The Spring Festival has passed, and banks are still promoting personal credit loans.

　　The day before yesterday, a reporter from the Beijing Youth Daily learned that since the beginning of this year, many banks have once again launched promotions and discounts on personal credit loan interest rates. They have vigorously marketed through lottery draws, coupons, limited-time special offers, etc. The various activities are dizzying.

　　At present, the lowest interest rate for major state-owned banks has dropped to 3%, and the best interest rate for some joint-stock banks and city commercial banks is even lower than 3%.

Bank personal credit loan interest rates continue to fall

　　"Before the Spring Festival, several banks sent me text messages to promote consumer loans. I saw that the interest rates were lower than before." Ms. Li, a citizen of Dongcheng City, said.

A promotional text message sent by ICBC to Ms. Li in June last year stated that when applying for an ICBC personal credit loan, the lowest annual interest rate for a one-year loan was 3.65%; on January 10 this year, this interest rate had been reduced to 3.45%.

There is also the Agricultural Bank of China’s Wangjie Loan, whose lowest interest rate has also dropped to 3.45% from about 3.6% last summer.

　　Hubei reader Mr. Xing also received a promotional text message from a joint stock bank before the Spring Festival.

He has received similar text messages before. The lowest interest rate was 3.6% in September last year, 3.3% in October, and 3.5% in December. Since this year, it has dropped to 3.3% and 3.1%.

　　The above two banks are far from the only ones who have lowered personal credit loan interest rates.

Recently, many banks have further cut interest rates on personal consumer loans.

For example, on February 23, promotional information released by Postal Savings Bank Guangdong Branch showed that the bank’s Postal Savings Loans were approved instantly for loans within 200,000 yuan, with a minimum annualized interest rate of 3%. Three months ago, the lowest interest rate was still 3.39%. .

Promotional activities come in various forms

　　A reporter from Beiqing Daily found that taking advantage of the peak consumption season of the Spring Festival, many banks launched a variety of preferential activities to attract new and old customers to "take out" personal credit loans.

　　China Merchants Bank Shenzhen Branch launched the "Five New Year Gifts" for flash loans. No matter whether you apply for a loan, build a limit, raise a limit, reach a balance or withdraw money, you will get coupons or gifts. Pure new customers can enjoy the lowest interest rate of 3%.

　　China CITIC Bank’s “Xin Miao Loan” has also launched a huge spring discount event. High-quality corporate customers can get 40% off interest coupons, and the annualized interest rate (simple interest) after the discount is 3.28%. If you are lucky enough to get the 40% off interest coupons for a limited time, the annual The interest rate (simple interest) can be as low as 2.98%.

"This activity lasts until March 31. The current approval standards are that there must be no overdue, the number of credit inquiries cannot exceed 9 times in the past 6 months, and the credit card limit utilization rate must not exceed 80%, etc." An account manager of the bank Introduction.

　　The Changsha Branch of the Bank of Beijing launched the "year-end special gratitude feedback". The maximum loan limit of "Beijing e-Loan" is 1 million yuan, and the annualized loan interest rate is as low as 2.98%.

The lowest interest rates are not available to everyone

　　Is the lowest interest rate advertised in bank advertisements "a reward for those who see it"?

The answer is obviously no. Only a few high-quality customers can finally enjoy the lowest interest rates that are attractive.

　　A reporter from Beiqing Daily noticed that in order to prevent consumers from misunderstanding, various banks’ consumer loan promotion posters will add a reminder at the end: “The product interest rate shall be subject to the actual handling interest rate. If you have any questions, please contact the local branch for details.” The specific interest rate is subject to the actual display on the page." "The specific loan amount and interest rate are subject to the approval results."

　　There are also some promotional pages that clearly state that the lowest interest rate is only available to specific groups of people or has restrictions. Generally, only new customers who meet the conditions can enjoy it, and some have limited usage time.

For example, the Changsha Branch of the Bank of Beijing stated that the preferential interest rate of 2.98% is only available to new customers who make their first withdrawal.

China Merchants Bank Shenzhen Branch's "Flash Loan 3% Return" activity stipulates that only pure new customers who have successfully established a flash loan before February 29 and have a recruitment value of not less than 17,000 can obtain a 3% interest rate coupon. This coupon is only available for It is limited to loan periods of 24 and below.

　　It is understood that in addition to targeting new customers, many banks also require customers to work in high-quality units.

An account manager of a joint-stock bank told a reporter from the Beiqing Daily that the bank's preferential interest rates are limited to whitelist customers, which mainly refer to employees of state-owned enterprises and institutions or foreign companies in the Fortune 500.

In addition, the bank's mortgage customers, salary payment customers, and high-end financial management customers will also have advantages when applying for consumer loans.

A large state-owned bank has made it clear that the preferential interest rates are applicable to civil servants, public institutions, doctors, teachers, regular employees of the financial industry, central and state-owned enterprises, middle and senior managers of listed companies and private banking customers of the bank.

Why banks are rushing to promote personal consumption loans

　　In October last year, the State Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau and the Central Bank successively launched financial measures to promote consumption, emphasizing the need to further increase financial support in key areas and weak links, and reduce consumer finance costs.

Industry insiders believe that banks actively promote personal consumption loans on the one hand to respond to national policies and regulatory requirements, and on the other hand to respond to market competition and changes in the structure of the personal loan business.

Last year, bank deposit interest rates experienced three rounds of large-scale reductions, and the decline in capital costs also provided banks with room to lower loan interest rates.

　　Zhou Maohua, a macro researcher at the Financial Markets Department of China Everbright Bank, said that there are two reasons behind banks' use of low interest rates to "solicit loans". First, domestic macro policies are more positive and the market interest rate center continues to move downward; on the other hand, domestic consumer confidence and consumer loan demand In the recovery stage, Overlay Bank is actively promoting the development of consumer loan business, and competition among the industry is relatively fierce.

　　Dong Ximiao, chief researcher of China Merchants Union, pointed out that due to factors such as lower deposit interest rates, bank capital costs have also declined, and there is a certain basis for lowering personal consumption loan interest rates.

At the same time, in order to expand market share, some banks hope to attract more customers through lower interest rates, which is a promotional behavior of "small profits but quick turnover".

The current effective financing demand of the residential sector is insufficient, and the growth of medium and long-term household loans is sluggish. Some banks hope to make up for this credit growth gap by developing personal consumption loans.

Consumers should not rely too much on borrowing for consumption

　　What needs to be reminded is that although consumer loan interest rates have been falling again and again, consumers should apply based on actual needs to prevent over-consumption.

The Beijing Supervision Bureau of the State Administration of Financial Supervision and Administration has issued a risk warning, reminding consumers to develop rational consumption habits, establish responsible lending awareness, and not to rely too much on borrowing for consumption.

It is necessary to clarify your own loan needs and determine whether and what kind of loan you need based on your needs.

Don’t borrow blindly or over-borrow regardless of the consequences; don’t choose to “support loans with loans” or “long-term borrowing”.

　　Text/Reporter Cheng Jie Coordinator/Yu Meiying