Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the controversy surrounding Yilian Bank's decision to potentially redeem a specific deposit product early, which has raised concerns among customers regarding interest loss and regulatory compliance [1][3]. Group 1: Early Redemption of Deposit Products - Yilian Bank is reportedly considering early redemption of its "3-Year Exclusive Deposit" product, which has a comprehensive annual interest rate of 4.2% [1][4]. - Customers received notifications about the early redemption, which could result in a loss of nearly one year of interest for those who purchased the product [3][4]. - The bank's customer service denied any current plans for stopping payments on any products, stating that any adjustments would be announced through official channels [1][3]. Group 2: Interest Rate Structure - The "3-Year Exclusive Deposit" product has a base annual interest rate of 2.95%, supplemented by a reward interest rate of 1.25% related to the study of the "Deposit Insurance Regulations," leading to a total of 4.2% [4]. - Other deposit products from Yilian Bank also feature similar reward structures, indicating a trend in their offerings [4]. Group 3: Third-Party Involvement - Customers were required to sign an agreement with a third party, Hunan Chengshengde Technology Co., Ltd., to receive the additional interest, indicating a complex structure behind the interest rates [6][7]. - This third-party arrangement raises concerns about potential regulatory evasion regarding deposit interest rates [8][9]. Group 4: Financial Performance and Challenges - Yilian Bank has faced declining revenues and profits since 2020, with reported revenues of 10.65 billion yuan in 2023 and a net profit loss of 5.9 billion yuan in 2024, marking it as the only loss-making private bank among its peers [12][13]. - The bank's total assets and liabilities have significantly decreased, with total assets dropping by 21% to 40.822 billion yuan and total liabilities also decreasing by 21% [12][13]. - The bank's heavy reliance on personal time deposits, which account for over 84% of its deposit balance, has created pressure on its financial stability, especially in a declining interest rate environment [13].

Core Viewpoint - The news revolves around Yilian Bank's decision to potentially redeem a specific deposit product early, which has raised concerns among customers regarding interest loss and the bank's financial practices [1][2]. Group 1: Early Redemption of Deposit Products - Yilian Bank is reportedly considering early redemption of its "3-Year Exclusive Deposit" product, which has a comprehensive annual interest rate of 4.2% [1][2]. - Customers have expressed concerns that early redemption would result in a loss of nearly one year of interest, as the product was originally set to mature in September 2026 [2]. Group 2: Interest Rate Structure - The "3-Year Exclusive Deposit" product's interest rate consists of a base rate of 2.95% plus an additional 1.25% linked to a third-party incentive related to the "Deposit Insurance Regulations," resulting in a total of 4.2% [2]. - Other deposit products from Yilian Bank also feature similar structures, such as the "Good Yilian 32-Day" product with a total rate of 3.6% and the "Exclusive 366-Day" product with a total rate of 3.8% [3]. Group 3: Third-Party Involvement - Customers are required to sign an agreement with a third party, Hunan Chengshengde Technology Co., Ltd., to receive the additional interest, indicating that the incentive rates are not fixed and may fluctuate [4]. - Hunan Chengshengde has previously been involved in Yilian Bank's promotional activities, raising concerns about the legitimacy of these practices [5]. Group 4: Financial Performance and Challenges - Yilian Bank has faced declining revenues and profits since 2020, with a reported net loss of 5.9 billion in 2024, making it the only loss-making bank among 19 private banks that year [7]. - The bank's total assets and liabilities have both significantly decreased, with total assets dropping by 21% to 408.22 billion and total liabilities also down by 21% to 379.66 billion by the end of 2024 [8]. - The bank's heavy reliance on personal fixed deposits, which account for over 84% of its deposit balance, has created pressure, especially in a declining interest rate environment [8].

Core Viewpoint - The popularity of Labubu, an IP under Pop Mart, has led to a surge in demand, prompting banks to offer promotional activities involving Labubu blind boxes as incentives for deposits, although such marketing strategies have faced regulatory scrutiny and subsequent bans [1][2][4]. Group 1: Marketing Activities - Several branches of Ping An Bank in cities like Xi'an, Shijiazhuang, and Wuhan launched a promotion where new customers could receive Labubu blind boxes by depositing at least 50,000 yuan for a minimum of three to six months [1]. - The promotional strategy aimed to attract more customers amid declining deposit rates and increased competition among banks [1][5]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - Financial regulatory authorities in the Yangtze River Delta region reiterated a ban on banks using physical gifts or collaborations with internet platforms to attract deposits, requiring immediate cessation of such activities [2]. - The 2018 regulation explicitly prohibits banks from using improper means, such as cash returns or physical gifts, to attract deposits, with multiple banks having faced penalties for violating these rules [4]. Group 3: Financial Implications - The effective cost of the Labubu promotion, when calculated, suggests that the annualized interest rate for a three-month deposit of 50,000 yuan could reach approximately 2.27%, exceeding the typical rates of 1% to 1.5% offered by banks [4][5]. - Concerns have been raised that if banks continue to use such promotional tactics, it could lead to a "gift competition" that raises overall deposit costs and disrupts healthy competition based on service quality [5]. Group 4: Recommendations for Banks - Experts suggest that banks should focus on enhancing service quality and product offerings rather than relying on gift promotions to attract deposits, which could increase non-interest expenses and hidden liabilities [5][6]. - There is a call for banks, especially smaller ones, to shift their operational strategies away from merely pursuing deposit growth towards better asset-liability management and sustainable development [6].

Core Viewpoint - Recent regulatory measures have been implemented to curb "fancy" deposit solicitation practices by banks, with a clear timeline for the exit of related non-compliant activities by the end of 2025 [1][3][4] Summary by Relevant Sections Regulatory Measures - Local regulatory authorities have introduced multiple prohibitive regulations aimed at various deposit solicitation methods, including manual interest supplementation and the issuance of interest coupons [3][4] - The regulations also prohibit banks from offering physical gifts or collaborating with internet platforms to provide membership benefits as a means of attracting deposits [4][6] Impact on Banks - The decline in deposit interest rates has increased the pressure on banks to attract deposits, leading to the emergence of various unconventional solicitation methods [3][5] - Smaller banks, in particular, are more likely to resort to "fancy" solicitation practices due to their weaker brand influence and network coverage compared to larger banks [5][6] Compliance and Management - The regulatory framework emphasizes the need for banks to enhance compliance management regarding deposit solicitation activities, with immediate cessation of non-compliant products and a structured exit plan for existing ones by 2025 [6][7] - Experts suggest that banks should shift focus from high-cost solicitation methods to improving service quality and product innovation to attract depositors sustainably [7][8]