Qingdao Bank: "Golden Sail" Escorts Millions of Families, "Qingxin" Service Warms the Island City

(Source: Beijing Business Daily)

On the community square, a few elderly people are murmuring: “That high-interest financial product last time, bank clerk Xiao Li said it was a scam”; at the vegetable market, a lady who just finished shopping is flipping through a large-print anti-fraud guide; in the hospital corridor, a family member who just completed discharge procedures is red-eyed, saying they want to send a banner to the bank; on the phone screen, a deposit alert pops up with a note saying “Refund for mistaken top-up”…

These moments are scattered across different corners of the city. They don’t belong to the same person, nor do they happen on the same day, but they all come from the same place—Qingdao Bank.

As the 2026 “3.15” International Consumer Rights Day approaches, financial consumer protection is no longer just a制度 hanging on the wall or a document locked in a cabinet. It has become a series of stand-ups at counters, performances in communities, and runs in hospitals. With 163 decisive police-bank joint interventions, 2,657 heartfelt community outreach sessions, and over a hundred special case door-to-door services, Qingdao Bank’s “Golden Sail Protection” financial consumer protection volunteer team reaches into thousands of households, embedding “finance for the people” into everyday life—into the daily routines of residents and the vibrant city life.

Intercept: The “Fire-Eyed Golden Eye” on the Frontline of Anti-Fraud

The State Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau’s “Guidelines for the Suitability Management of Financial Institution Products” emphasizes that financial institutions must fulfill their duty of special attention to strengthen risk prevention. As telecom and online scams evolve in new ways, protecting the public’s “money bags” becomes the first line of defense in financial consumer protection.

In August 2025, Aunt Wang entered a Qingdao Bank branch requesting early withdrawal of a 10,000 yuan fixed deposit that had not matured. When the teller Xiao Wang asked about the purpose, Aunt Wang enthusiastically talked about an investment project offering “20% monthly interest,” which also included travel and sea cucumbers. Xiao Wang’s heart tightened—this was a typical scam pitch for illegal fundraising.

Repeated warnings failed, and Aunt Wang insisted on withdrawing the money. Xiao Wang quickly called the supervisor and activated the police-bank cooperation mechanism. Police arrived on site, dissecting the scam with real case examples: first offering sweeteners, then fleeing with the money. Aunt Wang looked at the news on her phone about “illegal fundraising platform跑路” (runaway scam), feeling a chill down her spine: “Thanks to you stopping me, otherwise this 10,000 yuan would have gone down the drain!”

Such intercepts have become routine at Qingdao Bank. At the Zhoucun branch, a customer nervously withdrew 50,000 yuan, with multiple “Million Medical” apps and scam scripts on his phone. Staff delayed by claiming “system upgrade,” while quietly contacting the police. After verification, the funds were identified as proceeds from cross-provincial money laundering crimes, and the 50,000 yuan was returned to the victim’s account.

Beyond interception, Qingdao Bank emphasizes “preventive measures.” The bank’s official WeChat column “Little Eagle Talks Anti-Fraud” has continuously released 24 articles and videos, reaching 95,000 people online and offline; anti-fraud “Six-into” outreach programs have been conducted in small businesses, senior communities, and employment agencies, with over 3,000 themed publicity sessions; programs like “President Talks Anti-Fraud” and “Guarding Silver Years, Anti-Fraud Together” have spread anti-fraud knowledge further.

In 2025, Qingdao Bank, in collaboration with police, intercepted 163 cases of fraudulent cash withdrawals at counters, recovering 11.27 million yuan for the public. Behind every intercepted fund is a family’s peace of mind and an elderly person’s twilight years.

Deepening: “Happy Neighborhood” in the Community

In June 2025, six departments including the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Financial Supervision and Administration issued the “Guiding Opinions on Financial Support for the Chinese-style Elderly Care Industry and High-Quality Development of the Silver Economy,” explicitly calling for “improving the elderly-friendly financial services.” Qingdao Bank’s response: move the bank into the community, bring services closer.

In Huguangshan Scenic Area Community, Lao Wang’s children are often not around. Previously, making an appointment with a specialist required days of advance notice and repeated reminders. Now, at Qingdao Bank’s community branch, staff not only help him make appointments but also teach him how to check records on his phone. Lao Wang holds the staff’s hand: “You’re more caring than my own daughter!” This is exactly the change brought by Qingdao Bank’s “Respect for the Elderly, Love for the Elderly” nine-grid service—helping seniors with appointments, recharging bus cards, teaching smartphone use, and other warm services integrated into their daily lives.

