券商中国·2025-10-08 08:10Core Viewpoint - Recent adjustments by some joint-stock banks to reduce credit card overdraft rates to "0" aim to increase volume by lowering costs [1] Group 1: Credit Card Loan Trends - Credit card loan balances are a key indicator of retail banking customer activity, with recent adjustments reflecting banks' efforts to compete for existing customers during a retail "cold season" [2] - Many listed banks have seen a further expansion of negative growth in credit card loan balances this year, alongside a decline in other retail loan categories such as consumer loans and mortgages [2][4] - Major state-owned banks like Bank of China and Postal Savings Bank reported declines in credit card loan balances of 13.88% and 5.67% respectively, while some joint-stock banks also experienced negative growth [3] Group 2: Overall Retail Lending Environment - The retail lending sector is undergoing an "adjustment period," with 17 out of 42 listed banks reporting a contraction in personal loan balances as of mid-2023 [4] - The contraction in personal housing mortgage loans has been a significant factor, with a reported negative growth of 1.6% in personal housing loan balances at the end of 2023, marking the first decline since 1997 [5][6] Group 3: Retail Loan Risk Assessment - Retail loan risks are on the rise, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio for retail loans increasing to 1.23% as of mid-2023, compared to a decrease in corporate loan NPL ratios [9] - Specific segments such as mortgage loans, consumer loans, and credit cards have seen their NPL ratios rise, indicating a challenging environment for retail lending [9][10] - The overall retail loan risk trend remains upward, with banks acknowledging the need for improved risk management practices in response to these challenges [10]