Several Chinese banks have recently lowered the transaction limits for mobile banking users at the beginning of 2025, with some even reducing it to 2000 yuan, sparking discussions among netizens.
According to reports from the media in China on January 9th, on the morning of January 8th, Tongcheng Rural Commercial Bank announced on its official WeChat account that starting from January 20th, the daily transaction limit for mobile banking customers who have not made any transactions in almost a year and have a daily limit exceeding 500,000 yuan will be decreased to 2000 yuan. Previously, the bank’s daily limit was over 500,000 yuan.
Tongcheng Rural Commercial Bank also mentioned that customers who wish to continue using personal mobile banking without a decrease in transaction amount can contact the bank’s business branch before January 16th for confirmation. Additionally, if customers need to increase their limit after the adjustment, they can visit a branch with valid identification documents.
Since the beginning of 2025, several banks in mainland China have lowered their customers’ transaction limits, including the Bank of China Tianjin Branch and Hecun Rural Commercial Bank. Moreover, since the middle of 2024, many banks have successively announced reductions in transaction limits for certain customers.
Regarding the reasons for lowering customers’ transaction amounts, Tongcheng Rural Commercial Bank stated that this move aims to strengthen the management of electronic banking services to better protect customers’ account funds and legal rights. The Bank of China Tianjin Branch mentioned that the adjustment is made to safeguard the security of customers’ financial accounts and combat telecom network fraud crimes.
However, internet users have differing opinions on this matter.
User “ca7660” expressed: “Banks and depositors have a contractual relationship. Banks cannot unilaterally adjust depositors’ limits without consent. Users who do not wish to adjust have to visit the bank. The bank could conduct a survey through an app to let users choose for themselves or offer relevant options via phone banking. I personally believe that the bank’s unilateral change in transaction limits is unreasonable and unlawful.”
“London Forward-looking Gold Eye” also remarked: “Adjusting limits to prevent telecom fraud is necessary, but setting the limits too low causes inconvenience, especially for large transfers or purchases where one has to visit the bank. I hope banks can customize the limits for individual needs.”
User “shendi001” sarcastically commented: “2000 yuan? That’s not even enough to buy a phone, jewelry, or a car on installment!”
Media personality Wang Jian has repeatedly stated on his program that Chinese banks restricting users’ withdrawals and limits under various pretexts is actually a sign of the banks running out of money.
On January 6th, a man in Binzhou, Shandong Province, filmed a video claiming that when he went to the Haitong branch of Wudi Rural Commercial Bank to withdraw 29,000 yuan, the bank required investigation into the depositor’s income information, including the purpose of the withdrawal.
A staff member from Wudi Rural Commercial Bank mentioned to Huashang News Dafeng that withdrawals exceeding 20,000 yuan require an appointment, “because there’s a shortage of funds before the Chinese New Year, fearing that there might be a delay in the money flow.”