How China’s First Coffee Bank Launched in 2014

In 2014, customers walking into certain coffee shops in major Chinese cities might have noticed something unusual: bank tellers. That year, China Merchants Bank — a leader in retail banking innovation — launched an experimental collaboration with Korea’s largest coffee chain, Caffebene, to redefine what a bank branch could look and feel like. This wasn’t about mobile apps or digital onboarding. It was about bringing full-service financial services into a relaxed, third-wave café setting.

In short: China Merchants Bank opened the country’s first “coffee bank” by integrating its services inside Caffebene cafés in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Customers could access banking services while enjoying the ambiance of a premium coffee shop — a first for the Chinese financial sector.

What Is a Coffee Bank?

A coffee bank is a hybrid retail space where a licensed bank branch operates inside or alongside a café. Instead of sterile counters and teller lines, customers are greeted in a comfortable lounge-like environment with coffee aromas and lounge seating. Banking services are delivered in a casual atmosphere, aiming to reduce the anxiety often associated with financial transactions and make interactions more personal and approachable.

Why Did China Merchants Bank Try This?

China Merchants Bank had a long track record of service innovation. As early as 1996, it became the first bank in China to offer complimentary coffee and milk in its branches — a move that helped reshape public expectations of customer service in banking. By 2014, the bank was looking for the next disruption. The partnership with Caffebene — Korea’s leading coffee chain — allowed the bank to test a new physical branch format where customers could relax over coffee while discussing loans, wealth management, or opening accounts.

The collaboration wasn’t limited to ambiance. According to the announcement, both companies planned to explore deeper integrations including:

• Co-branded smart banking equipment inside café branches
• Special offers and discounts for customers of both brands
• Microfinance and SME banking products tailored for coffee shop patrons
• Expanded settlement and payment processing partnerships

What Did the Coffee Bank Actually Look Like?

The first wave of coffee banks launched in major metropolitan areas including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Shenzhen. Each location featured:

• The full service offerings of a traditional bank branch
• Café-style interiors with comfortable seating and ambient design
• Advanced self-service banking kiosks and digital tools
• Opportunities for clients to discuss finances over coffee

“We’re not just relocating a branch into a café,” said Liu Jianjun, then Vice President of China Merchants Bank. “We’re creating a space where financial advice feels as natural as chatting over a cup of coffee. Our goal is to make banking more human, more approachable, and frankly, more enjoyable.”

Jang Woo-jin, Chairman of Caffebene Holdings, echoed that sentiment, calling the partnership a “blockbuster collaboration” that combined “meticulous soft service” and “premium experience design” to appeal to customers from both industries.

Was This Just a Gimmick?

No. While the coffee bank concept sounded novel, it was grounded in a broader push by China Merchants Bank to elevate customer experience through physical spaces. The idea built directly on its own earlier innovation: being the first Chinese bank to serve drinks in branches. More than a marketing play, the coffee bank model aimed to solve real problems in retail banking — such as improving accessibility, fostering trust, and making routine services feel less bureaucratic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year did China Merchants Bank launch its first coffee bank?

China Merchants Bank launched its first coffee bank in 2014 through a partnership with South Korea’s Caffebene coffee chain.

Where were the first coffee bank locations opened?

The initial coffee bank outlets were established in major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Shenzhen.

What services were offered in a coffee bank?

Coffee banks provided full banking services — such as account management, loans, and wealth advisory — in the informal, relaxed environment of a Caffebene coffee shop. Customers could also access smart self-service banking devices.

Why did China Merchants Bank partner with Caffebene?

Caffebene was Korea’s largest coffee chain, making it an ideal partner to help redesign the traditional bank branch into a café-style customer experience hub. The collaboration aimed to merge financial services with a lifestyle setting.

Had China Merchants Bank experimented with in-branch coffee before?

Yes. As early as 1996, China Merchants Bank became the first bank in China to offer free coffee and milk in its branches, marking an early shift toward improving customer service through hospitality.

Did the coffee bank concept include digital banking features?

Yes. The coffee bank branches were outfitted with advanced smart banking equipment and digital tools alongside traditional services, blending tech and comfort.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Banking

Pair your coffee banking experience with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui — a bright, juicy Ethiopian single origin with notes of blueberry, jasmine, and bergamot. For something richer, try the Yirgacheffe, offering lemon, stone fruit, and floral tones ideal for relaxed conversations over loans. Or go smooth with the PWN Golden Mandheling, a classic Indonesian full-bodied coffee with hints of dark chocolate and spice. All three beans highlight the craft behind specialty coffee — much like the care behind coffee banking. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.