年末揽储旺季之际，部分中小银行竟“不玩了”？

Core Viewpoint - Blue Ocean Bank has marked all its deposit products as "sold out" during the year-end deposit season, a rare occurrence in the industry, indicating a strategic move to manage high-cost liabilities rather than a typical increase in deposit marketing efforts [2][11]. Summary by Sections Deposit Products Status - As of November 28, all deposit products, including 7-day notice deposits and various term deposits, are showing a "sold out" status on Blue Ocean Bank's mobile banking app [3][5]. - The bank's customer service confirmed that the subscription quotas for all term deposit products are full, particularly for the 3-year and 5-year deposits, which have not been available for several months [5][9]. Interest Rates and Adjustments - The bank's unique deposit product, "Blue Baby," which offers terms from 3 months to 5 years, has also shown a "sold out" status despite previously advertised interest rates ranging from 1.35% to 2% [5][7]. - Blue Ocean Bank has frequently lowered its deposit rates, with eight rate cuts in the first half of the year alone. For instance, on November 1, the rates for certain products were adjusted to 1.25% [9][11]. Market Context and Implications - The unusual "sold out" status of deposit products at Blue Ocean Bank has drawn significant market attention, with analysts suggesting it reflects a broader trend among small and medium-sized banks to reduce high-cost liabilities due to narrowing net interest margins [11][12]. - Financial performance data indicates that Blue Ocean Bank is facing challenges, with a reported revenue of 1.452 billion yuan, down 39.42% year-on-year, and a net profit of 415 million yuan, down 47.86% [11][12]. - The bank's net interest margin has decreased to 2.35%, a drop of 1.99 percentage points from the previous year, highlighting the financial pressures it faces [11][12]. Industry Trends - Other small and medium-sized banks are also withdrawing long-term deposit products, with several banks, including those in Inner Mongolia, announcing the cancellation of 5-year fixed deposits [12][13]. - Analysts attribute this trend to the high interest rates on long-term deposits, which pressure banks' net interest margins, and a lack of high-yield assets to match high-cost liabilities in a weak credit demand environment [13].