Jing Ji Ri Bao·2025-12-01 06:51Core Viewpoint - Major state-owned banks in China, including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, and China Construction Bank, have collectively removed five-year large denomination time deposits from their offerings, shifting focus to shorter-term products in response to narrowing net interest margins [2][3]. Group 1: Changes in Deposit Products - Six major commercial banks have adjusted their deposit products by removing five-year large denomination time deposits, leaving only shorter-term options available for investors [2]. - This shift is seen as a strategic response to the ongoing pressure of declining net interest margins, which are currently at historical lows [2][3]. - The removal of long-term deposit products is aimed at shortening the average maturity of liabilities and enhancing the re-pricing flexibility of banks [2]. Group 2: Impact on Small and Medium Banks - Small and medium-sized banks are also accelerating adjustments to their deposit product structures due to increasing net interest margin pressures [3]. - These banks, which typically have weaker deposit-raising capabilities and brand trust compared to large banks, are moving away from high-interest long-term deposits that are no longer sustainable [3]. - The prevalence of interest rate inversion, where short-term deposit rates exceed long-term rates, is diminishing the attractiveness of medium to long-term deposits, prompting these banks to focus on short- to medium-term products [3]. Group 3: Investor Behavior and Market Trends - As deposit rates decline, there is a noticeable trend of "savings migration," with bank wealth management products gaining popularity due to their lower volatility [3][4]. - A survey indicates that 62.3% of urban savers prefer to save more, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points from the previous quarter [4]. - The number of investors holding wealth management products reached 139 million by the end of the third quarter, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.7% [4]. Group 4: Recommendations for Banks - Banks are advised to enhance asset yields by optimizing credit structures and improving risk pricing capabilities while also focusing on non-credit asset management [4]. - On the liability side, banks should strengthen their core deposit-raising capabilities by exploring service, product, and channel potentials, and optimizing customer segmentation strategies to enhance low-cost fund retention [4].