村镇银行加速“村改支”背景下的发展之道 访中国村镇银行发展论坛秘书长蒋勇

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing reform of village banks in China is leading to accelerated mergers, with some being integrated into rural credit cooperatives, raising questions about their future development and ability to serve rural economies effectively [1] Group 1: Current Status and Trends - As of mid-2024, there are over 1,600 village banks operating across 31 provinces, employing over 100,000 people, showing a trend of stable and improving operational conditions despite notable polarization [1] Group 2: Reform Objectives and Impacts - The primary goal of the village bank reform is to mitigate risks by restructuring and merging high-risk institutions, which will reduce the number of village banks while enhancing the overall risk management capabilities of the remaining entities [2] - Some provinces have adopted a "one-size-fits-all" approach, merging all village banks into larger commercial banks regardless of their performance, which may not be the best strategy [2] Group 3: Predictions and Challenges - The "village bank to branch" reform approach is suitable for high-risk banks, but indiscriminate merging based on the parent bank's characteristics is not advisable; this could lead to a significant reduction in the number of village banks, potentially leaving small enterprises underserved [3] - A notable challenge is the "one-size-fits-all" policy in some provinces; a more tailored approach involving stable and well-managed village banks leading mergers could be a viable option [3] Group 4: Differentiation and Management - Village banks that have performed well and provided effective services to small and micro enterprises are likely to retain their competitive advantages post-merger, given their deep understanding of local economies and customer needs [4] - The main parent banks should empower these well-performing village banks by respecting their independence and enhancing collaborative mechanisms to balance resource allocation and risk management [5]