Shanghaiist: Photo of the Day: ICBC now world's largest bank, but for how long?

guest

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:47:41 +0800

Calm down. No need to be mad.

guest

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:31:00 +0800

#4, I don't talk in hypotheticals like an IDIOT. I said nothing about China, you pathetic race-baiter. ICBC is run like crap with no transparency, with about 10X more employees than Citibank, too. Try getting some money without waiting forever. The employee attitude is also terrible, like they are somehow put out by helping you. You brought China in. Some Chinese banks are good. My experience with China Merchant's Bank has been good -- btw also a Chinese bank. Maybe next time you can summon more brain power to bring to the table.

Alec

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:05:24 +0800

Well, service sucks at Chinese banks. Sorry, guest. But Nan's right - - - they aren't really banks, more like appendages of the central government to keep the economy humming with cheap loans. Citibank has far more money, has far more services, and the net-wealth of the people it deals with dwarfs ICBC. Plus it exists in countries all over the world, not just China. When China fully opens up it's banking sector (as mandated by the WTO) and relaxes it's draconian currency controls, then the Chinese will rush to pull their savings from the low-interest ICBC accounts and push them into real banks like Citibank. And when the Shanghai exchange goes POP it's reign at the top will be over anyway.

guest

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:43:46 +0800

about the 'service,' if citibank's got as many customers every day as ICBC，they probably wouldn't do anything better... u snobbish and cynical expats only love to mock at anything in china, just to feel a sense of superiority... U mock at china coz china is nothing compared to US or EU. but if one day china is as good, u probably wouldn't be qualified to stay here...

China-Matt

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:52:59 +0800

I just learned the fun of traveling and using ICBC around China. I was outside my province and needed to use the ATM at another branch of the bank... I didn't realize I'd be charged 20 kuai for using my own bank's machine. Apparently this is perfectly normal among banks here.

guest

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:16:55 +0800

Being a state-owned and financed entity apparently is not a disqualifying feature. Not many banks can compete with national treasuries, which is where the big 4 chinese banks get their direct backing from. And of course no one is completely aware or willing to face up to the true level of NPLs in the ICBC. nanheyangrouchuan

guest

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:31:48 +0800

truly frightening considering the 'service' that they 'offer'