Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-05-21 00:53Core Viewpoint - Major Chinese banks have collectively lowered their RMB deposit rates, marking a significant shift as the one-year fixed deposit rate has fallen below 1% for the first time, indicating a transition into a "1 era" for deposit rates [1][5][9]. Summary by Category Deposit Rate Adjustments - On May 20, major banks including ICBC, ABC, BOC, CCB, and others reduced their demand deposit rates by 0.05 percentage points to 0.05%, with fixed deposit rates seeing a maximum decrease of 25 basis points [1][5]. - The one-year fixed deposit rate has dropped to 0.95%, while three-year and five-year fixed deposit rates are now at 1.25% and 1.30%, respectively [5][6]. - Postal Savings Bank has slightly higher rates compared to the major banks, with one-year and six-month fixed deposit rates at 0.98% and 0.86% [6]. Loan Market Rate Changes - The new Loan Prime Rate (LPR) has also been adjusted, with the one-year LPR decreasing to 3% and the five-year LPR to 3.5%, marking the first decline of the year [1][9]. - This simultaneous adjustment of LPR and deposit rates is expected to help stabilize banks' net interest margins [8][12]. Market Reactions and Predictions - Analysts predict that the reduction in deposit rates will lead to a decrease in interest income for depositors, with an example showing a drop in interest from 4500 yuan to 3750 yuan for a three-year deposit of 100,000 yuan [7][12]. - The overall trend indicates that banks are likely to continue adjusting their rates in response to market conditions, with expectations of further reductions in deposit rates across various banks [14][15]. Economic Implications - The adjustments are seen as a response to the need for banks to lower their funding costs and support the real economy, while also maintaining operational stability [11][12]. - The decline in deposit rates is anticipated to push more investors towards alternative investment products, such as money market funds and bonds, as traditional savings yield lower returns [15][16].