SC First Bank said on Monday it will run an event offering preferential interest linked to building energy use.

The company said the event uses the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Building Energy Integrated Management System. It runs for customers who newly sign up for SC First Bank's Dudream savings account by Dec. 26 and can check electricity use for their current address on the Green Building Portal website.

Customers who sign up for the one-year Dudream savings account with monthly deposits of up to 1 million won will receive up to 5.3 percentage points in additional preferential interest at maturity depending on their electricity energy saving rate. The maximum annual pre-tax rate is 8.8 percent.

The Dudream savings account offers a base interest rate of 2.4 percent for a one-year term and preferential interest of up to 1.1 percentage points.

The preferential interest is provided depending on whether conditions are met: payroll transfer 0.4 percentage points, automatic bill payment 0.2 percentage points, internet banking transfer 0.1 percentage points, credit card performance 0.2 percentage points, and automatic transfer up to 0.2 percentage points.

In addition, customers can receive up to 5.3 percentage points in additional preferential interest depending on the saving rate if they reduce electricity energy use compared with the same period a year earlier for six months starting from the month after signing up.

The preferential interest depends on the electricity energy saving rate: 2.5 percentage points for more than 0 percent and up to 5 percent, and 5.3 percentage points for more than 5 percent.

Jae-won Jung, head of secured lending and deposit products at SC First Bank, said, "As interest in cutting greenhouse gas emissions continues to grow, we prepared this product so that practicing energy savings can also lead to financial benefits." He added, "We hope this event will serve as a meaningful opportunity for customers to join in saving energy in their daily lives along with the benefit of a high interest rate."