# China CITIC Bank

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/citic-bank
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [China CITIC Bank — official](https://www.citicbank.com/)

## Overview

**China CITIC Bank** is **CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank** + **CITIC Group ~67% controlling** + **~1,400 branches in 150+ cities** + **BBVA was strategic investor ~15% 2007 + divested by 2018** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [China report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CN)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: China CITIC Bank ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities + CITIC Group ~67% controlling; **1987 China CITIC Bank founding by CITIC Group post-Deng Xiaoping reform CITIC International Trust + Investment Corporation establishment 1979 + CITIC Industrial Bank founding 1987** distinctive Chinese commercial bank CITIC Group heritage.

**Distinctive China CITIC Bank positioning**:
- **CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank** (China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd; HKEX: 998; SSE: 601998)
- **CITIC Group ~67% controlling** distinctive Chinese commercial bank CITIC Group controlling
- **~1,400 branches in 150+ cities** distinctive Chinese commercial bank urban branch network
- **BBVA was strategic investor ~15% 2007 + divested by 2018** distinctive Chinese commercial bank Spanish BBVA former strategic alliance
- **1987 China CITIC Bank founding by CITIC Group post-Deng Xiaoping reform CITIC International Trust + Investment Corporation establishment 1979 + CITIC Industrial Bank founding 1987** distinctive Chinese commercial bank CITIC Group heritage
- **CITIC Group ecosystem integration (CITIC Securities + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom + CITIC Resources + others)** distinctive Chinese conglomerate-bank ecosystem
- **Apr 27 2007 China CITIC Bank IPO on HKEX (998) + SSE (601998)** distinctive Chinese commercial bank Hong Kong + Shanghai dual-listing

## History

**1979 — CITIC International Trust + Investment Corporation established by Rong Yiren post-Deng Xiaoping reform** as Chinese state-owned trust + investment vehicle.

**1987 — CITIC Industrial Bank founded by CITIC Group** as China CITIC Bank's predecessor.

**Dec 13 2005 — CITIC Industrial Bank renamed China CITIC Bank** post-Chinese banking modernization.

**Apr 27 2007 — China CITIC Bank IPO on HKEX (998) + SSE (601998)** distinctive Chinese commercial bank Hong Kong + Shanghai dual-listing.

**Nov 2007 — BBVA was strategic investor ~15% 2007** post-Spanish BBVA-Chinese commercial bank strategic alliance.

**2018 — BBVA divested its ~15% stake in China CITIC Bank** post-Spanish BBVA-Chinese commercial bank strategic alliance termination.

**2010 — China CITIC Bank Mobile Banking app launch** distinctive Chinese mobile banking strategy.

**2025 — China CITIC Bank ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities + CITIC Group ~67% controlling** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd** (HKEX: 998; SSE: 601998; CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank; CITIC Group ~67% controlling).

**Major shareholders**: **CITIC Group (Chinese state-owned conglomerate; Beijing) ~67% controlling + CITIC Polaris Investment + China Tobacco + Chinese retail + institutional + foreign investors (post-BBVA ~15% 2018 divestment)**.

**Regulators**: **PBoC (People's Bank of China) + NFRA (National Financial Regulatory Administration China) + CSRC + HKMA**.

## Technical integration

China CITIC Bank Mobile Banking app (iOS + Android) + citicbank.com online + China CITIC Bank ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities + China CITIC Bank UnionPay + Visa + Mastercard cards; CNAPS + UnionPay + UnionPay QR + e-CNY (post-PBoC e-CNY pilot expansion); **CITIC Group ecosystem integration (CITIC Securities + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom + CITIC Resources + others)** distinctive Chinese conglomerate-bank ecosystem.

## Users & growth

China CITIC Bank ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities; CITIC Group ~67% controlling.

## Use cases

Chinese retail + private + SME + commercial + corporate + CITIC Group ecosystem banking via China CITIC Bank Mobile Banking + citicbank.com online + China CITIC Bank ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities + UnionPay + Visa + Mastercard cards; CNAPS + UnionPay + UnionPay QR + e-CNY (post-PBoC e-CNY pilot expansion); **CITIC Group ecosystem integration (CITIC Securities + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom + CITIC Resources + others)** distinctive Chinese conglomerate-bank ecosystem.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd (HKEX: 998; SSE: 601998; CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank; CITIC Group ~67% controlling); CITIC Group (Chinese state-owned conglomerate; Beijing) ~67% controlling + CITIC Polaris Investment + China Tobacco + Chinese retail + institutional + foreign investors (post-BBVA ~15% 2018 divestment).

