Zheng Quan Ri Bao Zhi Sheng·2025-06-25 16:09Core Viewpoint - The approval of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to acquire Chongqing Bishan Rural Bank marks the first instance of a state-owned bank participating in the "village-to-branch" reform, indicating a significant shift in the banking sector towards addressing risks in rural financial institutions [1] Group 1: Industry Implications - The involvement of large state-owned banks in the reform of rural banks reflects a proactive response to the central government's call for accelerating the resolution of high-risk small financial institutions [1] - The "village-to-branch" model is seen as a dual-value approach, benefiting both the acquired rural banks through improved governance and risk management, and the acquiring banks by enabling rapid market penetration in county-level markets [2][3] Group 2: Future Outlook - Despite the current momentum, the majority of rural banks are initiated by city commercial banks and rural commercial banks, suggesting that future cases of state-owned banks participating may be limited due to structural constraints [2] - Regulatory bodies are urged to provide clearer operational guidelines for the "village-to-branch" model and implement differentiated supervision to effectively support the agricultural sector [3] Group 3: Challenges and Recommendations - The acquisition process presents multiple challenges for the acquiring banks, including the need for effective integration of management systems and risk assessment [3] - A collaborative long-term mechanism is recommended, involving regulatory clarity on risk responsibilities and market-driven pricing strategies to facilitate smoother restructuring processes [3]