2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2025-09-26 11:14Core Viewpoint - The credit card industry is entering a phase of stock reduction, prompting banks to adjust credit card overdraft interest rates to enhance customer engagement and competitiveness in the face of declining transaction volumes and rising competition from consumer loans [2][4][6]. Group 1: Interest Rate Adjustments - Several banks, including Everbright Bank, have revised their credit card overdraft interest rates, breaking the previous standard of 0.05% [2]. - Everbright Bank's new rate structure allows for a daily interest rate of 0%-0.05%, translating to an annual interest rate of 0%-18.25%, effective from September 29 [2][4]. - This adjustment may enable high-quality credit card users to access a minimum overdraft interest rate of 0% under optimal conditions [4]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The central bank's recent announcements signal a move towards the marketization of credit card overdraft rates, with plans to remove existing upper and lower limits on these rates [5]. - The push for marketization has been ongoing since 2020, with the central bank advocating for the removal of interest rate caps to allow for more flexible pricing based on negotiations between issuers and cardholders [5][6]. - The decline in credit card usage and transaction volumes has prompted banks to seek ways to retain existing customers through optimized interest rates and enhanced service offerings [6][8]. Group 3: Financial Implications for Banks - The number of credit cards and combined loan cards has decreased by 92 million since 2022, with many banks reporting declines in credit card loan scales and transaction volumes [8][11]. - In the first half of the year, 16 major banks reported a reduction in credit card loan scales by 194.5 billion yuan, indicating a broader trend of declining credit card business [11]. - Despite the challenges, some banks, like China Merchants Bank, maintain stable pricing strategies for credit card interest rates, focusing on risk-based pricing and consumer protection [9][10]. Group 4: Customer Engagement Strategies - Banks are implementing various strategies to enhance customer value, such as increasing credit limits, reducing fees, and offering more benefits to attract high-quality customers [10]. - For instance, China CITIC Bank reported that 55.48% of new credit card customers in the first half of the year were high-quality clients, reflecting a shift towards targeting more profitable customer segments [10].