Bank card SMS reminders: Not all banks are "free lunches".
Take credit cards as an example. The current common practice adopted by major banks for credit card transaction reminders is to provide free text message reminders for large-amount transactions, charging for each SMS reminder for small-value transactions, or not providing each SMS reminder for small-value transactions. Serve. Recently, some banks have raised the threshold for free SMS reminder services for credit cards.
Industry analysts said that behind the bank's move is a revenue-generating behavior as profits shrink. On the other hand, there is also the intention to force consumers to use other channels such as WeChat. But should banks charge fees? How much should be charged? These are all market-oriented bank charges. In a market-oriented environment, banks will have competition, and only with competition can they provide users with more high-quality services.
■Raise the threshold
The maximum starting point for free text message reminders is 1,500 yuan
Yesterday, reporters logged into the official websites of major banks and found that some banks are quietly raising the threshold for text message reminders. Adjustment: Starting from August 1, ICBC will no longer send reminder text messages for balance changes of credit card RMB transactions with an amount of 300 yuan or less. Instead, it will send reminder messages through e-Link messages. The bank's free SMS reminder service for balance changes in debit cards and current passbook accounts will also cease to be provided starting from August and will be sent via e-link instead. If customers want to continue to receive text message reminders, they must activate the ICBC Messenger service, but an additional fee of 2 yuan/month is required.
After investigation, the reporter found that in recent years, the threshold for free SMS reminder services for credit cards has been raised by many banks, with the general threshold ranging from 300 yuan to 500 yuan. For example, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Merchants Bank offer free notifications for purchases over 300 yuan, while the threshold for Ping An Bank, China Construction Bank, Postal Savings Bank, and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank has been raised to 500 yuan. The thresholds for Minsheng Bank and Bank of Communications reach 800 yuan and 1,500 yuan respectively.
Currently, credit card SMS reminders from Agricultural Bank of China, China Everbright Bank and Bank of China are temporarily free.
Compared with the graduated charges for credit cards, debit card SMS reminders generally charge fees. It is understood that debit card charges are generally between 2 and 4 yuan. The debit card SMS reminder service of China Minsheng Bank and Bank of Communications is free of charge.
Yesterday, reporters interviewed relevant persons from Industrial Bank Wuhan Branch and China Merchants Bank Wuhan Branch respectively regarding the increase in the threshold for free text messages. The relevant person in charge of Industrial Bank Wuhan Branch said that the bank's free SMS reminder service threshold is only 100 yuan. SMS reminders are free for platinum card and elite card customers, and SMS reminders for ordinary customers are charged 1 yuan/month.
■Free channels
You can still get free reminders after opening WeChat banking
The relevant person in charge of China Merchants Bank Wuhan Branch said that the bank’s reminder text messages are divided into three categories: Basic text message reminders such as salary arrival and risk warning text messages such as bank card login and online banking are free. The charge for credit card SMS reminders is 3 yuan/month.
Industry analysts said that banks have raised the threshold for credit card SMS notifications mainly to reduce operating costs. However, the reporter's investigation found that many banks have now opened notification reminder services for mobile banking and WeChat banking. Consumers can also quickly and promptly learn about account changes through WeChat channels and mobile banking channels.
Guangfa Credit Card customer service staff said that if users do not want to pay for SMS reminders, they can follow the bank’s official WeChat account and bind their credit card account. The WeChat banking notification service is currently completely free, and WeChat will notify you regardless of the amount of each transaction.
The reporter randomly interviewed several cardholders on this matter. Younger consumers were indifferent to this and believed that they could learn about the real-time status of their accounts through WeChat banking or mobile banking APP. However, some elderly consumers expressed doubts and felt that they were used to receiving account information through text messages. Now they have to switch to mobile banking. "It is difficult to use and feels inconvenient."
Bank Name Credit Card Charges Debit Card Charges
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Free text message reminders for single transactions of more than 300 yuan,
300 yuan and below can only send reminder messages through Rong eLink
Rong eLink reminders are free, ICBC messenger reminders are 2 yuan/month
Agricultural Bank of China is free, and there is no threshold to set SMS reminder fees 2 Yuan/month
Bank of China is free of charge, and there is no threshold to set up online banking SMS reminders for 2 Yuan/month, and over-the-counter and self-service SMS reminders for 3 Yuan/month
Bank of Communications for a single transaction of more than 1,500 Yuan Free SMS reminders. To activate SMS reminders for a single transaction of less than 1,500 yuan, it costs 4 yuan/month.
China Construction Bank provides free SMS reminders for a single transaction of more than 500 yuan. To activate SMS reminders for a single transaction of less than 500 yuan, it costs 3 yuan/month. Monthly text message reminder fee is 3 yuan/month