记者观察丨银行业“内卷”的博弈困境：短期拉规模、长期藏风险

Core Viewpoint - The financial industry is experiencing "involution" competition, leading to challenges in profitability and sustainable growth [1][4][7]. Regulatory Actions - Financial regulatory bodies in regions such as Guangdong, Ningbo, and Anhui are promoting "anti-involution" policies and self-regulatory agreements to address unhealthy competition practices [2][8]. Industry Performance - As of the end of Q1 this year, the net interest margin for commercial banks was 1.43%, down 9 basis points from 1.52% at the end of 2024, indicating increasing difficulty in profitability for banks [3]. Competitive Landscape - The competition among banks has shifted from expanding new business to fighting for existing market share, resulting in intensified "involution" competition [4]. - The asset side is experiencing continuous declines, while the liability side is slow to decrease, leading to homogenization of financial products and services [5]. Pricing Wars - A notable example of this competition is the "price war" in consumer loans, where banks have reduced interest rates to the "2" range, employing various marketing strategies to attract customers. However, this low-efficiency competition has drawn regulatory scrutiny, leading to an increase in annualized rates above 3% since April [5]. Hidden Competition - Negative competition on the liability side is less visible, as seen in the past regulatory crackdown on "manual interest supplementation" practices [6]. Long-term Implications - Experts suggest that while "involution" may be a short-term survival strategy for banks in a limited market, it ultimately compresses profit margins and increases operational risks, hindering the healthy development of the banking sector [7]. - The core issue of "involution" is low-level homogenized competition, which does not align with risk control and sustainable returns, leading to a buildup of long-term risks [7]. Recommendations for Sustainable Development - To achieve sustainable growth, especially for small and medium-sized banks, it is essential to dynamically adjust scale and pricing, enhance risk and capital management, and develop differentiated strategies to navigate economic cycles [9].