半年7家！村镇银行“收割机”常熟农商行的棋局

Core Viewpoint - Changshu Rural Commercial Bank is deepening its network layout in Jiangsu province through the absorption and merger of village banks, while facing challenges in profitability and asset quality in its non-local operations [1][3][9]. Group 1: Expansion Strategy - The bank has successfully integrated seven village banks into its network this year, with a focus on expanding its presence in southern, central, and northern Jiangsu [3][4]. - The bank's strategy includes a shift from "scale priority" to "quality breakthrough," as it navigates intense competition from other local commercial banks [1][12]. - The bank's total assets reached 63.91 billion yuan, with total deposits of 55.97 billion yuan and total loans of 43.41 billion yuan as of the reporting period [5]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, the bank achieved operating income of 6.062 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.1%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 1.969 billion yuan, up 13.51% [8][9]. - The bank's revenue from non-interest income grew by 57.26% to 1.422 billion yuan, contributing to 23.46% of total revenue [10]. - However, there is a noticeable decline in revenue and profit contributions from non-local operations, with a drop of 6.66 percentage points in revenue share compared to the previous year [9][10]. Group 3: Asset Quality and Regional Disparities - The bank's non-performing loan (NPL) ratio in Changshu is 0.50%, while it has risen to 0.85% in other regions of Jiangsu [10][11]. - The bank's strategy to enhance asset quality includes replicating successful local risk control models in its non-local branches [11]. - Analysts suggest that the bank should focus on quality improvement and risk management as it continues its expansion [11][12]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The bank faces significant competition from other local banks in Jiangsu, which are also targeting the same customer segments [12][13]. - The bank aims to differentiate itself by leveraging big data and AI to enhance its services for small and micro enterprises [13]. - Future strategies include focusing on high-quality, localized financial products tailored to the specific needs of different regions [13].