Korea Investment & Securities offers moon jar artwork in BanKIS ISA promotion

Korea Investment & Securities announced Monday it is running a "moon jar event" for customers of its brokerage-type individual savings account (ISA) offered through BanKIS, its online-only account service.

Participating customers will be entered into a draw for an actual moon jar artwork. Customers who open a new BanKIS brokerage ISA and deposit at least 100,000 won ($72) will also receive 10,000 won in cash, with benefits of up to 1 million won available depending on net deposits.

Alongside this, the firm is selling — on a first-come, first-served basis — a special repurchase agreement (RP) product at an annualized rate of 5 percent (50-day term, pre-tax) to both new and existing BanKIS brokerage ISA customers.

Brokerage ISA accounts and the special RP product can be opened and subscribed to through the Korea Investment & Securities mobile app and the Toss app. Accounts can be opened online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The brokerage ISA allows annual contributions of up to 20 million won, and any unused contribution allowance carries over to the following year. The total contribution limit is 100 million won. Opening an account before the end of the year allows customers to use their contribution limits more flexibly in line with future investment plans.

Because the mandatory holding period required to receive the ISA's tax benefits is calculated from the date the account is opened, opening an account in advance is a sound strategy even for those without immediate investment plans.

Korea Investment & Securities is also running a "Chuseok asset event" through Sept. 30 for individual customers who hold branch-based accounts. The promotion offers benefits to customers who increase their net assets in key financial products, including comprehensive asset management accounts (CMA), funds, bonds, equity-linked securities (ELS), RPs, commercial paper, wrap accounts and integrated management accounts (IMA).

"We encourage customers to consider using the brokerage ISA as a long-term asset management tool, taking into account the contribution carryover and mandatory holding period," a company official said.

Korea Investment & Securities has also been active in community outreach. On Saturday, the firm held a "Sharing Happiness Mural Painting" volunteer event at Yeonpung Village in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, with 49 employees and their family members taking part through the firm's in-house volunteer group. The company also plans to open the ninth branch of its "Korea Investment Dream Library" in October.

President Kim Sung-hwan said the firm would "consistently carry on sustainable social contribution projects that allow us to grow together with local communities."