BIZCHINA / Center

CCB acclaimed as country's top bank
By Zheng Lifei (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-14 10:05

"It will help the outside world know what is happening in China's banking industry and help Chinese banks receive broad recognition worldwide."

The second-largest group of banks in the Top 100 list are 12 joint-stock commercial banks, led by Bank of Communications, which comes in fifth place.

The third-largest group is a cluster of city commercial banks, which, headed by Bank of Beijing, occupy 65 places on the list.

"The picture may change and the balance may shift in the years to come," said Timewell, referring to the current make-up of the list.

The rating may provide clues for foreign banks over their possible forays into the Chinese banking industry.

 "It (the listing) can serve as a valuable reference for foreign banks eyeing the Chinese banking sector," said Gong Yingxin, a representative of Germany's DZ Bank AG Beijing office.

"For foreign banks that are seeking potential partners among those lesser-known city commercial banks, the listing could do them a great service," she said.

But some are sceptical about the accuracy of the rating report.

"The issue date for financial data used by the magazine is not uniform, which may impair the accuracy of the rating," said an official from Huai'an City Commercial Bank, which was ranked 98.

There is only one foreign bank in the list  BNP Paribas (China), a French bank, which came in at number 60.


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