China’s Retail Banking Landscape Being Shaped By Four Trends

“China’s retail banking revenues have grown 30 percent a year since 2009 and could exceed RMB 2.6 trillion (over US$430 billion) by 2020, making the country the largest retail banking market in Asia. Intense competition for the Chinese retail banking consumer’s wallet has accompanied this fast growth. Meanwhile, the retail banking landscape has faced several challenges, including interest rate liberalization, major regulatory changes, and the rise of digital finance,” McKinsey China reports.

A man rides a tricycle past a branch of China Everbright Bank in Shanghai on August 18, 2010. China Everbright Bank opened up 8.71 percent in its Shanghai stock market debut in the mainland’s second-largest initial public offering of the year after AgBank’s record-setting effort. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

To better understand Chinese banking customers, McKinsey conducted in 2014 a personal financial services survey of more than 3,500 consumers across Tier 1, 2, 3, and 4 cities. (McKinsey has done similar personal financial services surveys since 1998, and most recently in 2007 and 2011.)

Highlights of the current research include the folloiwng:

1. Chinese consumers are still among the least loyal in Asia. For example, less than half of Chinese consumers will remain loyal to their primary bank when offered more attractive pricing terms from competitors, compared with nearly 70 percent in emerging Asia.
2. Consumer needs and behaviors are becoming increasingly similar across China. For example, penetration of several banking products now varies by less than 5 percent across tier cities.
3. The country’s “Big Four” banks are less dominant. For example, their market share is eroding across tier cities and income segments.
4. Digital banking is going mainstream. Today, more than 70 percent of Chinese consumers say they would open an account with a pure digital bank.

Implications for traditional retail banks and Internet players are far-reaching. For retail banks, a key to success in the future is moving toward more of a total relationship model. Internet players, for their part, must better understand how to integrate financial services with the Chinese consumer’s digital lifestyle.

Download the full report here