Core Viewpoint - Recently, major banks such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and China Merchants Bank have experienced a phenomenon where short-term deposit rates exceed long-term deposit rates, indicating a shift in the banking landscape [1][2]. Group 1: Reasons for Rate Inversion - The inversion of deposit rates among large and medium-sized banks is attributed to several factors, including banks' expectations of continued interest rate declines, short-term liquidity pressures, and intensified competition in the short-term deposit market [1][8]. - Banks are proactively reducing the absorption of higher-yielding medium- and long-term deposits, leading to lower rates for these products [8]. - The phenomenon of deposit rate inversion was previously more common among small and medium-sized banks, but it is now observed in larger institutions as well [6][8]. Group 2: Specific Rate Examples - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China offers a maximum annual interest rate of 1.85% for a 3-year fixed deposit, while the 5-year fixed deposit rate is only 1.55% [3]. - China Construction Bank shows a similar trend, with a maximum annual interest rate of 1.90% for a 3-year fixed deposit compared to 1.55% for a 5-year fixed deposit [4]. - China Merchants Bank has a 1-year deposit rate of 1.60%, which is higher than the 3-year and 5-year rates of 1.50% and 1.55%, respectively [5].