At a mid-year results conference held on August 31, China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. Vice President Lei Caihua highlighted that the bank's corporate banking business achieved steady growth in the first half of the year, driven by favorable market conditions and the coordinated operation of its "four growth engines."
Lei noted that the bank's wholesale finance division has established multiple competitive advantages over its peers, including a robust customer base in both quantity and quality, digital products with industry-leading user experience and market penetration, a cost advantage in liabilities, and distinctive investment banking and cross-border operations that cater to top-tier clients while generating fee income. These strengths are further reinforced by synergies across asset management and interbank businesses, underpinned by the "four engines" model, particularly wealth management, all while maintaining solid asset quality.
Looking ahead, Lei outlined six strategic directions to further cement the bank's differentiation in wholesale banking. First, strengthening digital empowerment and refining the customer service system to adopt a tiered, category-based operational model. Expanding the customer base remains a core priority, aimed at enhancing client loyalty while securing settlement income and low-cost deposits. Currently, CM Bank's coverage of capital market tier enterprise collaborations has surpassed 80%, with plans to deepen this engagement going forward.
Second, reinforcing industry-specific expertise to sharpen differentiation in asset organization and comprehensive operations. Focusing on emerging industries, future sectors, traditional industry upgrades, and the "six networks" infrastructure development outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, the bank will conduct industry research and financial demand analysis, delivering tailored service packages and differentiated credit policies to achieve risk-controlled asset deployment and diversified revenue. A specialized industry ecosystem has been established, initially covering 36 sub-sectors.
Third, enhancing the integration of commercial and investment banking services. The bank will continue refining digital products such as cash management, cross-border finance, custody, bills, and trade finance to elevate functionality and client experience, consolidating existing strengths and deepening customer ties. By leveraging its specialized subsidiaries, CM Bank aims to build a capital ecosystem, provide advisory services, and expand direct financing and M&A finance operations, thereby increasing total FPA and overall income generation.
Fourth, building distinctive cross-border financial capabilities to support Chinese enterprises expanding overseas. Currently, CM Bank's cross-border finance business ranks among leading peers in market share across international settlements, customer coverage, FX client transactions, and cross-border financing. The bank plans to accelerate product innovation and cross-border institutional coordination, introducing services tailored to product globalization, capacity expansion abroad, and overseas investment and financing to facilitate clients' international growth.
Fifth, deepening collaboration across four major business segments to promote balanced development. Segment synergy remains a hallmark of CM Bank, with wealth management driving in-depth engagement with asset management, custody, and interbank clients. Moving forward, the bank will optimize coordination processes and mechanisms to further enhance revenue-generating capabilities.
Sixth, leveraging AI technology to upgrade wholesale finance operational efficiency. Through AI, the bank seeks to boost professional client service capabilities and response speed, refine end-to-end risk management, improve internal operational efficiency, and strengthen integration and collaboration across business lines.