Core Insights - The retail credit market is experiencing a slowdown, with many banks facing challenges in maintaining retail performance metrics amid weak consumer demand and credit needs [1][2][3] Group 1: Retail Credit Trends - Retail loan growth has decelerated, with several banks reporting a decrease in retail loan balances compared to the end of last year [2] - As of the end of September, several banks, including Industrial Bank and Minsheng Bank, reported declines in personal loan balances, with decreases of 2.49% and 3.17% respectively [2] - The overall retail loan demand is insufficient, particularly in mortgage and credit card segments, leading to a downward trend in loan balances [3] Group 2: Customer Segmentation - There is a noticeable divergence in growth rates between high-net-worth and basic retail customer segments, with high-net-worth customers growing at a faster pace [4][5] - As of September, the number of high-net-worth customers at several banks, such as China Merchants Bank and Ping An Bank, has increased significantly, with growth rates of 10.42% and 6.7% respectively [5][6] - The trend indicates a shift towards deeper competition in the retail banking sector, focusing on maximizing value from existing customer bases rather than acquiring new customers [7]