**CITIC Group ecosystem partnership**: **CITIC Group (Chinese state-owned conglomerate; Beijing) ~67% controlling** distinctive Chinese conglomerate-bank ecosystem + CITIC Securities (HKEX: 6030; SSE: 600030; Chinese investment bank) + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific (HKEX: 0267; HK-listed conglomerate) + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom (HKEX: 1883) + CITIC Resources (HKEX: 1205) + others.

**Major Chinese banking + payments competitors**: [ICBC Mobile Banking](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/icbc-mobile) (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; world's largest bank by assets) + [Agricultural Bank of China (ABC Mobile Banking)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/abc-china) (Agricultural Bank of China; 530M+ ABC Mobile Banking users mid-2025) + [Bank of China (BoC) Mobile Banking](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/boc-mobile) (Bank of China; Chinese Big-4) + [China Construction Bank (CCB) Mobile Banking](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/ccb-mobile) (China Construction Bank; Chinese Big-4) + [Bank of Communications (BOCOM Mobile Banking)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bocom-china) (Bank of Communications; Chinese Big-5; HSBC ~19.03% strategic investor) + [Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/psbc) (Postal Savings Bank of China; Chinese Big-6; 390M mobile users early 2025) + [China Merchants Bank (CMB Mobile Banking + CMB Life)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/cmb-bank) (China Merchants Bank; Chinese retail king; 210M retail customers 2025) + [Ping An Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/ping-an-bank) (Ping An Bank; Ping An Insurance Group ~58% controlling; H1 2025 MSME loan portfolio RMB 499.524B serving 970,000+ customers) + [Industrial Bank (Wireless Industrial Bank + Online Industrial Bank)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/industrial-bank-china) (Industrial Bank China; top 20 banks in the world; Fortune Global 500) + [Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPD Bank Mobile)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/spd-bank) (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank; Chinese joint-stock commercial bank) + [China Everbright Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/everbright-bank) (China Everbright Bank; China Everbright Group affiliated) + [Alipay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/alipay) (Ant Group Alipay; Chinese mobile wallet; 1B+ active users) + [WeChat Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/wechat-pay) (Tencent WeChat Pay; Chinese mobile wallet; >1B users).

**Regulators**: PBoC + NFRA + CSRC + HKMA.

## Fun facts

- **CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank** (China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd; HKEX: 998; SSE: 601998).
- **CITIC Group ~67% controlling** distinctive Chinese commercial bank CITIC Group controlling.
- **~1,400 branches in 150+ cities** distinctive Chinese commercial bank urban branch network.
- **BBVA was strategic investor ~15% 2007 + divested by 2018** distinctive Chinese commercial bank Spanish BBVA former strategic alliance.
- **1987 China CITIC Bank founding by CITIC Group post-Deng Xiaoping reform CITIC International Trust + Investment Corporation establishment 1979 + CITIC Industrial Bank founding 1987** distinctive Chinese commercial bank CITIC Group heritage.
- **CITIC Group ecosystem integration (CITIC Securities + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom + CITIC Resources + others)** distinctive Chinese conglomerate-bank ecosystem.
- **Apr 27 2007 China CITIC Bank IPO on HKEX (998) + SSE (601998)** distinctive Chinese commercial bank Hong Kong + Shanghai dual-listing.

