中小银行没有躺平

Core Viewpoint - The banking industry, particularly small and medium-sized banks, is facing unprecedented operational pressures, with net interest margins declining to historical lows and non-performing loan ratios increasing, prompting a search for strategic solutions among industry leaders [1][3][4]. Group 1: Current Challenges - The net interest margin for commercial banks has dropped to 1.42%, with city commercial banks and rural commercial banks at 1.37% and 1.58% respectively [1][10]. - 11% of city commercial banks are classified as "red zone" high-risk institutions, with rural cooperative institutions and village banks facing even higher risk proportions [3][12]. - The total non-performing loan balance reached 3.5 trillion yuan, increasing by 883 billion yuan from the previous quarter, with a non-performing loan ratio of 1.52% [3][12]. Group 2: Performance Disparities - Among A-share listed banks, city commercial banks are outperforming, with 14 out of 17 reporting revenue growth and 16 reporting net profit growth [4][13]. - Chongqing Bank showed significant performance, achieving a revenue of 11.74 billion yuan and a net profit of 4.879 billion yuan, both up by over 10% year-on-year [4][13]. - In contrast, many joint-stock banks reported declines in both revenue and net profit, with Ping An Bank's revenue down by 9.8% [4][13]. Group 3: Strategic Responses - Differentiated competition is emphasized as crucial for survival, with banks sharing experiences on integrating into regional economies and cultures [6][14]. - The focus on "guarding the fundamentals" while innovating through digital empowerment is highlighted as essential for rural commercial banks [6][14]. - A customer-centric approach with precise industrial financial layouts is recommended for sustainable differentiation in a low-interest-rate environment [6][14]. Group 4: Technological Empowerment - Technology is identified as a key tool for small and medium-sized banks to enhance competitiveness, with funding cost gaps narrowing significantly [7][16]. - Investment in technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is increasing, with banks allocating 6% to 8% of revenue to tech R&D [7][16]. - Successful AI applications in banking have already shown significant impacts, such as a loan growth of over 50 million yuan from an AI marketing project [7][16]. Group 5: Retail Transformation and Wealth Management - Retail banking and wealth management are becoming critical areas for transformation, with many city commercial banks reporting retail asset management growth exceeding 10% [8][17]. - Jilin Bank emphasizes that strengthening retail business can significantly enhance profitability and reduce risk [8][17]. - The development of pension finance is seen as a new opportunity, with specific strategies tailored to local demographics [8][17].