Shenzhen Ping An Bank Co plans to open five to six more outlets in Shanghai.

The bank will also focus on loans to small enterprises and retailers next year, a senior executive said this morning in Shanghai.

Shenzhen-based Ping An Insurance (Group) Co gained regulatory approval in June to buy Ping An Bank and merge it with Shenzhen Commercial Bank to form Shenzhen Ping An Bank.

The merged bank has a network of 49 outlets in the cities of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, Fuzhou in Fujian Province and Shanghai.

(Shanghai Daily December 26, 2007)