CCB President Zhang Yi: Net Interest Margin to Stay Ahead of Peers via 'Two Stabilizations, Two
On August 28, China Construction Bank (CCB) President Zhang Yi said the bank will maintain its net interest margin (NIM) at a leading level among comparable peers through proactive management under a 'two stabilizations, two optimizations' strategy. In the first half of 2026, CCB's group NIM stood at 1.37%, up 3 basis points from the full-year 2025 level. The strategy covers stabilizing total volume and pace, and optimizing asset mix and liabilities.
On August 28, Zhang Yi, President of China Construction Bank (CCB), stated at the bank's 2026 interim results briefing that the bank will maintain its net interest margin (NIM) at a leading level among comparable peers through proactive management under a 'two stabilizations, two optimizations' approach. In the first half of 2026, CCB Group's NIM was 1.37%, an increase of 3 basis points from the full-year 2025 level. The specific strategy encompasses four aspects: stabilizing total volume, stabilizing pace, optimizing asset mix, and optimizing liabilities.
Regarding stabilizing total volume, CCB will adapt to new changes in macroeconomic policies, market conditions, and customer demand, maintaining steady growth in the total volume of major assets and liabilities. The bank will dynamically optimize its organizational structure, continuously release and enhance operational and management efficiency, and sustain steady growth in net interest income. In terms of stabilizing pace, the bank will anchor to high-quality development requirements, making asset allocation targets more aligned with market conditions, competitive dynamics, and customer demand. It will ensure balanced deployment of credit and bond investments, and improve the profitability of interest-earning assets. For liability management, the bank will adhere to a balance between volume and price, with a focus on promoting the application of system platforms such as cash management and payroll services, facilitating the growth of settlement-based funds, and enhancing the momentum for expanding high-stability, low-cost deposits.
On optimizing the asset mix, CCB will anchor to optimal asset portfolio allocation, focusing on the 'five major articles' (technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance) as well as key areas such as infrastructure and manufacturing. The bank will consolidate the foundation of credit disbursement, actively and flexibly allocate financial investment instruments, and strengthen high-quality financial supply driven by both credit and investment, striving to further increase the share of newly added high-yield assets for the full year. In optimizing liabilities, the bank will promote structural improvement and cost reduction of proactive liabilities, dynamically arrange the types, tenors, and financing pace of central bank funds, interbank liabilities, and financial bond issuance, broaden liability channels, deepen interbank client management, and maintain the deposit cost ratio at a reasonable level.