China CITIC Bank awarded 'Bank of the Year China 2025' by The Banker
China CITIC Bank has been awarded the prestigious "Bank of the Year China 2025" title by The Banker, a renowned international financial publication. This recognition is in honor of the bank's successful implementation of a people-centered, all-age-friendly financial service model within the framework of national development strategies. This marks the second time the bank has received this honor since 2017, reflecting its sustained excellence and growing international reputation.
According to The Banker, China CITIC Bank stood out for its balanced development and improved service capabilities. The judging panel particularly noted the bank's strategic focus on serving customers of all age, particularly highlighting its "Happy+" elderly care financial ecosystem, which serves over 10 million customers and the "Latte Plan" for younger generations demonstrating innovative approaches to inclusive finance.
The Banker further commended China CITIC Bank, stating that its M&A loans project and the underwriting of technology innovation bonds have clearly shown the bank's willingness to support innovation in China, while also expanding the reach of its own products to new areas. Specifically, the bank actively supported technology enterprises by implementing M&A loan projects, totaling 3 billion yuan ($422 million). This comprehensive suite of loans includes technology M&A loans, technology transformation loans and technology fixed-asset loans, with 18 such loans launched across China to date. Furthermore, the bank spearheaded the underwriting of the first batch of technology innovation bonds issued nationwide, comprising nine bonds specifically focusing on supporting private enterprises and industrial investments.
The bank also demonstrated significant innovation with the development of its internally developed Cangjie AI platform. This cutting-edge platform leverages OpenAI protocols, DeepSeek, and other large language models, and has helped the bank explore more than 80 scenarios across various aspects of banking, including wealth management and customer services. The bank estimates that the comprehensive use of AI throughout 2024 has yielded efficiency gains equivalent to 15,000 personnel years.
Aligning with the recomendations on China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the bank has significantly expanded support for strategic emerging industries, providing outstanding loans that surpass 450 billion yuan. The bank's annual technology investments, exceeding 7 billion yuan, have accelerated its digital transformation, enhancing both operational efficiency and customer experience. Meanwhile, its green credit balance has reached nearly 320 billion yuan, supporting the country's low-carbon transition and sustainable development goals.
The bank's robust risk management system and growing strength in digital finance have contributed to its stable performance amid complex market conditions. These strategic initiatives reflect China CITIC Bank's commitment to supporting the real economy while maintaining robust business growth.
The Banker's "Bank of the Year" awards are widely regarded in the global financial industry, evaluating institutions based on financial performance, innovation, governance, sustainability and resilience.
Looking ahead, China CITIC Bank stated that it will take this international recognition as a new starting point to further fulfill its mission as a major State-owned financial institution. The bank plans to maintain its strategic focus, deepen its transformation and enhance its capabilities in wealth management, fintech and comprehensive risk management. The bank remains committed to serving the real economy, promoting social well-being, and contributing its unique "CITIC strength" to advance Chinese modernization, supporting the country's journey toward fully building a modern socialist society.
