ICBC credit card holders spent as much as RMB 13.4 billion during the seven-day holiday of 2015 Spring Festival, up by 27% over the previous year, signifying significant role of ICBC credit cards in boosting household consumption.

According to an official with ICBC, the impressive increase in ICBC credit card transaction value can be attributed to three reasons. Firstly, the customer base of the ICBC credit cards has continued to expand. By the end of 2014, the issued ICBC credit cards topped 100 million, securing the ICBC's status as the largest credit card bank in the Asia-Pacific Region and one of the top three credit card banks in the world.

Secondly, the ICBC credit card service has notably improved, encouraging customers’ card usage. By the core standards such as the consumption amount, the overdraft, the credit card activation rate and the rate of active credit cards, ICBC has continued to lead the industry. To improve the card use environment, for example, by focusing on the POS end, ICBC has built a stable, safe, efficient and convenient payment network in catering, shopping, tourism, education and transportation facilities. The network not only covers “arteries” such as grand hotels, large department stores and hypermarkets, but also extends its way to “capillaries” such as convenience stores, gift shops and cafes, which has reflected ICBC’s concern for public welfare.

Thirdly, ICBC credit card promotional campaign has been well received during the Spring Festival. In cooperation with multiple quality merchants, ICBC launched activities including “Swiping the Credit Card for Awards”, “Bonus Points Redeemable into Cash” and “I Go”. In terms of ICBC’s branch and sub-branch level promotional campains, local characteristics were combined with promotions such as “Colorful Gifts on Offer” and “Swiping Cards for Gifts”, which achieved notable results. Notably, the credit card consumption amount of ICBC branches in Hebei, Hunan, Gansu and Yunnan has grown by more than 80% over the same period of the previous year.