村镇银行成了“香饽饽”？年内三家国有大行参与村改支

Core Viewpoint - The approval of Agricultural Bank's acquisition of Xiamen Tong'an Nongyin Village Bank and its transformation into a branch reflects a broader trend among state-owned banks to reform village banks into branches, aligning with regulatory policies aimed at enhancing financial services in rural areas [1][2][3]. Group 1: Regulatory and Structural Changes - The National Financial Supervision Administration has approved Agricultural Bank's acquisition of Xiamen Tong'an Nongyin Village Bank, marking it as the third state-owned bank to initiate village bank reform this year [1][2]. - The reform aims to optimize the banking sector's grassroots financial service structure, encouraging financial resources to flow into rural areas, thereby enhancing service efficiency and achieving inclusive finance goals [3][4]. Group 2: Historical Context and Recent Developments - Agricultural Bank's acquisition follows similar actions by Industrial and Commercial Bank and Bank of Communications, which have also engaged in village bank reforms this year [2][4]. - As of August, over 100 village banks have exited the market in 2023, indicating a significant acceleration in the reform process compared to previous years [4]. Group 3: Implications for Future Banking Strategies - The transition from village banks to branches allows for better resource integration and risk management, providing support from the parent bank in terms of funding, risk control, and technology [3][5]. - The future expansion of the "village-to-branch" and "village-to-subsidiary" models will depend on the strength and strategic focus of the banks involved, with state-owned banks likely to lead due to their capital strength and nationwide networks [5].