Asset shortage spurs banks to rush for the "Chinese New Year" opening in 2026.

Journalists found during their investigations that there were new changes in the "opening red envelope" of banks in 2026: the starting time was moved up, regional small and medium-sized banks became the "pioneers" in the race, while joint-stock banks and state-owned large banks were relatively low-key; attracting deposits and granting loans remained the main focus, with large banks paying more attention to the balance of "scale and structure." When discussing the reasons for the early start of the "opening red envelope," industry insiders analyzed that the "asset shortage" has become a common challenge in the industry, and the sustained pressure on operations has intensified the impulsiveness of some banks to "get ahead." Banks should break free from the misconception of internal competition, shift from scale expansion to value creation, and accelerate the development of healthy customer relationships, high-quality asset structures, and sustainable profitability.