The Aporia
The Aporia
Lingk, T. Y. (2026, October 17). Foreign banks trim China branch networks as low returns test strategy. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3370953/foreign-banks-trim-china-branch-networks-low-returns-test-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed
Lingk, Tim Yuen. “Foreign banks trim China branch networks as low returns test strategy.” South China Morning Post, 17 Oct. 2026, https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3370953/foreign-banks-trim-china-branch-networks-low-returns-test-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed.
Lingk, Tim Yuen. “Foreign banks trim China branch networks as low returns test strategy.” South China Morning Post, October 17, 2026. https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3370953/foreign-banks-trim-china-branch-networks-low-returns-test-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
As of October 17, 2026, foreign banks are reducing their physical presence in China due to low returns on investments. Deutsche Bank (China) recently closed its Chongqing branch and previously closed its Qingdao branch earlier in the year, leaving it with only four branches outside its Beijing headquarters. Similarly, HSBC Bank (China) and Standard Chartered (China) have each shut down a sub-branch in Chongqing over the past 12 months. These closures reflect a broader trend of foreign banks shifting their focus from traditional banking to wealth management services in response to weak financial returns in China's market environment.
