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Banks Roll Out AI-Themed Cards with Token Rewards

Several Chinese banks are betting on artificial intelligence to spice up their credit and debit card offerings. Since June, more than a dozen financial institutions—including China Merchants Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Ping An Bank, and China Everbright Bank—have rolled out AI-themed cards in partnership with UnionPay, American Express, and AI companies like Kimi and Alibaba Cloud.

Instead of the usual points for flights or hotel stays, these cards reward users with large model tokens, AI membership services, smart agent tools, and access to professional databases. The idea is to attract young, tech-savvy customers and developers who live and breathe AI.

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Three Models for Token Rewards

The banks are experimenting with three main reward structures. One targets developers and engineers, offering hefty token packages for model calls and development needs. Another converts everyday spending into computing power points that can be swapped for AI memberships. The third provides cloud service coupons, essentially subsidizing office costs for tech professionals.

"Tokens are becoming a new type of digital asset," said an industry insider. For heavy AI users, these perks have real value. But for the average consumer who might use ChatGPT once a week, the appeal is less clear.

Aiming for a New Customer Base

The push comes as banks struggle to differentiate themselves in a crowded credit card market. By tying rewards to AI, they hope to win over a demographic that values cutting-edge tools over traditional perks. China UnionPay announced on July 15 that it would collaborate with multiple commercial banks to develop "intelligent entity-themed" credit cards, further blending AI benefits with everyday spending.

However, experts caution that the success of these cards hinges on how quickly AI becomes part of daily life. "AI capabilities are becoming a new direction for financial product innovation," said a financial analyst. "But whether banks can revitalize the credit card market through AI benefits depends on the popularity of AI applications and real user demand."

Key Points

  • Over a dozen Chinese banks have launched AI-themed credit and debit cards since June 2024.
  • Rewards include large model tokens, AI memberships, and cloud service coupons instead of traditional points.
  • The cards target developers, engineers, and tech professionals.
  • Industry experts question whether ordinary consumers will find token benefits valuable.
  • The initiative reflects a broader trend of integrating AI into financial products to attract younger customers.