Weekly Bank Overview (3.7—3.13)

Financial Network × Enterprise Warning App

◆Regulatory Voice

People’s Bank of China: Actively, Steadily, and Safely Promote the Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Financial Sector

On March 11, the People’s Bank of China held the 2026 Technology Work Conference, summarizing the achievements in digital central bank construction, cybersecurity, and other areas in 2025. The meeting called for focusing on risk prevention and strengthened regulation in 2026, planning the “14th Five-Year Plan” technology initiatives, advancing key projects, improving cybersecurity systems, cautiously promoting AI applications in finance, and enhancing standard service support capabilities.

◆Industry Focus

Six Jiangsu Rural Commercial Banks Announce Merger to Form Xuzhou Rural Commercial Bank

Recently, six rural commercial banks in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province—Xuzhou Rural Commercial Bank, Yixin Rural Commercial Bank, Feng County Rural Commercial Bank, Sui Ning Rural Commercial Bank, Pizhou Rural Commercial Bank, and Pei County Rural Commercial Bank—each issued notices of special shareholder meetings. The meetings, held on the afternoon of February 28, reviewed proposals including “Establishment and Merger of Jiangsu Xuzhou Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. and Cancellation of Original Legal Entity Status.” This indicates that these six banks will merge to form a new Xuzhou Rural Commercial Bank through a new establishment, canceling their original legal statuses.

Major Rate Cuts of Over 30 Basis Points: Small and Medium Banks’ Deposit Rates Drop Again

After the Spring Festival, as the “Opening Red” campaign wound down, deposit interest rates in banks experienced another wave of reductions, mainly among local small and medium-sized banks. The rate cuts ranged from 5 to 30 basis points, with longer-term products seeing larger decreases. Industry insiders believe this adjustment is a follow-up to the nationwide rate reductions by large commercial banks earlier. Given that small and medium banks have more room to increase rates and still need to regulate deposit-raising behaviors, their funding costs remain higher than state-owned banks, leaving room for further reductions.

Another Billion-Level Bank Shares Up for Auction, Multiple “Zero-Transaction” Cases Previously

Recently, several large bank equity auctions have failed to attract buyers despite multiple discounts. On Alibaba’s judicial auction platform, multiple bank equities valued at over one billion yuan—such as Jiujang Bank and Guangdong Huaxing Bank—were re-listed after repeated failed auctions and are now in the process of sale. Additionally, on JD Asset Trading Platform, several bank equity auctions exceeding one billion yuan have been “listed anew,” including approximately 223 million shares of Guangfa Bank held by Jiangsu Sugang Group, scheduled for auction in early April with a starting price of 784 million yuan, making it the highest-value bank equity auction of the year so far.

◆Financial Personnel Updates

Chengdu Bank: Huang Jianjun Approved as Director and Chairman

On March 11, Chengdu Bank announced that it received approval from the Sichuan Financial Regulatory Bureau for Huang Jianjun to serve as director and chairman. Huang Jianjun will also serve as the Party Committee Secretary, Director of the Strategic Development Committee, and the Special Authorization Committee for Credit Approval of the Board. His resume is detailed in the company’s announcement dated September 23, 2025.

Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank Chairman Wang Hui’s Appointment Approved

On March 12, the Sichuan Financial Regulatory Bureau issued an approval regarding Wang Hui’s appointment as director and chairman of Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank.