China's banking watchdog on Wednesday issued guidelines on
approval that is required of joint-stock banks making major
investment plans. The guidelines require that boards of directors
assess annual business plans and investment portfolios proposed by
bank management.
The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) guidelines
"streamline the operation of boards of directors of joint-stock
banks, effectively give play to their decision-making and
supervising functions, and make commercial banks run in a stable,
healthy manner," according to CBRC.
Typically, if a bank's capital base is not strong enough to meet
the needs of its future development or banking regulators'
requirements, its board of directors should draw plans to replenish
its capital and oversee their enforcement.
The CBRC has set an 8 percent minimum capital adequacy ratio
(CAR) requirement for commercial banks that are eager to modernize
ahead of the World Trade Organization-mandated opening of the
country's financial market to foreign competitors by the end of
2006. The CAR is measured by a bank's own capital in proportion to
its total lending.
The CBRC guidelines also require boards of directors to
administer affiliated businesses that might be conducted by common
shareholders of joint-stock banks exercising an unfair
advantage.
"The boards of directors should have enough information and make
'independent' judgments and decisions relating to any affiliated
business of the banks. The judgment of shareholders and senior
management should not replace that of boards of directors," the
regulator said.
Compared with the country's Big Four state banks including Bank
of China and China Construction Bank, the smaller joint-stock banks
reported fewer crimes involving corruption, and bad loans in the
last few years.
(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2005)