金融中报观｜信用卡业务“跑马圈地”退潮后，转型创新路在何方？

Core Viewpoint - The credit card business in China's banking sector is undergoing a significant adjustment, shifting from an era of aggressive expansion to a focus on optimizing existing customer relationships and managing risks [1][3]. Group 1: Credit Card Business Performance - In the first half of 2025, 11 out of 15 listed banks reported a decline in credit card loan balances, with China Bank showing the most significant reduction of 13.89% to 5109.69 billion yuan [3][4]. - The total credit card loan balance for the 15 banks showed a mixed trend, with only four banks, including Industrial and Agricultural Banks, experiencing growth [3][4]. - Credit card transaction volumes also declined, with a notable drop of 8.54% for China Merchants Bank, despite leading in transaction amounts at 20.2 trillion yuan [4][6]. Group 2: Bad Debt and Risk Management - The total bad credit card loans across 11 banks reached 1626.9 billion yuan, an increase of 58.85 billion yuan since the beginning of the year, with several banks experiencing significant rises in bad loan ratios [5][6]. - Only three banks improved their bad loan ratios, while eight banks, including major players like China Merchants Bank and Industrial Bank, saw increases in their bad loan ratios [5][6]. - The overall credit card market is adjusting, with the total number of credit cards decreasing from 7.27 billion to 7.15 billion [6]. Group 3: Strategic Responses and Future Directions - Banks are actively working to optimize asset quality and manage bad debts, with nearly a thousand bad loan transfer announcements made in 2025 [6][7]. - The focus is shifting towards product innovation and differentiated competition, emphasizing quality over quantity in credit card offerings [7][8]. - Strategies include targeting high-end customers and meeting basic customer needs, with an emphasis on enhancing customer experience and integrating credit cards with other retail banking services [8].