## Comparison

| Feature | China CITIC Bank | [China Merchants Bank (CMB Mobile Banking + CMB Life)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/cmb-bank) (China Merchants Bank rival; Chinese retail king) | [Ping An Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/ping-an-bank) (Ping An Bank rival; Ping An Insurance Group ~58% controlling) | [Industrial Bank (Wireless Industrial Bank + Online Industrial Bank)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/industrial-bank-china) (Industrial Bank China rival; top 20 banks in the world; Fortune Global 500) | [Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPD Bank Mobile)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/spd-bank) (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd (HKEX: 998; SSE: 601998; CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank; CITIC Group ~67% controlling)** | China Merchants Bank Co Ltd (HKEX: 3968; SSE: 600036; Chinese retail king commercial bank) | Ping An Bank Co Ltd (SZSE: 000001 (China's first listed stock A-share); Chinese joint-stock commercial bank) | Industrial Bank Co Ltd (SSE: 601166; Chinese joint-stock commercial bank; top 20 banks in the world; Fortune Global 500) | Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co Ltd (SSE: 600000; Chinese joint-stock commercial bank) |
| Type | **CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank + CITIC Group ~67% controlling + ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities + BBVA was strategic investor ~15% 2007 + divested by 2018 + CITIC Group ecosystem integration (CITIC Securities + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom + CITIC Resources + others)** | Chinese retail king commercial bank + 210M+ retail customers 2025 +6.6% YoY + Asia's best bank for consumers 2025 Euromoney + CMBC Wallet adoption rate growth +50% YoY | Chinese joint-stock commercial bank + Ping An Insurance Group ~58% controlling + H1 2025 MSME loan portfolio RMB 499.524B serving 970,000+ customers + China's first bank to receive 'Asia's Best Digital Bank' award 2020 | Chinese joint-stock commercial bank + top 20 banks in the world + Fortune Global 500 + Hang Seng Bank (HSBC subsidiary) ~10% stake | Chinese joint-stock commercial bank + CNY 6B 2023 technology upgrades + pivot from branch-first retail to digital-first ecosystems 2023-2025 |
| Country | CN + HK + MO + SG + US + GB + AU + KZ + KH | CN + HK + US + GB + SG + JP + KR | CN + HK | CN + HK | CN + HK + GB + SG + JP + KR + DE + RU |
| Distinctive | **1979 CITIC International Trust + Investment Corporation established by Rong Yiren post-Deng Xiaoping reform; 1987 CITIC Industrial Bank founding by CITIC Group; Dec 13 2005 CITIC Industrial Bank renamed China CITIC Bank; Apr 27 2007 China CITIC Bank IPO on HKEX (998) + SSE (601998); Nov 2007 BBVA strategic investor ~15%; 2018 BBVA divested; 2010 China CITIC Bank Mobile Banking app launch** | Apr 8 1987 China Merchants Bank founding in Shekou Industrial Zone Shenzhen; Apr 9 2002 CMB IPO on SSE (600036); Early 2010 CMB Mobile Banking 1.0 launch | 1987 Shenzhen Development Bank founding (China's first joint-stock commercial bank in Shenzhen); Apr 3 1991 Shenzhen Development Bank IPO on SZSE under ticker 000001 (China's first listed stock A-share); 2012 Shenzhen Development Bank + Ping An Bank merger | Aug 26 1988 Industrial Bank founding in Fuzhou City Fujian Province; Feb 5 2007 Industrial Bank SSE IPO under ticker 601166 | Aug 28 1992 SPDB founding in Shanghai; Sep 23 1999 SPDB SSE IPO under ticker 600000 |

## Status

**Active, CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank + CITIC Group ~67% controlling + ~1,400 branches in 150+ cities** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd (HKEX: 998; SSE: 601998; CITIC Group affiliated commercial bank; CITIC Group ~67% controlling)** since 1979 CITIC International Trust + Investment Corporation established by Rong Yiren + 1987 CITIC Industrial Bank founding by CITIC Group + Dec 13 2005 CITIC Industrial Bank renamed China CITIC Bank + Apr 27 2007 China CITIC Bank IPO on HKEX (998) + SSE (601998) + Nov 2007 BBVA strategic investor ~15% + 2018 BBVA divested.
- **CITIC Group ecosystem integration (CITIC Securities + CITIC Trust + CITIC Pacific + CITIC Construction + CITIC Telecom + CITIC Resources + others)**.
- **BBVA was strategic investor ~15% 2007 + divested by 2018**.
- **PBoC + NFRA + CSRC + HKMA regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.citicbank.com/ "China CITIC Bank — official"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_CITIC_Bank "China CITIC Bank — Wikipedia"
[3]: https://www.bbva.com/en/bbva-completes-sale-of-its-citic-bank-stake-for-eur-1-7-bn/ "BBVA completes sale of its CITIC Bank stake for €1.7 bn — BBVA"
[cn-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CN

- [1] [China CITIC Bank — official][1]
- [2] [China CITIC Bank — Wikipedia][2]
- [3] [BBVA completes sale of its CITIC Bank stake for €1.7 bn — BBVA][3]
- <sup>[China report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CN)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/CN-china.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [citic-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/citic-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.