In Sri Lanka bouncing cheques have become a problem for the payment system and the central bank and commercial banks are moving to discourage the practice.
When economic conditions become tough, as now, cheque returns tend to increase.
Sampath's head of marketing, Tharaka Ranwala, says the Sampath 'Supreme' branded accounts would be given to customers who have been with the bank for more than 10 years and have had no cheque returns during the past three years.
Supreme customers would also get lower charges on their current accounts.