2016年CRI WeChat Starts Charging for Digital Wallet to Bank Account Transfer

 

According to Tencent's statement a month ago, the company has to pay transaction fees but has never charged users. The decision to charge now is because the user amount is getting bigger, and the company needs to soften¹ those rocketing costs.

They've also stated that the 1000 yuan quota² was set with consideration that most Wechat wallets hold less than that amount.

Tencent's decision has received different reactions from users.

While some criticisms exist, most residents say small fee does not bother them much.

"I won't mind if they charge me. After all, companies do need to improve their profits."

"I don't think the middle class will care about a 0.1 percent fee."

Tencent's new policy takes effect a week after China's five major state-owned banks cancelled service fees for mobile transactions of less than 5,000 yuan.

The banks will also stop charging fees on domestic yuan transfers through cellphones.

Professor Chiang Jeongwen from the China-Europe International Business School says he believes only a small fraction of current users will change their payment habits due to the new fees; the move itself has puzzled him.

"The reason for them to do this, we all know that AliPay is also subsidizing its users and it is the bigger rival. And now you have Apple Pay and Samsung Pay in the market, so [it has] intensified³ the competition. AliPay also has deep pockets, with the intention to make it a dominant⁴ payment system, I don't think they will be foolish enough try to follow TenPay's practice at all."

According to Chiang, consumers are not likely to be loyal to one single payment platform, and rather make payment choices depending on promotions⁵ and convenience.

However, some other commentators⁶ say the fee is actually a Trojan horse.

The Tencent wallet, just like alipay, also allows the user to book tickets for movies, trains and flights, order food deliveries, pay utility bills and credit cards, buy financial products, donate to charity and transfer money directly to other users.

That's why analysts⁷ are saying the company is only creating some barriers for users withdrawing their money, so that they'll more likely try other functions that the wechat wallet provides, leaving Tencent with more funds to invest in its financial and wealth management schemes.

If people do find paying fees to withdraw money troubling, it is possible that they'll develop the habit of using the wechat wallet as one of their payment tool.

Last year, China's mobile banking⁸ market passed 9 trillion yuan, of which Tencent's apps made up nearly 18 percent.

The volume of mobile banking transactions in China is expected to exceed 28 trillion yuan in 2016.

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.

1 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

2 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

3 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

5 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

6 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。