purse could restore to what it used to be, there came the news about transport fare hikes.
Then came the announcement that POSBank, long reputedly“the people's bank”, would impose a minimum balance of S$500 and slap a fall-below service charge of S$2 monthly on small account holders aged between 21 and 62. “A fee hike in disguise”, as some grumbled.
The transport fare hikes and the fall-below bank fee will affect a large sector of the population, especially the lower-income masses.
Many of them have yet to find a job after being laid off during the economic downturn, while others are people who live from hand to mouth, earning barely enough to pay rent and keep their families afloat. Still others, for some special reasons, have lost working abilities and have to live on savings or insurance.
Bus fare hikes will affect all commuters, chiefly students, their parents, and factory workers.
The number of POSBank and DBS bank account holders affected by the proposed fall-below fee, according to newspaper reports, will reach half a million, some of them holding multiple accounts.
A monthly fee of S$2 from this large number of people together will be a huge sum. Yet, while one can't be sure POSBank will make a profit out of it after paying the cost, one must admit in all fairness that the fee is reasonable.
Pay the mere price of a helping of chicken rice, and you can continue to use GIRO and other services provided by the bank. This will save you the trouble of queuing up in person to pay your PUB, SingTel and other bills, besides the time and transport fares needed for the trips involved.
After all, there is no free lunch in this world. Other banks have long started to charge similar fees. Why, then, are people displeased with POSBank？
They are unhappy because they feel hurt, as I see it. Or, they feel as though they have difficulty breathing freely, as a Cantonese saying goes.
People in Singapore have watched POSBank grow up throughout the decades. From a modest counter within the post office, it has now developed into a modern bank housed in tall buildings.
With the GIRO and current account services it provides for free, the broad masses are entering a cash-less era. Meanwhile, the bank's long-time efforts to serve the masses have earned a place in people's hearts for its logo of the big key.
Its ATM machines bearing the key design at every turn of the street, along with the ATM cards in almost everyone's pocket, have become an integral part of life for many Singaporeans.
Two years ago, in a bid for higher competitiveness, POSBank merged with DBS Bank, the de-facto national bank of the country. At that time, DBS was actively introducing talent from abroad, hoping to bring about a restructured bank that would prosper regionally and globally.
Regrettably, today we find the key logo above the DBS-POSBank ATMs much dwindled in size, and even the name of POSBank is missing from the ATM's screen.
Obviously, POSBank has finished what it was meant to do. Now it is gradually shedding off its image of “the people's bank”。 This is, however, inevitable and irresistible.
Hence the unhappiness among the people. The average bank-user would gladly spend a few more dollars on lottery every month, plus the time in the queue, rather than pay the fee to the bank that has been providing high-quality services for free for so long.
Herein lies a complex bred of sentiments more than a mere S$2 fee can explain or solve.
Now, it is high time to persuade people to give up old ideas and adopt new mindsets. Yet it is a painstaking task to change their minds. Just think of the masses who are still having difficulty handling the computer mouse while we are relishing the prospects of Internet, dot.com, and e-banking.
There are still large crowds who are English-illiterate and barely educated in their native languages, especially those already past middle age. They are still denied the benefits of electronic technologies.
These are people who need care and assistance.
Indeed, when advancing to keep up with the changing times, those leading the way should take care not to leave others far behind. They would be well-advised to look back from time to time and lend a helping hand to those lagging behind.
After all, the slower movers have made their contribution to what Singapore is today.
