Quotas for 318 commercial banks' interbank deposit certificates totalled RMB 30.3 trillion in 2026, down RMB 1.6 trillion or 5% from 2025, reversing a sustained growth trend. The filing was delayed until July, reflecting weak real-economy financing demand and an asset shortage as deposit growth outpaced loan growth. RMB loan growth hit a record low of 5.2% in June 2026. Adjustments were uneven: Industrial Bank cut its quota by RMB 600 billion, while Agricultural Bank of China and China Construction Bank raised theirs.
Starting August 3, 2026, all branches of China Construction Bank's Enshi division will trial a workday lunch break from 12:30 to 14:00, suspending all manual teller services while keeping self-service and online channels 24/7. This marks the first such pilot at a state-owned bank branch level, triggering social media discussion. The trial comes amid industry shifts in bank operating hours, and follows an audit report revealing 1.41 trillion yuan in inflated deposits and loans due to 'involution' competition, plus regulatory fines for deposit targets. The trial's duration remains undetermined.