Published: 13:58, April 30, 2026 | Updated: 14:31, April 30, 2026
'Big Four' banks post robust growth in Q1
By Jiang Xueqing
This aerial panoramic photo taken on Jan 10, 2023, shows a view of Lujiazui area in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in East China's Shanghai. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

China's four largest State-owned commercial banks sustained a stable and improving growth momentum in the first quarter, achieving a robust start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), according to earnings reports released on Wednesday.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China reported operating income of 230.37 billion yuan ($33.68 billion), up 8.27 percent year-on-year; net profit of 88.01 billion yuan, up 3.9 percent; and net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of 86.94 billion yuan, up 3.31 percent. Its key operating indicators exceeded market expectations.

ICBC proactively aligned with a package of policies to stabilize the economy. In the first quarter, its domestic branches saw renminbi-denominated loans increase by nearly 1.1 trillion yuan. As of the end of March, its outstanding loans to the manufacturing and technology sectors exceeded 5 trillion yuan and 6 trillion yuan, respectively.

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China Construction Bank reported operating income of 211.26 billion yuan in the first quarter, up 11.15 percent year-on-year; net profit of 86.82 billion yuan, up 3.68 percent; and net profit attributable to shareholders of 86.29 billion yuan, up 3.53 percent.

CCB stepped up credit supply through increased lending to the real economy and bond investments, supporting a solid start for the national economy. By the end of the first quarter, its outstanding domestic corporate loans reached 16.94 trillion yuan, up 7.94 percent from the end of last year.

The bank actively supported the development of new quality productive forces and the building of a modern industrial system. Its outstanding technology loans, green loans, and inclusive finance loans reached 6 trillion yuan, 6.6 trillion yuan, and 4.09 trillion yuan, respectively, channeling targeted funding into key areas of the real economy.

Bank of China reported operating income of 178.85 billion yuan, up 8.44 percent year-on-year; net profit of 60.96 billion yuan, up 3.95 percent; and net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of 56.63 billion yuan, up 4.17 percent.

BOC strongly supported the accelerated development of a modern industrial system. By the end of March, its outstanding domestic manufacturing loans stood at 3.67 trillion yuan, up 5 percent from the end of last year; loans to strategic emerging industries reached 3.46 trillion yuan, up 7.32 percent; technology loans exceeded 5 trillion yuan, accounting for more than one-third of its corporate lending; and green loans totaled 5.45 trillion yuan, up 9.84 percent from the beginning of the year.

Agricultural Bank of China posted operating income of 206.26 billion yuan, up 10.49 percent year-on-year; net profit of 75.58 billion yuan, up 4.8 percent; and net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of 75.19 billion yuan, up 4.52 percent.

ABC continued to innovate and improve its technology finance products and services. By the end of the first quarter, its outstanding loans to tech enterprises exceeded 2.4 trillion yuan, growing by over 20 percent; manufacturing loans totaled 4.15 trillion yuan, up 11.6 percent; and inclusive finance loans reached 4.86 trillion yuan, with an increase of 515.1 billion yuan.

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The four major State-owned commercial banks continued to strengthen comprehensive risk management and enhanced joint risk prevention and control across borders and markets. They maintained stable operations amid global market volatility and external shocks, while preserving strong risk-absorbing capacity.

By the end of the first quarter, ICBC's non-performing loans totaled 413.88 billion yuan, an increase of 14.86 billion yuan from the end of last year; the NPL ratio stood unchanged at 1.31 percent; and the provision coverage ratio reached 214.38 percent, up 0.78 percentage points.

CCB's NPLs totaled 377.22 billion yuan, up 13.24 billion yuan; the NPL ratio remained at 1.31 percent; and the provision coverage ratio rose to 234.02 percent, up 0.87 percentage points.

ABC's NPLs stood at 355.39 billion yuan, up 11.93 billion yuan; the NPL ratio declined to 1.25 percent, down 0.02 percentage points; and the provision coverage ratio remained unchanged at 292.55 percent.

BOC's NPLs totaled 297.01 billion yuan, up 8.98 billion yuan; the NPL ratio edged down to 1.22 percent, down 0.01 percentage points; and the provision coverage ratio rose to 203.17 percent, up 2.8 percentage points.