不只是兩塊錢的問題
最近坊間人們議論紛紛,身為小市民者莫不埋怨社會前進的無形張力,頗有生活擔子不勝負荷之感。
說是經(jīng)濟復(fù)蘇了,糧袋還沒恢復(fù)元氣,就聽到公共交通費要起價；連號稱人民銀行的儲蓄銀行老字號,也將訂立最低存款數(shù)額,對存款不足500元的戶頭征收手續(xù)費,對象是21歲至62歲之間的人士。有人把這形容為“變相的起價”。
公共交通費漲價和銀行征收最低存款服務(wù)費影響層面廣,中下層階級人士首當其沖,其中好些是被裁退還沒找到工作,有些則是收入僅僅足夠養(yǎng)家、供屋,屬于手?？谕５碾A層。有些是因個別境遇失去工作能力,靠儲蓄或保險金過活的。
巴士交通費起價是每個乘客都受到影響,主要是學(xué)生、工人、家長；至于銀行服務(wù)費方面,受影響的銀行客戶,據(jù)報章的資料,約達50萬個戶頭之多,其中一些持有超過一個的銀行戶頭。
每月兩元,若以50萬人次計,是個龐大的數(shù)目,銀行在扣除提供服務(wù)的成本后,是否有利可圖,我們不得而知。然而,“$2”,相當于一包雞飯的價格,卻能省去排隊付款所花的時間與交通費。平心而論,這樣的收費不能算不合理,畢竟,天下沒有免費的午餐；況且,類似的措施在一些銀行早就有了,那么人們不滿的情緒從何而來？我想,關(guān)鍵在于人們覺得感情受到傷害,心里頭不舒服,粵語所謂的“條氣不順”也。
我們看著儲蓄銀行成長,由郵政局里的一個小柜臺發(fā)展到現(xiàn)代化高樓大廈；小市民也隨著它的腳步邁入無現(xiàn)金繳費的時代,免費財路付款、支票服務(wù)等。*花了不少心血,好不容易才把“鎖匙標”
銀行打入人民的心目中,在街頭巷尾設(shè)立提款機,人手一卡,成為眾多新加坡人生活中不可欠缺的一部分。
兩年前,為了提高競爭力,與號稱國家銀行的發(fā)展銀行合并。那時,發(fā)展銀行正積極引進外來人才,以期能把改組后的銀行帶入?yún)^(qū)域,走向世界,大展鴻圖。
今天,我們看到各角落的提款機上儲蓄銀行的標志已大幅度縮小,甚至名稱也不在提款熒光屏上出現(xiàn)了。顯然的,事態(tài)發(fā)展至今,儲蓄銀行已經(jīng)完成它的時代使命,正逐漸脫離,或者說,不再保持“人民銀行”的形象和地位了。這是阻擋不了、無法避免的大勢所趨。
大家的心里都覺得不好受。每個月兩元,小市民情愿每周去排隊花多幾元買“希望”中多多,就是不愿付給一路來提供免費優(yōu)質(zhì)服務(wù)的“鎖匙標”銀行！這其中的情意結(jié),又豈是區(qū)區(qū)“$2”所能覆蓋得了？
現(xiàn)在是勸說人們改變舊觀念、學(xué)習(xí)與接受新事物的時候。然而,人事是最繁雜的工作,不可掉以輕心。試想,當我們高談dot.com、電子銀行、互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的時候,還有多少小市民還在設(shè)法捉住“老鼠”
（滑鼠器）而苦惱？有多少不諳英文、只受過基本母語教育,尤其是中年以上的人,還是生活在“電子時代”以外的隙縫里？他們都需要人們的關(guān)注與援手。
總之,我們在與時并進的步伐中,帶隊的請注意別走得過急了；也須不時回頭望一望,伸手拉一拉掉隊的人一把,畢竟,他們也曾是舊時代的鋪路功臣。
Things are said to be back to normal after the economic woes. Yet, before people's purse could restore to what it used to be, there came the news about transport fare hikes.
Then came the announcement that POSBank, long reputedly“the people's bank”, would impose a minimum balance of S$500 and slap a fall-below service charge of S$2 monthly on small account holders aged between 21 and 62. “A fee hike in disguise”, as some grumbled.
The transport fare hikes and the fall-below bank fee will affect a large sector of the population, especially the lower-income masses.
Many of them have yet to find a job after being laid off during the economic downturn, while others are people who live from hand to mouth, earning barely enough to pay rent and keep their families afloat. Still others, for some special reasons, have lost working abilities and have to live on savings or insurance.
Bus fare hikes will affect all commuters, chiefly students, their parents, and factory workers.
The number of POSBank and DBS bank account holders affected by the proposed fall-below fee, according to newspaper reports, will reach half a million, some of them holding multiple accounts.
A monthly fee of S$2 from this large number of people together will be a huge sum. Yet, while one can't be sure POSBank will make a profit out of it after paying the cost, one must admit in all fairness that the fee is reasonable.
Pay the mere price of a helping of chicken rice, and you can continue to use GIRO and other services provided by the bank. This will save you the trouble of queuing up in person to pay your PUB, SingTel and other bills, besides the time and transport fares needed for the trips involved.
After all, there is no free lunch in this world. Other banks have long started to charge similar fees. Why, then, are people displeased with POSBank？
They are unhappy because they feel hurt, as I see it. Or, they feel as though they have difficulty breathing freely, as a Cantonese saying goes.
People in Singapore have watched POSBank grow up throughout the decades. From a modest counter within the post office, it has now developed into a modern bank housed in tall buildings.
With the GIRO and current account services it provides for free, the broad masses are entering a cash-less era. Meanwhile, the bank's long-time efforts to serve the masses have earned a place in people's hearts for its logo of the big key.
Its ATM machines bearing the key design at every turn of the street, along with the ATM cards in almost everyone's pocket, have become an integral part of life for many Singaporeans.
Two years ago, in a bid for higher competitiveness, POSBank merged with DBS Bank, the de-facto national bank of the country. At that time, DBS was actively introducing talent from abroad, hoping to bring about a restructured bank that would prosper regionally and globally.
Regrettably, today we find the key logo above the DBS-POSBank ATMs much dwindled in size, and even the name of POSBank is missing from the ATM's screen.
