Guideline on banks enhances consumer protection

Banks and other financial institutions will have to pay greater attention to consumer interests following a guideline issued by the China Banking Regulatory Commission on Wednesday.

The document has 43 clauses covering responsibilities and the function of regulatory bodies.

It has listed eight categories covering consumer rights, including covering up potential risks and overstating returns, deliberately giving misleading information and divulging or leaking personal information to any third party without consent.

Banks must formulate an internal code of conduct, including the design of the product, pricing, agreement format, marketing, after-sale services, according to the regulation.

Banks and institutions that have violated consumer interests must be properly supervised in the future, the regulations said.