Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-09-05 04:56Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent actions of China Merchants Bank (CMB) that are perceived as detrimental to retail investors, particularly regarding the sale of mutual funds at higher fees and exclusive offerings that limit investor choice [5][19]. Group 1: CMB's Actions and Impact on Investors - CMB has pressured fund companies to sell certain mutual funds exclusively through its platform, resulting in higher purchase fees for investors [5][19]. - For example, the purchase fee for the Huatai Zijin Value Selection Mixed Fund on CMB's app is 1.5%, compared to just 0.15% on platforms like Ant Fund and Tencent Finance [10][11]. - This practice has led to a significant increase in costs for investors, with a potential difference of 1,350 yuan for a 100,000 yuan investment [11][16]. Group 2: Regulatory Context and Market Dynamics - The regulatory environment is pushing for reduced fees and improved investor experiences in the mutual fund industry, contrasting with CMB's current practices [20]. - CMB's net interest margin has been under pressure, leading to a focus on increasing non-interest income, which may explain its strategy to sell funds at higher fees [21][22]. - Despite a recent recovery in fund income due to a bullish A-share market, CMB's overall fund income has seen a decline compared to competitors like Ant Fund [22][23]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Recommendations - The article suggests that CMB needs to shift its focus from a sales-driven approach to one that prioritizes customer asset growth and loyalty [25]. - With a large potential market of 720 million retail investors and a growing mutual fund industry, the bank must adapt to remain competitive and truly serve its customers [26].