(Yicai Global) March 19 -- Chinese internet banks have come up with a new way to secure funds while seeking to offset the tightening rules on online deposits.

Several internet lenders have started offering pledged loans to customers who can use their deposits as collateral in case of needing to withdraw the deposited money before a pre-planned maturity, Yicai Global learned by examining banks' mobile applications.

Many tech firms such as JD.Com, Baidu, and Tencent Holdings stopped accepting new clients for their internet deposit products last December as the country's fintech regulation was adjusted to rein in the excessive leverage that these time deposit products could present to banks. But that left online lenders high and dry as they struggle to keep up with traditional lenders in attracting clients without physical outlets.

Online banks developed the innovative loan product to adapt to the new regulatory environment, Zhou Yiqin, financial sector researcher, told Yicai Global.

The solution benefits both customers and banks. Clients can meet their short-term financial needs via pledging while retaining their deposit products' high return on investment, said Zhou. The loans also help banks in enhancing their products' stickiness while ensuring low risks as clients use their own money as collateral, Zhou added.

One of the pledged loan providers is AiBank, a joint venture between China Citic Bank and Baidu. Users who have deposited their money via the lender's three-year product can apply for loans that range from one month to 12 months with an interest rate of 4.8 percent, said an employee at AIBank.

Tencent-backed WeBank has launched two deposit products with similar features. Customers can borrow as much as CNY200,000 (USD30,688) with an annual interest rate of 4.85 percent to meet their immediate needs, said a source at the online lender.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi