Jin Rong Shi Bao·2025-11-20 12:48Core Viewpoint - The recent approvals by the National Financial Supervision Administration for several banks, including SPDB and Zhengzhou Bank, to acquire their affiliated rural banks and convert them into direct branches indicate a shift from quantity expansion to quality improvement in rural banking services [1][2]. Group 1: Recent Developments - Multiple cases of "village to branch" transformations have been approved in various regions, including Zhejiang and Inner Mongolia, reflecting a significant acceleration in the reform and restructuring of small and medium-sized banks [2]. - SPDB successfully acquired Zezhou Rural Bank and established it as a branch, marking its second acquisition of a rural bank in November [2]. - Zhengzhou Bank announced plans to acquire shares from other shareholders of Xun County Rural Bank and convert it into a branch, showcasing the trend of "village to branch" and "village to division" as mainstream methods of restructuring [2]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The absorption and conversion of rural banks into branches enhance service capabilities and risk resilience for the main banks, while also broadening their operational scope [3]. - The restructuring aligns with regulatory goals to reduce the number of financial institutions while improving service quality, as evidenced by a reduction in the number of rural banks from 1,440 by mid-2025, down from 1,538 at the end of 2024 [4]. - The integration of rural banks is not merely about reducing the number of branches but represents a strategic shift towards more refined financial services and diversified product offerings to meet varied customer needs [4].