China’s banking system assets rise 17.7%

The total came to to US$21 trillion in 2012.

Chinese banks saw their total assets rise 17.7% year-on-year to at the end of 2012. The growth was slower than the 18.3% rate a year earlier, said the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC).

The banking system’s liabilities reached US$19.7 trillion, up 17.5% year-on-year, compared with an 18% increase a year earlier.

Smaller lenders, including joint-stock commercial banks and city commercial banks, posted annual growth of 20% for both assets and liabilities. This growth was over double that of the larger lenders.

Big banks, including the Big Four banks, accounted for 44.1% of the banking sector’s total assets and 44% of its total liabilities in 2012, both below the 46.6% a year earlier.