Obviously, POSBank has finished what it was meant to do. Now it is gradually shedding off its image of “the people's bank”。 This is, however, inevitable and irresistible.
Hence the unhappiness among the people. The average bank-user would gladly spend a few more dollars on lottery every month, plus the time in the queue, rather than pay the fee to the bank that has been providing high-quality services for free for so long.
Herein lies a complex bred of sentiments more than a mere S$2 fee can explain or solve.
Now, it is high time to persuade people to give up old ideas and adopt new mindsets. Yet it is a painstaking task to change their minds. Just think of the masses who are still having difficulty handling the computer mouse while we are relishing the prospects of Internet, dot.com, and e-banking.
There are still large crowds who are English-illiterate and barely educated in their native languages, especially those already past middle age. They are still denied the benefits of electronic technologies.
These are people who need care and assistance.
Indeed, when advancing to keep up with the changing times, those leading the way should take care not to leave others far behind. They would be well-advised to look back from time to time and lend a helping hand to those lagging behind.
After all, the slower movers have made their contribution to what Singapore is today.
不只是兩塊錢的問題
最近坊間人們議論紛紛,身為小市民者莫不埋怨社會前進的無形張力,頗有生活擔子不勝負荷之感。
說是經(jīng)濟復(fù)蘇了,糧袋還沒恢復(fù)元氣,就聽到公共交通費要起價；連號稱人民銀行的儲蓄銀行老字號,也將訂立最低存款數(shù)額,對存款不足500元的戶頭征收手續(xù)費,對象是21歲至62歲之間的人士。有人把這形容為“變相的起價”。
公共交通費漲價和銀行征收最低存款服務(wù)費影響層面廣,中下層階級人士首當其沖,其中好些是被裁退還沒找到工作,有些則是收入僅僅足夠養(yǎng)家、供屋,屬于手?？谕５碾A層。有些是因個別境遇失去工作能力,靠儲蓄或保險金過活的。
巴士交通費起價是每個乘客都受到影響,主要是學(xué)生、工人、家長；至于銀行服務(wù)費方面,受影響的銀行客戶,據(jù)報章的資料,約達50萬個戶頭之多,其中一些持有超過一個的銀行戶頭。
每月兩元,若以50萬人次計,是個龐大的數(shù)目,銀行在扣除提供服務(wù)的成本后,是否有利可圖,我們不得而知。然而,“$2”,相當于一包雞飯的價格,卻能省去排隊付款所花的時間與交通費。平心而論,這樣的收費不能算不合理,畢竟,天下沒有免費的午餐；況且,類似的措施在一些銀行早就有了,那么人們不滿的情緒從何而來？我想,關(guān)鍵在于人們覺得感情受到傷害,心里頭不舒服,粵語所謂的“條氣不順”也。
我們看著儲蓄銀行成長,由郵政局里的一個小柜臺發(fā)展到現(xiàn)代化高樓大廈；小市民也隨著它的腳步邁入無現(xiàn)金繳費的時代,免費財路付款、支票服務(wù)等。*花了不少心血,好不容易才把“鎖匙標”
銀行打入人民的心目中,在街頭巷尾設(shè)立提款機,人手一卡,成為眾多新加坡人生活中不可欠缺的一部分。
兩年前,為了提高競爭力,與號稱國家銀行的發(fā)展銀行合并。那時,發(fā)展銀行正積極引進外來人才,以期能把改組后的銀行帶入?yún)^(qū)域,走向世界,大展鴻圖。
今天,我們看到各角落的提款機上儲蓄銀行的標志已大幅度縮小,甚至名稱也不在提款熒光屏上出現(xiàn)了。顯然的,事態(tài)發(fā)展至今,儲蓄銀行已經(jīng)完成它的時代使命,正逐漸脫離,或者說,不再保持“人民銀行”的形象和地位了。這是阻擋不了、無法避免的大勢所趨。
大家的心里都覺得不好受。每個月兩元,小市民情愿每周去排隊花多幾元買“希望”中多多,就是不愿付給一路來提供免費優(yōu)質(zhì)服務(wù)的“鎖匙標”銀行！這其中的情意結(jié),又豈是區(qū)區(qū)“$2”所能覆蓋得了？
現(xiàn)在是勸說人們改變舊觀念、學(xué)習(xí)與接受新事物的時候。然而,人事是最繁雜的工作,不可掉以輕心。試想,當我們高談dot.com、電子銀行、互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的時候,還有多少小市民還在設(shè)法捉住“老鼠”
（滑鼠器）而苦惱？有多少不諳英文、只受過基本母語教育,尤其是中年以上的人,還是生活在“電子時代”以外的隙縫里？他們都需要人們的關(guān)注與援手。
總之,我們在與時并進的步伐中,帶隊的請注意別走得過急了；也須不時回頭望一望,伸手拉一拉掉隊的人一把,畢竟,他們也曾是舊時代的鋪路功臣。