Bank of China and ICBC report higher first-half profit as margins stabilize

  • Bank of China and ICBC reported higher first-half 2026 profits as lower funding costs supported margins.
  • Bank of China’s net interest margin rose to 1.27%, while ICBC’s annualized margin stabilized at 1.29% after its average deposit cost fell to 1.15%.
  • Both banks’ non-performing-loan balances increased despite lower ratios, with ICBC reporting rising personal-loan risks and a 31% interim payout ratio.

Bank of China reported first-half 2026 net profit attributable to parent-company shareholders of RMB 123.59 billion, up more than 5% year-on-year, while Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) reported revised first-half net profit of RMB 176.47 billion, up 4.5% to a period record. Bank of China’s net interest income rose more than 10% to RMB 236.73 billion and its net interest margin, the spread between lending returns and funding costs, widened 1 basis point from the end of last year to 1.27%. ICBC’s net interest income increased 8.8% to RMB 341.24 billion, while its annualized net interest margin stabilized at 1.29% as the average deposit cost rate fell to 1.15% from 1.45%. Both banks reported lower non-performing-loan ratios but higher balances, with ICBC’s personal-loan risks worsening. The results highlighted progress in deposit-cost management after Loan Prime Rate, or LPR (benchmark lending rate), cuts, although credit demand, market volatility and asset quality remain concerns.

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