Beijing, China – Online retailers in China are cashing in on an unusual trend—selling so-called “bank soil” that is claimed to bring financial prosperity. Vendors are marketing the soil as having been collected from outside major banks, with prices reaching up to 888 yuan (US$120) per portion.
A growing market for ‘bank soil’
The trending product is purportedly sourced from green belts outside bank buildings, potted plants in bank lobbies, or even dust from money-counting machines. One vendor claims to offer four different types of soil allegedly collected from five of China’s largest banks—Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of Communications. The cheapest portion sells for as little as 24 yuan (US$3).
A sales representative for one of the online shops stated, “This soil is manually collected from the five major banks and is believed to enhance wealth and dissolve bad energy, though we cannot scientifically prove this.” The vendor further explained that “bank soil is collected at night from the green belts in front of these banks, not just one specific financial outlet.”
Other retailers advertise different collection methods, with one claiming the soil is gathered exclusively at noon, while another boldly asserts that their product boasts a “999.999% success rate in generating wealth.”
Videos fuel hype as customers rush to buy
To add credibility to their claims, some sellers have posted videos purportedly showing the soil being collected. In one clip, a man standing at a bank entrance holds up a container of soil, announcing, “Boss Liu from Guangdong, your soil is ready.”
Another video features a vendor scooping soil with a spoon onto a small golden plate while stating, “Brother 0863 from Beijing, now I am digging your bank soil.” The footage then pans to a row of golden plates, each labelled with customers’ contact details.
An anonymous buyer interviewed by Red Star News said they purchased the soil in hopes of boosting their business. “Many of my friends are also buying it,” they added.
Legal concerns and expert warnings
Legal experts warn that these transactions may be fraudulent. Fu Jian, a lawyer at Zejin Law Firm, told Red Star News that if merchants are selling ordinary soil while falsely claiming it comes from banks—or making misleading promises about its ability to bring good luck—this could constitute fraud. Consumers, he noted, would be entitled to request refunds.
Additionally, under China’s Regulations on Urban Landscaping, digging up soil from urban green spaces is prohibited. The sale of “bank soil” could therefore also be violating environmental protection laws.
Social media reacts with skepticism
The bizarre product has sparked amusement and ridicule across Chinese social media platforms. One user joked, “Laughing out loud, what is this bank soil? I work at a bank, and I have to bring my own soil from home to plant flowers in the office.”
Another commented, “I live next to a bank, so why has my fortune not improved?”
A third quipped, “Bank soil might not be real, but the ‘intelligence tax’ definitely is.”
While the trend has attracted attention, experts caution consumers to think twice before spending their money on the questionable product, reminding them that financial success is best built through hard work—not soil collected outside a bank.
