Core Viewpoint - The case of Ms. Wei highlights the importance of automatic renewal in bank deposit agreements and raises questions about the obligations of banks in managing such services, particularly in the context of evolving regulations and technology [2][3][5]. Summary by Sections Basic Case Facts - Ms. Wei deposited 20,000 yuan in a bank in 1997, expecting automatic renewal, but received less than 5,000 yuan in interest upon withdrawal in 2024 due to the absence of an automatic renewal mark on her deposit certificate [3][4]. - The bank argued that since the deposit certificate did not specify automatic renewal, the interest was calculated at the lower current account rate [3][5]. Dispute Over Automatic Renewal Obligation - The central dispute revolves around whether the bank had a legal obligation to automatically renew the deposit. Ms. Wei contended that the bank should have acted on her implied request for automatic renewal, while the bank maintained that it had no such obligation due to the terms of the deposit certificate [5][11]. - The judge discovered discrepancies in the interest calculation, leading to the conclusion that the bank had failed to properly migrate the automatic renewal terms from the manual to the electronic system during a transition in 2003 [5][11]. Evolution of Automatic Renewal Practices - The article outlines three stages of automatic renewal practices in banks, starting from a non-default option before 1999, to a default option with limited renewals around 2000, and finally to unlimited renewals around 2010 [7][10]. - The 1992 Savings Management Regulations allowed for automatic renewal based on customer preference, but the implementation varied significantly over the years due to technological and regulatory changes [7][8]. Bank's Responsibility and Legal Implications - Legal experts suggest that the bank's failure to migrate the automatic renewal clause constitutes a breach of contract, as it altered the terms without Ms. Wei's consent [11][12]. - The bank's eventual agreement to compensate Ms. Wei with a sum equivalent to the interest from an automatic renewal reflects an acknowledgment of its responsibility in the matter [6][13].