Core Viewpoint - Baixin Bank, established in 2017, is a unique "direct bank" model that operates without physical branches, leveraging internet technology to provide banking services [1][2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Baixin Bank was jointly founded by CITIC Bank and Baidu's subsidiary, Baidu Borui, with a registered capital of 5.634 billion yuan [1][2]. - The bank's ownership structure includes CITIC Bank holding 65.79%, Baidu Borui 26.03%, and a Canadian pension fund 8.27% [2]. - As of the end of 2024, Baixin Bank had 999 employees, with 59.3% being technology personnel [4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Total assets grew from 35.924 billion yuan in 2018 to 117.29 billion yuan in 2024, a 2.26 times increase over six years [7]. - Operating income increased from 1.295 billion yuan in 2018 to 4.626 billion yuan in 2024, a growth of 2.57 times [7]. - Net profit transitioned from a loss in 2018 to a profit of 855 million yuan in 2023, although it decreased to 652 million yuan in 2024 [7]. Group 3: Business Structure - Baixin Bank primarily focuses on personal and small micro-enterprise loans, with a significant portion of its loans being consumer loans [12][14]. - As of the end of 2024, over 80% of the bank's loans were consumer loans, totaling 64.291 billion yuan, while corporate loans were only 0.5 million yuan [14][15]. - The bank's business model resembles that of a consumer finance company rather than a traditional commercial bank [12][18]. Group 4: Asset Quality - The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio was 1.50% at the end of 2024, up from 1.36% in 2023, indicating increased asset quality pressure [16][18]. - The NPL coverage ratio decreased from 303.76% in 2023 to 264.69% in 2024, reflecting a decline in asset quality management [16]. - Despite the rising NPL ratio, Baixin Bank's 1.50% rate remains relatively low compared to industry peers [18]. Group 5: Strategic Challenges - The bank faces significant competition from traditional banks expanding their digital offerings and from other internet-based financial institutions [19]. - Maintaining stable business growth and finding ways to differentiate in a competitive landscape are critical challenges for Baixin Bank [19].

Core Viewpoint - The rise and fall of direct banks in China over the past decade reflects the challenges of digital transformation in the traditional banking sector, with many banks now integrating their direct banking services into mobile banking platforms due to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements [1][4][12]. Group 1: Development and Decline of Direct Banks - Direct banking in China began in 2013 with Beijing Bank, leading to a peak of 116 direct banks by 2019, but has since dwindled to around 20 by 2024 [1][3][6]. - Beijing Bank's direct banking customer base grew from 246,000 in 2015 to 476,000 in 2019, with cumulative sales reaching 11.56 billion yuan, but no further data has been disclosed since [1][2]. - Major banks have increasingly shut down or integrated their direct banking services into mobile banking apps, with Beijing Bank planning to migrate its direct banking services to its mobile app by June 2025 [2][3]. Group 2: Challenges Faced by Direct Banks - The decline of direct banks is attributed to the rise of mobile banking, which has improved user experience and functionality, rendering the independent existence of direct banks less valuable [4][10]. - Many customers remain unfamiliar with the concept of direct banks, leading to trust issues that hinder their growth [7][12]. - Direct banks often lack independent operational capabilities and face internal conflicts due to their positioning within traditional banking structures, limiting their ability to innovate and respond to market needs [9][11][12]. Group 3: Survival of Small and Regional Direct Banks - Smaller regional banks continue to operate direct banking services due to their resource constraints, which make the lightweight model of direct banks more suitable for their needs [5][8]. - These banks focus on localized customer bases and offer tailored financial products, allowing them to maintain a competitive edge despite the overall decline in direct banking [5][8]. Group 4: Future Prospects and Lessons Learned - The remaining direct banks may find success by refining their market positioning and collaborating with their parent banks to enhance service offerings [8][13]. - The experience of direct banks has highlighted the need for traditional banks to adapt to digital demands and has paved the way for the emergence of private and internet banks in the future [13].

Core Viewpoint - The announcement by Beijing Bank marks the end of an era for direct banks in China, as it plans to migrate its direct banking services to its "Jingcai Life" mobile banking app by June 25, 2025, leading to the discontinuation of the first direct banking channel in the country [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - The number of operational direct banking apps has decreased to fewer than 20, a significant drop from 135 at its peak in 2017, indicating an over 85% market elimination rate [1] - Direct banks were initially popular due to their convenience and low operational costs, but have faced challenges leading to their decline [2] Group 2: Historical Context - Beijing Bank launched the first direct bank in collaboration with ING Group in September 2013, during a time of rapid growth in internet finance, with direct banks seen as a key tool for digital transformation [2] - By 2015, Beijing Bank's direct banking customer base reached 246,000, with savings deposits increasing by 463.1% compared to the beginning of the year [2] - The last reported customer count for Beijing Bank's direct banking was 476,000 in 2019, with 60.7% being external customers, but this segment has since disappeared from annual reports [2] Group 3: Challenges Faced - The decline of direct banks is attributed to overlapping positioning and structural dependencies, leading to unclear development paths and customer confusion [3] - The distinction between direct banks and mobile banking has blurred, as mobile banking apps have integrated various services, resulting in significant product overlap [3][4] - Direct banks often lack independent management structures, being subordinate to traditional banks, which hampers their ability to innovate and compete effectively [4] Group 4: Future Outlook - The closure and integration of direct banking services are seen as a trend that will continue in the industry [6] - Remaining independent direct banks, such as Baixin Bank and YouHui WanJia, are exploring new development paths that differ from traditional departmental structures [6] - Baixin Bank, established in January 2017, aims to bridge traditional banking and internet enterprises, but has faced challenges, including a 23.74% decline in net profit in 2024 [6] - The evolution of direct banks serves as a lesson for commercial banks to explore a hybrid online-offline business model while maintaining a clear positioning and leveraging their strengths [6]

