Core Viewpoint - The National Market Supervision Administration has revised the "Guidelines for Law Enforcement on Commercial Bank Charging Behavior" to address improper charging practices by commercial banks, particularly focusing on small and micro enterprises [2][3][7]. Summary by Sections Regulatory Changes - The revised guidelines detail prohibited charging behaviors, including the fabrication of syndicate loan fees, charging commitment fees while collecting loan interest, and mandatory issuance of guarantee letters for fees [2][5]. - Commercial banks are required to adhere to principles of legality, equality, voluntary participation, separation of interest and fees, and price matching [2][3]. Implementation of Policies - Banks must implement existing preferential measures for small and micro enterprises, verifying their classification through various methods and ensuring the application of reduction policies [3][6]. - Instances of penalties for banks failing to comply with these measures have been noted, including a fine of 2.3 million yuan for a policy bank in October for not implementing preferential policies [3][6]. Identification of Violations - The guidelines specify conditions under which charging behaviors are deemed violations, such as exceeding government pricing limits or unauthorized fee setting [4][5]. - For market-regulated pricing, nine specific conditions are outlined that would constitute a violation, including unauthorized fees and discrepancies in service delivery [4][5]. Prohibited Practices - The guidelines emphasize the prohibition of bundled sales of financial products, where banks cannot force customers to purchase additional services or products as a condition for loans [5][6]. - Specific examples of violations include mandatory purchases of insurance or financial products during loan processing, which have led to penalties for banks this year [6][7]. Penalty Standards - The guidelines establish criteria for penalties, allowing for reduced penalties in cases of minor violations or cooperation with regulatory investigations [7]. - Conversely, severe violations, including evidence tampering or refusal to rectify issues, may result in harsher penalties [7]. Overall Impact - The revision of the guidelines aims to respond to the needs of enterprises for fair banking practices, reduce financing costs, and enhance the regulatory environment for a market-oriented economy [7].

Core Viewpoint - The State Administration for Market Regulation has revised and issued the "Enforcement Guidelines for Commercial Bank Charging Behavior," which detail prohibited charging behaviors and emphasize compliance with regulations in banking fees [1][2]. Summary by Sections Prohibited Charging Behaviors - The guidelines specify that commercial banks must not fabricate syndicate loan fees, charge commitment fees while collecting loan interest, or force clients to obtain guarantees for fees [1]. - Banks are required to adhere to the "Standards for Classification of Small and Medium Enterprises" and inform clients about fee reduction policies [1]. Principles of Charging Behavior - Commercial banks must follow four principles: legality and compliance, equality and voluntariness, separation of interest and fees, and price matching quality [2][3]. Pricing Transparency - Banks must strictly implement clear pricing regulations, displaying service items, content, fee standards, applicable objects, effective dates, and complaint methods prominently [4]. - New or increased market-adjusted pricing must be publicly announced three months in advance [4]. Implementation of Discounts - Banks are required to actively inform clients about existing discount measures and notify them before the expiration of these measures [5]. - For fees related to small and medium enterprises, banks must verify classifications and ensure the implementation of reduction policies [5]. Definition of Violations - The guidelines outline specific behaviors that constitute violations for both government-guided and market-adjusted pricing, including exceeding price limits and unauthorized fee structures [6][7]. Unreasonable Fees - Fees charged for syndicate loans that do not meet the defined characteristics or for commitment fees after funds have been disbursed are deemed unreasonable [8]. - Charges for electronic banking services that are not needed by the client or for AI and big data services without actual demand are also classified as unreasonable [9].