Whether a credit card requires an annual fee depends on the bank and card type. Different banks have different annual fee standards. Usually the annual fee for regular cards is between 100 and 300 yuan, while gold cards are more expensive. For example, the annual fees of Bank of Communications' regular card and gold card are 80 yuan and 160 yuan respectively, while the annual fees of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank vary greatly, ranging from 180 yuan to 360 yuan. However, many banks have strategies to waive annual fees. For example, the first year is usually free, or the annual fee for the following year can be waived by swiping a certain number of times.

Banks have different regulations on annual fee exemption policies. Annual fees are waived for some types of business cards of Postal Savings Bank of China, and annual fees for the following year are waived for some co-branded cards of Bank of Communications after being swiped 6 times. China CITIC Bank waives the annual fee in the first year, and waives the annual fee for the following year if you use it 5 times. Hua Xia Bank waives the annual fee in the first year, and waives the annual fee for the following year if you use it 5 times. Bank of Communications and Ping An Bank waive annual fees in the first year, and waive annual fees in the following year after a certain number of transactions. Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of China and other banks also have their own annual fee exemption conditions, such as the number of card swipes, consumption limit, etc. Details can be inquired on the official website or through customer service.

Therefore, when choosing a credit card, cardholders need to understand the specific annual fee policies of each bank to avoid unnecessary additional fees.