1. INTRODUCTION

China's major banks have made some changes to their interbank transfer policies, and China's largest commercial bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), is no exception. In this article, we will look at ICBC's new policy of charging different fees for interbank transfers and the impact it may have on customers.

2. BACKGROUND

In the past, ICBC charged a fixed fee for all transfer transactions regardless of whether the transaction was a same-day or a delayed settlement. However, in recent years, some domestic banks have started to change the fee structure for transfer transactions, with the aim of incentivizing same-day transfers and promoting the development of an efficient and safe interbank transfer system.

3. ICBC'S NEW FEE STRUCTURE

On May 8, 2019, ICBC announced that it was changing its fee structure for interbank transfers. From then on, a new fee structure would be applied based on the type of transfer and settlement time.

For same-day transfers, ICBC would charge a fee of RMB 2 per transaction for a transfer of less than RMB 50,000, and RMB 5 per transaction for a transfer of more than RMB 50,000. For delayed settlement transfers, the fee would be RMB 1 per transaction for a transfer of less than RMB 50,000, and RMB 3 per transaction for a transfer of more than RMB 50,000.

4. IMPLICATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS

Customers who frequently use ICBC for interbank transfers will be affected by this new fee structure. For customers who often make same-day transfers, they may need to pay higher fees than before. For customers who often make delayed settlement transfers, they may experience a slight decline in fees.

The new fee structure may also encourage customers to choose same-day transfers, which might result in increased demand for same-day transfers and, in turn, lead to an increase in the efficiency of ICBC's interbank transfer system.

5. CONCLUSION

The ICBC's new fee structure for interbank transfers is another step in the evolution of China's interbank transfer system. Although customers may need to pay slightly different fees depending on their transfer type and settlement time, this may ultimately lead to a more efficient and safe interbank transfer system as a whole.