Diving into CITIC Bank's Earnings Conference: How Will the "New Hundred Billion Yuan Bank" Operate This Year?

On March 23, China CITIC Bank held its 2025 Annual Performance Release Conference in Beijing.

As the first listed bank to release its financial report in the A-share market this year, China CITIC Bank’s results show that in 2025, the bank achieved operating income of 212.475 billion yuan, a slight decrease of 0.55% year-on-year; net profit attributable to shareholders was 70.618 billion yuan, up 2.98% year-on-year. At the same time, by the end of 2025, the bank’s total assets surpassed 10 trillion yuan.

At the performance conference, management analyzed the latest achievements and future development strategies of this “new trillion-yuan bank” for the public.

Performance Highlights with Seven Key Points

Regarding the 2025 performance, Chairman Fang Heying summarized seven highlights, covering net profit growth and dividends, stable income and cost reduction, asset and liability structure optimization, light capital transformation, asset quality, technological investment, and brand image.

First is dividends. In 2025, China CITIC Bank plans to increase cash dividends to 21.2 billion yuan, accounting for 31.75% of net profit attributable to common shareholders, up 1.2 percentage points from 2024. Both the dividend amount and ratio hit record highs.

Management emphasized the bank’s measures over the past year to stabilize income and reduce costs. Fang Heying stated that these measures have opened up development space for the bank, effectively narrowed revenue decline, and that liability business has played a real role as a “buffer” against low interest margins.

Regarding stable income, in 2025, China CITIC Bank’s operating income decreased by 0.55% year-on-year, with net interest income down 1.51% to 144.469 billion yuan; non-interest net income increased by 1.55% to 68.006 billion yuan. Breakdown shows wealth management business provided effective support, with fee and commission net income reaching 32.772 billion yuan, up 5.58% year-on-year, and wealth management fee income growing over 45% to 6.135 billion yuan.

On cost control, Fang Heying said the bank maintains balanced management of volume and price in liability business, with a reasonable deposit structure—46% of corporate current deposits, ranking second among joint-stock banks; retail current deposits account for 27%, an increase of 3.2 percentage points over two years. The bank also continues to reduce high-cost deposits and promote transaction settlement capabilities.

In terms of costs, as of the end of last year, CITIC Bank’s interest-bearing liabilities cost rate was 1.61%, down 0.41 percentage points from the previous year; deposit cost rate was 1.52%, down 0.37 percentage points. The net interest margin stabilized, with the bank’s full-year 2025 net interest margin at 1.63%, down 14 basis points year-on-year, consistent with the first half of 2025.

Facing Risks and Retail Challenges

For CITIC Bank, the asset size made a significant leap last year, with total assets surpassing 10 trillion yuan for the first time at the end of 2025, a 6.28% increase from the previous year to 101.031 trillion yuan. After joining the “10 trillion club,” the bank faces more challenges.

Regarding asset quality, as of the end of 2025, CITIC Bank’s non-performing loan ratio was 1.15%, down 0.01 percentage points from the end of last year. Notably, retail credit risk still increased, with personal consumer loans (excluding credit cards) non-performing at 2.8%, up 0.66 percentage points from the previous year.

Vice President Jin Xinian admitted in response to reporters’ questions that current risk control pressure mainly comes from retail loans. “Retail risk pressure is a common industry issue, and CITIC Bank is no exception.”

He said that since 2024, in response to the industry-wide trend of retail risk, CITIC Bank has conducted systematic reassessment, adopting measures such as joint prevention and control mechanisms for business and risk, and strengthening full-process credit management, continuously improving independent customer acquisition and risk control capabilities.

“Our incremental growth has improved significantly, the risk trend of key products is positive, and we are confident in quickly stabilizing retail asset quality,” Jin Xinian stated.

CITIC Bank’s retail banking development has also attracted market attention. Data shows that in 2025, the bank’s retail banking income and contribution to revenue both declined.

Fang Heying said, “We need to calmly view the cyclical risks and value losses caused by frequent credit risks, the rapid expansion of wealth management markets, the rise of retail development systems and capabilities, and focus on major retail development issues.” The bank’s emphasis on retail business development remains unchanged. This year, the bank will continue to prioritize retail contribution.

“We are not lowering its (retail business) status but rather giving it a responsibility to face difficulties,” Fang Heying emphasized.

Promoting AI First to AI Fast

The wave of artificial intelligence continues to drive digital transformation in the financial industry.

“This year, we will continue to maintain high-intensity technological investment. The entire bank will shift from AI First to AI Fast,” Fang Heying clearly stated.

At the scene, Vice President Gu Lingyun told Securities Times that CITIC Bank is steadily implementing its leading digital banking strategy, which in 2025 has delivered tangible productivity in cost reduction, efficiency increase, risk control, and customer experience. For example, in corporate banking, the “Galaxy System” has achieved global unified credit approval, solving industry risk control challenges.

“Implementing an AI action plan led directly by senior management, aiming to have AI penetrate every business decision and operation within two years, and by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, to achieve over 90% of core business processes AI restructured, transitioning from AI-assisted to AI-native,” Gu Lingyun said. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, CITIC Bank will continue to focus on technological strength.

Regarding the 2026 operating strategy, Fang Heying said the bank will pursue the “Three-Three Strategy”: striving for excellence in “wealth management, comprehensive financing, and investment trading,” and consolidating leadership in “payment and settlement, cross-border services, and digital intelligence.” This is the latest strategic plan following the “Five Leading Banks Strategy” and the “342 Key Nucleus Action.”

Proofread: Yang Lilin