21世纪经济报道·2025-10-13 12:35Core Viewpoint - The recent shutdown of credit card apps, particularly by major state-owned banks like Bank of China, reflects a broader trend in the banking industry towards consolidating digital services and reducing operational costs amid a shrinking credit card business [1][5][16]. Group 1: Credit Card App Shutdowns - Bank of China announced the gradual shutdown of its "Bountiful Life" app, migrating its functions to the main "Bank of China" app, which has drawn market attention [1][4]. - Several banks, including Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank and Beijing Rural Commercial Bank, have previously shut down their credit card apps, indicating a trend towards integrating these services into existing banking apps [5][6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and User Engagement - The credit card app market is experiencing significant differentiation, with major state-owned banks and some joint-stock banks dominating user engagement metrics [7][8]. - As of June 2025, the top credit card apps by monthly active users include those from major banks, with Bank of China's "Bountiful Life" app ranking 13th with 1.5454 million active users, significantly lower than leading apps [7][8]. Group 3: Credit Card Loan Performance - State-owned banks maintain a strong position in credit card loan volumes, with China Construction Bank reporting a credit card loan scale of 1.0549 trillion yuan, the only bank exceeding 1 trillion yuan [9][10]. - Joint-stock banks also show robust performance, with China Merchants Bank's credit card loan balance reaching 924.49 billion yuan, accounting for 12.99% of its total loans [9][10]. Group 4: Digital Transformation and App Management - The closure of independent credit card apps is part of a broader strategy for centralized management of banking applications, as mandated by regulatory authorities to optimize user experience and reduce redundancy [16][17]. - Banks are increasingly focusing on comprehensive apps that integrate various financial services, moving away from multiple standalone apps to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement [17].