China's announcement yesterday that foreign banks can soon deal
in renminbi retail business has prompted a flurry of international
lenders to announce their plans to incorporate in China.
The rule, which marks the implementation of one of China's
banking commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO), allows
foreign-funded banks to deal in the renminbi retail business across
the country after December 11.
In order to better protect the interests of domestic depositors,
the Chinese Government is encouraging foreign banks to incorporate
locally when dealing in renminbi retail business.
The release of the rule yesterday was welcomed by foreign banks,
with a few immediately announcing they are ready to become among
the first to incorporate in China.
According to Xu Feng, the director in charge of overseeing
foreign banks for the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC),
more than 10 foreign banks are ready to change their branches to
local corporations following the issuance of the rules.
Foreign lenders including HSBC, Standard Chartered, Bank of East
Asia, and Hang Seng Bank have all expressed their willingness to
transfer operating branches into locally registered
corporations.
"It is a historic milestone to mark the fifth anniversary of
China's entry into the WTO and its commitment to fully open the
financial market," said Richard Yorke, China CEO of HSBC.
"We believe that local incorporation will enable us to further
expand our network and service range, in particular our renminbi
financing ability for the benefit of our customers in the China
market," he said.
HSBC, Europe's largest bank, is aimed to become one of the first
to incorporate in China based on its experience in other
countries.
Katherine Tsang, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank China also
announced the bank had submitted its application to China's banking
regulator for local incorporation yesterday.
Hang Seng Bank said it planned to invest more than HK$1 billion
(US$128 million) to expand its mainland network and service
capabilities, including increasing its number of outlets to 30 from
15 by the end of 2007.
"The total assets of those banks who are willing to transfer to
local corporations are accounting for 60 per cent of the combined
assets of foreign lenders in China," said CBRC's Xu.
According to Wang Zhaoxing, assistant chairman of the CBRC, in
order to lower the time and cost of local incorporation, the
government will try to guide foreign banks. The procedure will
normally take one to three months, Wang said.
Not an immediate threat
Though foreign banks are likely to siphon off renminbi services
from local banks, which have grown by an annual average of 2
trillion yuan (US$246 billion) in recent years, experts say they
won't pose an immediate threat to domestic banks.
Wang Yu, a 40-year-old lawyer who has years of experience
overseas, said he does not plan to deposit most of his earnings
into foreign banks.
"Currently the service in domestic banks is almost at the same
level with those of foreign banks, and I don't feel there is a need
to change my bank," he said.
He did say he would consider buying a few wealth management
products from foreign banks once they start dealing in
renminbi.
"Foreign banks are more sophisticated in providing wealth
management service," Wang said.
A recent AC Nielsen survey said Chinese customers are
increasingly interested in foreign bank services, especially young
people.
But Yi Xianrong, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences, says Chinese banks already have a strong hold on the
market. "Local banks have already built a nationwide network across
the country, making it hard for foreign banks to compete," Yi
said.
Deng Chun, vice-president of Bank of Communications, said he
expects "there will be more cooperation than competition" between
foreign and domestic banks.
However, analysts pointed out that foreign banks might encounter
conflicts in their business strategies. In recent years,
international banks have become strategic investors in Chinese
banks. Now, they will be in direct competition with those
banks.
HSBC, which holds a 19.9 per cent stake in Bank of
Communications (BoCom), helped the Chinese bank establish a credit
card center in October 2004.
Now, as the foreign bank expands its own network in the country,
analysts worry HSBC will siphon clients away from the card
center.
"I'm afraid with HSBC's expanding of its own operating branches
in China it is not likely to share its clients with BoCom,
especially from the high-end clients," said She Minhua, a banking
analyst at CITIC China Securities.
Shanghai is 'the first choice'
With yesterday's announcement, Shanghai is expected to get the
largest benefit from foreign banks locally incorporating.
Foreign banks currently concentrate their business in the
country's eastern areas such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing and
Guangzhou.
Statistics from the CBRC shows the number of foreign bank
branches and bank corporations in Shanghai totalled 60. The overall
number of foreign banks and non-bank financial institutions has
reached 103 in the city.
Shanghai has 30 per cent of all foreign banking institutions,
which accounts for 55 per cent of its total business revenue.
Now, Citibank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of East Asia,
and Hang Seng Bank all said they were considering setting up
headquarters in the country's largest city.
Some foreign firms have expressed concerns that incorporation in
Shanghai may take a long time due to complex legal procedures.
In response, the local government established a special
financial office to help foreign banks efficiently incorporate.
(China Daily November 17, 2006)