ID | 082724 |
Title Proper | Transforming China's banks |
Other Title Information | the IFC's experience |
Language | ENG |
Author | Hamid, Javed ; Tenev, Stoyan |
Publication | 2008. |
Summary / Abstract (Note) | China's progress in fixing its banking system has surprised observers. Successful experiments, some of them involving foreign investors, have emerged in China to deal with the problems of the banking system. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has played an active role in piloting some of these approaches in close cooperation with the regulator and other strategic investors. In the period 1995-2000, IFC's strategy was to work with one or two banks to help improve their governance and skills. The idea was to create some model banks which could be emulated by others and used by the regulators to introduce modern banking practices. Once the corporate governance and business practices of these banks improved, then the IFC was able to attract foreign banks to invest in these banks. These investments encouraged other foreign banks to consider taking minority stakes in the smaller banks. The success of these experiments gave confidence to the Chinese authorities to open up the big state-owned banks for foreign investment and encouraged big international banks to invest large sums of money to take minority stakes in the big banks. While progress in reform has been remarkable, the real and sustainable transformation of the Chinese banks is far from over and will be a lengthy process. Significant challenges such as improving corporate governance and credit risk management remain. Despite the significant opening of the banking system to foreign direct investment, foreign ownership in the Chinese banking system remains low by international standards. Even with existing limitations on foreign ownership, foreign strategic investors are contributing to the transformation of Chinese banks and their role remains highly relevant for the continued reform of the Chinese banking system |
`In' analytical Note | Journal of Contemporary China Vol. 17, No.56; Aug 2008: p449-468 |
Journal Source | Journal of Contemporary China Vol. 17, No.56; Aug 2008: p449-468 |
Key Words | International Finance Corporation ; IFC ; China ; World Bank ; Banking System |