Postal Savings Bank of China eyes return to A-share market

The Postal Savings Bank of China Co is continuing to actively follow-up on its initial public offering plan in the Chinese mainland A-share market, completing the last work of the large State-owned commercial banks pursuing a dual listing.

Zhang Jinliang, president of China Post Group and chairman designate of PSBC, said at a Friday presentation that the successful flotation in the A-share will, steadily, improve the corporate governance system, break through the capital market between onshore and offshore, and enhance risk management capability.

PSBC, which listed itself in the Hong Kong bourse three years ago, is the only large State-owned commercial bank that hasn't returned to the A-share.

The lender posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of 52.31 billion yuan ($7.79 billion) last year, a year-on-year growth of 9.71 percent. Compared with the previous two years' double-digit net profit growth, the slower pace was related to the bank's more prudent asset quality control policy, which improved the allowance coverage ratio to 346.80 percent and nonperforming loan ratio to 0.86 percent, said PSBC Executive Director and Vice-President Yao Hong.

Operating income rose 16.18 percent year-on-year to 261.25 billion yuan as of the end of last year. Meanwhile total assets reached 9.52 trillion yuan and total liabilities 9.04 trillion yuan, up 5.59 percent and 5.36 percent respectively.

"Before listing in Hong Kong, the PSBC attracted 10 strategic investors, such as JPMorgan, UBS, DBS Bank, Li Ka Shing Foundation, Alibaba's Ant Financial and Tencent," Vice-President Xu Xueming said. "We will deepen our collaboration with them to support the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."

He also noted the bank's preparation in setting up overseas affiliates is moving forward.

The bank, whose branches cover 99 percent of the counties in China, positions itself as a service provider serving communities, private enterprises and small and micro enterprises as well as a supporter of rural revitalization, and it will keep boosting the development of the real economy, Zhang Xuewen, executive director and vice-president, said.

Last year, total loans to small and micro enterprises were 1.46 million with a balance of 544.99 million yuan, while the balance of agriculture-related loans increased 107.29 million yuan to 1.16 trillion yuan in total.

The bank also said it will further increase technological spending in order to accelerate the digital transformation and improve the capabilities of technology in supporting operations and management.