Bank of China has the longest continuous operating history of any Chinese bank. Formally established in February 1912, the Bank served consecutively as the country’s central bank, international exchange bank and specialised international trade bank. After 1949, drawing on its long history as the state-designated specialised foreign exchange and trade bank, the Bank became responsible for managing China’s foreign exchange operations and offering international trade settlement, overseas fund transfer and other non-trade foreign exchange services. Restructured into a wholly state-owned commercial bank in 1994, the Bank has developed into a large commercial bank delivering a range of financial services in local and foreign currencies, boasting comprehensive and diversified businesses and strong competitive advantages. The Bank was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2006, becoming the first Chinese bank to launch an A-Share and H-Share initial public offering and achieve a dual listing in both markets. The Bank was the official banking partner of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, thus making it the only bank in China to serve two Olympic Games. In 2011, Bank of China became the first financial institution from an emerging economy to be designated as a Global Systemically Important Bank, a designation it has now maintained for 15 consecutive years. With its growing international status, competitiveness and comprehensive strengths, the Bank has marched forward into the ranks of the world’s large banks.
Bank of China is the most globalised and integrated Chinese bank. As at the end of 2025, it operated across the Chinese mainland and in 64 countries and regions overseas, including 45 Belt and Road participating countries and regions, and served as the designated RMB clearing bank in 16 countries and regions overseas. BOCHK and Macau Branch also serve as local note-issuing banks in their respective markets. The Bank adheres to a customer-centric development philosophy and has established an integrated financial service system built on the pillars of corporate banking, personal banking, financial markets and other commercial banking businesses, which covers investment banking, direct investment, securities, insurance, funds, aircraft leasing, asset management, financial technology, financial leasing and other areas, providing over 8.4 million corporate customers and 550 million personal customers with financial solutions featuring global expertise and comprehensive services accessible at any point of contact.
Bank of China embodies a noble sense of commitment and responsibility, and fully upholds the political and people-oriented nature of financial work. The Bank takes serving the real economy as its fundamental mission, risk prevention and control as its abiding theme, and consolidating and expanding its globalised advantages and enhancing its global footprint as its primary task. It is resolutely focused on the “five major tasks” of promoting technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and digital finance, and earnestly enacts financial culture with Chinese characteristics. The Bank also actively supports and carries out various public welfare and charitable initiatives, proactively embedding social responsibility and sustainability across all aspects of its operations, management, reform and development.
On the new journey towards building a modern socialist country in all respects, Bank of China will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and faithfully implement the nation’s new development philosophy. It will accurately identify the convergence points, focal points and supporting points for implementing national policies and plans and achieving its own high-quality development. It will serve as a practitioner in implementing the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, a primary force in supporting the real economy, a pioneer in serving the new development pattern featuring the positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows, a bedrock for maintaining financial stability, and an active player in strengthening large state-owned financial institutions. It will unswervingly follow the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics, continue to break new ground in its high-quality development, and make greater contributions to comprehensively advancing the building of a stronger country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese modernisation.
Source: 2025 Annual Report (H Share)
