At the 2026 semi-annual results conference held on August 27, China Citic Bank Corporation Limited (601998)'s Executive Director, President, and Chief Compliance Officer Lv Tiangui stated that the bank's high-quality growth is supported by a clear growth logic and an endogenous system. In terms of growth strategy, profit expansion is not reliant solely on cost reduction but is propelled by a dual engine of stable net interest margin and revenue growth.
First, the bank has consistently implemented volume-price balance management. In the first half of the year, the net interest margin declined by just 1 basis point year-on-year but rebounded by 1 basis point from the first quarter, outperforming peers and solidifying its earnings foundation. Second, strict control over liability costs has been paired with deeper engagement in transaction and settlement businesses, refining payment settlement products, platforms, and ecosystems. In H1, the bank's overall liability cost ratio stood at 1.37%, down 24 basis points from the previous year and 92 basis points from 2020. The cost advantage for corporate deposits widened to 20 basis points relative to peers, with the average daily share of corporate demand deposits ranking among the top two joint-stock banks. Retail demand deposit share also improved, continuously strengthening the bank's capital safety cushion.
Third, customer segment cultivation has been intensified. In H1, incremental growth in corporate base and effective customers surpassed year-ago levels, while retail affluent, VIP, and private banking client additions hit new records. The bank's total AUM growth exceeded RMB 100 billion. Fourth, non-interest income has been diversified through stronger wealth management, asset management, and comprehensive financing capabilities, alongside enhanced investment and trading returns.
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