"Even after being told that all the stock was gone, a customer scolded us, asking if we knew how many years they had been banking with us, and eventually took the calendar that was hanging in the branch. I wonder when this calendar war will finally end."

This is the complaint of a bank employee posted on an office worker community. Every year-end, branches of commercial banks turn into a virtual battleground. This is the so-called "calendar war." Due to the widespread belief that hanging a calendar brings financial luck, the number of visitors seeking New Year calendars has surged.

Woori Bank is conducting an event offering calendars featuring photos of their model IU. Photo by Kwon Jaehee

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Previously, NH Nonghyup Bank prepared 25,000 calendars for distribution on a first-come, first-served basis through its app "NH All One Bank" starting from November 25. However, the event ended in less than an hour on the day of distribution due to overwhelming demand.

Similarly, Woori Bank, which produced a desk calendar featuring its model, singer and actress IU, for the second consecutive year, continues to receive constant inquiries about the calendar. Woori Financial Group signed an advertising contract with IU in 2022 and has been producing IU calendars for four consecutive years since 2023. This year as well, the bank is distributing the calendar for free to 10,000 people through its application "Woori WON Banking" as part of an ongoing event.

While many customers want bank calendars, the number produced is decreasing each year. As part of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management, banks are reducing paper usage and cutting costs, leading to a downsizing of production. For this reason, bank calendars that were once easily available for free at the end of the year have now become a rare commodity.

Given the situation, banks are distributing calendars in a limited manner according to internal regulations at each branch. Even within the same bank, Branch A prioritizes distribution to main customers or app users, while Branch B provides them to new cardholders and others. Customers who still cannot receive them sometimes purchase calendars through secondhand trading platforms. In fact, these calendars are being traded on platforms for prices ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 won.

An official from a commercial bank stated, "Complaints about calendars are repeated every year, so there are opinions that we should stop producing them altogether or distribute them only for internal use. However, once produced, the calendars hang in branches throughout the year, providing significant promotional benefits, so we cannot stop making them."

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Given the high demand for calendars, banks are maximizing promotional effects by producing calendars that reflect their corporate identity. KB Kookmin Bank introduced a desk calendar featuring scenes from literary works such as 'The Little Prince' and 'Hong Gil-dong Jeon' each month, using the group's character 'Star Friends.' Hana Bank produced a calendar in collaboration with the Nam June Paik Art Center to mark the 20th anniversary of Nam June Paik's passing next year, featuring 12 of the artist's works. Shinhan Bank is distributing a calendar that includes illustrations and its 'Shinhan Friends' characters.