Core Viewpoint - The direct banking sector in China, once highly anticipated, is witnessing a significant decline, with major banks like Beijing Bank announcing the integration of their direct banking services into traditional mobile banking apps, marking the exit of the first direct bank [2][6]. Development of Direct Banks - The development of direct banks in China began in 2013, with Beijing Bank launching the first direct banking service, which was seen as a new era for the industry [4][5]. - At its peak, the number of direct banks exceeded 100, with city commercial banks and rural commercial banks being the primary participants [5]. Business Performance and Challenges - Beijing Bank's direct banking service saw rapid growth initially, with customer numbers reaching 476,000 by 2019 and total funds sold amounting to 11.56 billion yuan [6]. - However, since 2017, major state-owned and joint-stock banks have been adjusting their direct banking channels, leading to a trend of merging these services into mobile banking apps [6][8]. Market Dynamics - The number of operational direct banking apps has drastically reduced to about a dozen, primarily among smaller city and rural banks [2][8]. - Many direct banks have failed to establish a distinct market position, often serving merely as online extensions of traditional banking services, leading to a lack of competitive advantage [8][10]. Regulatory and Operational Constraints - The tightening of regulatory policies and the issue of product homogeneity have further restricted the growth potential of direct banks [9][10]. - Independent direct banks face significant challenges, including the need for complete operational independence from their parent banks, which complicates their ability to build profitable customer acquisition models [12][13]. Performance of Independent Direct Banks - Independent direct banks like Baixin Bank and Postal Savings Bank's Postal Huinong have not performed well, with Baixin Bank reporting a net profit decline of 23.74% in 2024 [12]. - The termination of the establishment of another independent direct bank,招商拓扑, highlights the difficulties in launching new entities in this space [13].

Group 1 - The direct banking model, which was once highly anticipated, is now witnessing a decline, with the first explorer, Beijing Bank, announcing the migration of its direct banking services to its mobile banking app by June 25, 2025 [2][4] - Currently, only a handful of local small and medium-sized banks operate direct banking apps, such as Hunan Bank and Tieling Bank, indicating a significant reduction in the number of active direct banks [5] - The direct banking model was first introduced by Beijing Bank on September 18, 2013, and by 2019, it had reached 476,000 customers with a cumulative sales amount of 11.56 billion yuan [5] Group 2 - The integration or shutdown of direct banking services is primarily attributed to the enhanced functionality of mobile banking apps, which now meet diverse user needs, diminishing the standalone value of direct banks [7] - The decline in internet traffic benefits and the rising customer acquisition costs have also posed challenges to the operational model of direct banks [7]

Core Viewpoint - The announcement by Beijing Bank regarding the migration of its direct banking app to its mobile banking platform marks the exit of the first direct bank in China, reflecting a broader trend of at least 19 banks shutting down or integrating their direct banking services since 2023, indicating a decline in the once-promising direct banking model after a decade of rapid growth [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Trends - The number of direct banks in China grew from 22 in 2014 to a peak of 135 by 2017, with city commercial banks accounting for 53.3% of this total [1]. - Major banks like Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Nanjing Bank began integrating direct banking functions into their mobile banking platforms starting in 2020, leading to a significant reduction in the number of operational direct banking apps [2]. Group 2: Challenges Faced by Direct Banks - Direct banks face fundamental challenges such as unclear positioning, resource wastage, and technological shortcomings, which have made the direct banking model unsustainable [2][3]. - The overlap in functionality between direct banks and mobile banking has led to direct banks being viewed as redundant channels, diminishing their competitive edge [2][3]. - Many direct banks operate under a "departmental system," lacking independent decision-making authority, which hampers their ability to innovate and compete effectively [3][4]. Group 3: Financial Viability - Direct banks have high operational costs but low revenue generation, leading to an imbalance in investment returns [5]. - The regulatory environment poses challenges for banks attempting to establish direct banks as independent entities, further complicating their operational viability [5][6]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The decline of direct banks signifies a shift in the banking industry from "channel expansion" to "ecosystem cultivation," emphasizing the need for banks to leverage technology to enhance service delivery and user value [6][7]. - For banks that continue to operate direct banking services, finding a clear market position and exploring differentiated development strategies will be crucial for survival in a competitive landscape [7].