中小银行开年激战揽储

Core Viewpoint - Many small and medium-sized banks are adopting a "long rise, short drop" interest rate adjustment strategy to gain a temporary advantage during the 2026 "opening red" period, despite most deposit rates remaining below 2% [1][3]. Group 1: Interest Rate Adjustments - The "opening red" period from January to March is crucial for banks, with January seen as a "golden window" for attracting deposits through favorable interest rates [2]. - Small and medium-sized banks are adjusting deposit rates by increasing long-term rates (1-year and 3-year) while decreasing short-term rates (3-month and 6-month), with some banks lowering instant deposit rates to as low as 0.05% [3][5]. - For example, a bank's 3-year fixed deposit rate was raised to 2.20% but was subsequently reduced to 1.80% with a cap on the maximum deposit amount [5][6]. Group 2: Customer Acquisition Strategies - With limited appeal from deposit rates, banks are resorting to incentives such as cash rebates, gift cards, and other rewards to attract customers [10][11]. - Some banks offer a rebate of 50 yuan for every 10,000 yuan deposited, which can elevate the effective interest rate above 2% for certain products [10]. - Customer managers are often required to subsidize the costs of gifts and rewards to meet their deposit targets, leading to financial strain on employees [11][12]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - The practice of offering cash rebates and gifts to attract deposits has raised regulatory concerns, as it may violate guidelines set by financial authorities [12]. - The ongoing pressure on small and medium-sized banks to expand their scale amidst declining market interest rates and narrowing net interest margins is creating a cycle of challenges for frontline employees [12].