Summary of Key Points
Several banks, including China Merchants Bank (CMBC), Ping An Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPDB), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), and Bank of Communications (BOC), have recently launched a series of AI-themed bank cards (credit or debit cards). These cards replace traditional gifts such as luggage sets and rice with AI Tokens (units that represent “chat traffic” from large AI models) or computing power benefits. This change reflects the credit card industry's entry into a period of stagnation, as the total number of credit cards in use across the country has been declining continuously. Banks are attempting to attract tech-savvy customers and younger users by offering these AI-based benefits in hopes of finding new sources of growth. However, the promotion of these cards has met with lukewarm reception: most branches have not implemented the new services, users prefer traditional gifts, and some users who would benefit from AI features feel that the number of Tokens provided is insufficient.
1. What exactly are Tokens?
Tokens are the basic units used by large AI models to understand human language. Whenever you chat with an AI or ask it to write a report or code, every word, punctuation mark, and even emoji is converted into a Token that is consumed during the process. The more complex the task (e.g., writing a long paper or analyzing data), the faster Tokens are used up.
Let’s take CMBC as an example of the value of the Tokens offered:
- The Max package for professional developers includes 1.8 billion Tokens per month, with an annual cost of 1,190 yuan (about 99 yuan per month).
- The Plus package for regular users includes 600 million Tokens per month, with an annual cost of 490 yuan (about 40 yuan per month).
The value of these Tokens is roughly comparable to that of traditional gifts like luggage sets and air fryers, but their purpose has changed—they are now used for “chatting” with AI rather than for practical use.
2. Why are banks turning to AI to attract new customers?
Banks have started offering AI-based benefits because the credit card industry is no longer as attractive as it once was:
- Declining usage: As of the first quarter of 2026, there were only 687 million credit cards in use nationwide, which is 9 million fewer than at the end of 2025 and more than 100 million fewer than during the peak in 2022.
- Traditional methods are no longer effective: Many banks have closed their physical branches and stopped issuing old-themed cards (for example, Bank of China has discontinued its “Colorful Life” app).
AI benefits represent a last-ditch effort by banks to target tech-savvy customers and younger users. They aim to use digital incentives to attract new customers in the face of a shrinking market.
3. Poor promotion and lack of user interest: The rollout of AI credit cards has struggled
Journalists have found that the implementation of these AI credit cards has been unsatisfactory:
- Most banks still cannot offer these services offline; staff at Ping An Bank, SPDB, and BOC said they haven’t received any instructions regarding the new cards, and some ABC employees are not well-versed in the AI benefits.
- Users prefer traditional gifts: Although CMBC’s AI cards come with Token benefits, few new customers have chosen them; most people still opt for tangible items like luggage sets and air fryers.
- The benefits are insufficient: A senior programmer mentioned that his company spends 700 yuan per month to purchase 2 million Tokens, which only covers the needs of three people. The Tokens provided by banks are not enough for frequent users.
4. Follow-the-tradition or a trend? Experts see it as a new direction for credit card innovation
There is consensus in the industry regarding the future of AI credit cards:
- Not just a gimmick, but a trend: Lou Feipeng, a researcher at Postal Savings Bank of China, believes this represents a shift from physical gifts to digital benefits, marking a transformation of banks from providers of loans to providers of intelligent services.
- A necessity for targeted marketing: Dong Zheng, a senior credit card expert, argues that AI benefits are designed for those who truly need them (e.g., programmers and AI enthusiasts). Banks that do not offer these benefits risk losing these customers.
However, there are challenges: the benefits offered by banks may not be substantial enough (e.g., too few Tokens), and many users are unaware of their value. Banks will need to gradually educate the market if they want AI credit cards to become mainstream.
Conclusion
AI credit cards represent an attempt by banks to break new ground in a stagnant market by using digital benefits to attract new customers. For ordinary users, getting a card that doesn’t involve regular use of AI is still more practical. However, for those who frequently interact with AI or write code, the Token benefits could be useful. The key lies in whether banks can provide sufficient quantities of Tokens and effectively promote these services.