Zhong Guo Zheng Quan Bao·2025-12-01 20:25Core Viewpoint - The revised guidelines from the State Administration for Market Regulation aim to address the issues of "difficult and expensive financing" for enterprises, particularly small and micro businesses, by prohibiting various unreasonable fees charged by commercial banks [1][3]. Summary by Sections Prohibition of Unreasonable Fees - The guidelines explicitly prohibit the fictitious charging of syndicate loan fees and other unreasonable charges, such as charging commitment fees after interest has been collected [1][2]. - A specific example highlighted is a bank that charged a commitment fee of 36 million yuan for a 400 million yuan loan, which is now deemed unreasonable under the new guidelines [2]. Systematic Regulation of Charging Practices - The guidelines address issues like "no-demand charges" and "bundled charges," stating that banks cannot charge fees for services that have no actual demand, such as issuing unnecessary guarantees or loan commitment letters [3]. - The guidelines also prohibit mandatory service fees, such as forcing clients to open online banking services or promoting unnecessary AI advisory services [3]. Strengthening Bank Accountability - The guidelines enhance the accountability of banks by requiring them to prove compliance with regulations, shifting the responsibility from merely avoiding violations to demonstrating compliance [3]. - The guidelines also mandate banks to verify the classification of small and micro enterprises to ensure the implementation of fee reduction policies [3]. Improvement of Financial Services - The guidelines establish a dual regulatory system of "law enforcement penalties + positive guidance," differentiating between light and heavy penalties based on banks' actions regarding the return of unreasonable fees [4]. - The principle of "separation of interest and fees" is emphasized, prohibiting banks from inflating intermediary business income through disguised fees [4]. - Industry experts believe that while the guidelines may lead to a short-term reduction in bank fees, they will ultimately encourage banks to enhance the quality and efficiency of financial services to attract clients and generate revenue [4].