Currently, Qingdao Bank’s “Happy Neighborhood” volunteer team, awarded the national “Model of the Financial System Learning from Lei Feng,” uses this “Respect for the Elderly, Love for the Elderly” nine-grid as an action platform, transforming the abstract concept of “finance for the people” into tangible practices across 192 streets and communities. The “nine-grid” is not only a service standard but also a warmth measure—now with 13 volunteer teams dressed in red vests, helping seniors recharge bus cards, learn smartphone skills, hold “Anti-Fraud Little Classrooms,” and celebrate festivals with homemade zongzi, measuring neighborhood warmth with small acts of kindness. Before the Spring Festival, they visited and comforted lonely elderly, pasting Spring Festival couplets and hanging lanterns, filling the cold rooms with festive cheer. In this “last mile” of protection, seniors truly feel the double warmth of “finance + charity.”

This tangible warmth flows not only in daily trivialities but also builds a solid defense for the elderly’s “money bags” at critical moments. During “Anti-Fraud Little Classrooms,” volunteers perform self-scripted skits like “Locally Born Free-Range Eggs,” using Qingdao dialect to dramatize scams like “Guaranteed High Returns” and “Fake Investments.” Aunt Sun from Nanchang Road Community in Shibei District, after attending an anti-fraud lecture, recalled a “high-yield investment” her nephew recommended and immediately inquired. Volunteers checked and found the company lacked a financial license, and promptly dissuaded her. Two months later, Aunt Sun came to thank them: “My nephew lost 100,000 yuan, but my retirement savings are safe, thanks to you!”

By the end of 2025, the “Happy Neighborhood” had conducted 2,657 volunteer activities, benefiting 269,100 residents. From the “last mile” to “zero distance,” Qingdao Bank measures the temperature of service with every step.

Breaking the Deadlock: Special Case, Special Treatment—“Life Channel”

制度 (system) is rigid, but hearts are warm. Facing urgent needs of special groups, Qingdao Bank’s approach is: under compliance, handle special cases, turning impossibilities into possibilities.

86-year-old Mr. Xie was anxious because his account did not receive SMS alerts and he couldn’t log into mobile banking. His son inquired at the branch and was told that signing up for mobile banking required the account holder’s presence. Learning that the elderly was immobile, staff immediately took a smart PAD and went to his home to handle it. Mr. Xie held the staff’s hand, trembling as he wrote a commendation letter: “I didn’t expect the bank to provide home service, thank you so much!”

A more dramatic scene unfolded at a hospital. Uncle Sun’s brother-in-law suddenly suffered a stroke and fell into a coma. With no children or spouse, only his sister and brother-in-law were relatives. To save him, they exhausted their savings and borrowed 50,000 yuan for medical expenses, but the patient’s bank card with over 80,000 yuan had already been lost, and no one knew the password. The hospital threatened to suspend treatment unless the bill was paid.

Uncle Sun came to Qingdao Bank with hope. Staff quickly consulted the hospital’s payment system, confirmed the funds could be transferred to a dedicated hospital account, and after business hours the next day, proactively stayed to open an emergency special proxy service. At 7:30 pm, over 80,000 yuan of life-saving money was successfully transferred to the hospital account. When Uncle Sun delivered a banner, he was in tears: “This saved my brother-in-law’s life!”

For incapacitated elderly whose social security cards are not activated and cannot be used at community canteens, Manager Sun and Supervisor Wu took the initiative to visit, verify disability ratings with the community hospital via video, and activate the cards on a case-by-case basis. Family members were deeply moved: “You’ve gone back and forth so many times; this respect is more precious than anything.”

Qingdao Bank, in cooperation with Qingdao UnionPay, pioneered the cross-bank inquiry of “Cloud Flash Pay” deceased person’s bank account clues in Qingdao. Deceased depositors’ immediate family members no longer need to visit multiple banks; they can simply go to designated outlets and submit an application to view accounts across banks online. Since launching, over 160 families have been served, sparing grieving families from unnecessary trips.

By the end of 2025, Qingdao Bank had provided door-to-door services for over 100 elderly residents.制度 (system) is rigid, but service can be gentle—every exception made is to ensure no one is left behind.

The tide crashes daily against the coast, but Qingdao Bank’s figure never stops. They have intercepted scam funds at counters, performed anti-fraud dramas in communities, rushed in hospitals for life-saving money, and taught smartphone skills in elderly homes.

These moments are not earth-shattering, but like the tide, they wash day after day, shaping the fundamental color of “finance for the people.” As the tide rises and falls, their original intention remains unchanged. Qingdao Bank will continue to be that person by your side—reaching out when you need help, reminding you when you’re confused, and guarding you when you’re helpless.

Source: Qingdao Financial Daily