CHENGDU - China Merchants Bank (CMB) is hastening business expansion in western China as it has laid the foundation for its back-up services center in the Chengdu High-tech Zone in this capital city of Sichuan province.

The center, an 4 billion yuan multi-functional facility with the business scope covering credit cards, mobile transactions, data processing, back-up services and annuity management services, is expected to be completed in 2014.

It will be the fundamental institution for CMB’s operational buildup and retail banking business in China.