The bank wants to encourage traditional banking customers to try digital assets without requiring them to directly buy crypto.
SBI Shinsei Bank, a unit of SBI Holdings, plans to launch a deposit programme this fall that combines traditional interest payments with crypto rewards, Nikkei reported Tuesday. The bank said the service is intended to introduce more customers to the group’s crypto business.
Under the scheme, depositors will continue earning regular interest on their balances while also receiving crypto exchange vouchers worth 20% of their interest income. The vouchers can be redeemed for Bitcoin, Ethereum, or XRP during a designated redemption period.
The final amount of crypto awarded will depend on prevailing market prices when customers redeem their vouchers. SBI Holdings has already established the infrastructure required to support the programme.
The launch stands out in the banking sector because permanent deposit products that include crypto rewards remain relatively uncommon.
