Rumors of bank runs and liquidity issues at some of China’s largest banks have sparked concerns over the stability of the Chinese financial system. While details remain uncertain, the reports have caused bank stock prices to plummet.
The speculation began with social media posts and online articles alleging that customers were rushing to withdraw cash and transfer deposits from several mid-sized Chinese banks, including Yuzhou Xinminsheng Village Bank and Zhejiang Everbright Bank.
JUST IN: A bank run has begun in China at the Bank of Cangzhou on fears that the collapse of Evergrande made them insolvent.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) October 14, 2023
Just a couple months ago, China's largest property developer, Evergrande, filed Chapter 15 bankruptcy.
This week, Country Garden, another major Chinese… pic.twitter.com/AsSPxeGweu
Long lines were photographed outside bank branches in Henan province and other locations. The reports claim that withdrawal limits have been imposed and some customers unable to access their full deposits. The bank run rumors went viral on Chinese social media before censors removed the posts.
The reports have revived memories of earlier bank runs in China. In April 2022, the central bank had to step in to bail out Henan-based rural banks after a massive scam froze millions in deposits. In 2020, at least four small Chinese banks collapsed due to mismanagement and corruption.
Authorities have downplayed the severity of the current situation. The head of China’s banking regulator stated that the risk of systemic banking failure is “controllable.” But the central bank has injected billions in liquidity this week to ease liquidity concerns.
While the rumors are unverified, the reports have damaged already fragile confidence in China’s financial institutions amidst a slowing economy. Ongoing real estate woes, defaults by developers, and lockdowns have also weakened China’s economic outlook.
For average citizens, the apparent liquidity crunch reinforces fears that savings are not safe. It highlights the cat-and-mouse dynamics between Chinese regulators and the public, who resort to social media and online forums to share sensitive information and express grievances.
Trust in banks had already declined after the Henan deposit scandal earlier this year. The fresh wave of worries compounds the reputational damage. It may accelerate the bank runs if public panic spreads further.
China’s major state-owned banks quickly issued statements dismissing liquidity risks. But the government must still act swiftly and transparently to contain the contagion. Providing deposit insurance guarantees could help restore calm.
How China navigates the bank run threat will prove crucial, both for public confidence and for broader economic aims. The coming days will test China’s financial firewalls and risk management as it aims to contain any fallout.
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