Feng Huang Wang Cai Jing·2025-11-26 09:51Core Viewpoint - The appointment of Chen Haiqiang as the new chairman of Zheshang Bank marks a significant internal promotion, but the bank faces substantial challenges as it has fallen behind competitors in key financial metrics [1][3][4]. Group 1: Leadership Changes - Chen Haiqiang has been nominated as the new chairman of Zheshang Bank, becoming the first internal candidate to hold this position in the bank's 21-year history [1]. - He has rapidly ascended through the ranks, moving from Chief Risk Officer to President and now to Chairman within a few months [1]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Zheshang Bank's total assets, operating income, and net profit have all lagged behind those of Ningbo Bank and Hangzhou Bank, with the latter surpassing Zheshang Bank in net profit by 4.217 billion yuan [3][4]. - In 2019, Ningbo Bank's net profit was 137.14 billion yuan compared to Zheshang Bank's 129.25 billion yuan, and by 2024, the gap had widened to 119.41 billion yuan [4]. - For the first three quarters of 2025, Zheshang Bank reported a net profit of 11.668 billion yuan, down 9.59% year-on-year, with a significant quarterly decline of 18.45% [7][8]. Group 3: Asset Quality and Risk Management - Zheshang Bank has made significant progress in reducing non-performing loans, with the non-performing loan ratio decreasing from 1.53% in 2021 to 1.36% in Q3 2025 [8]. - Despite improvements in asset quality, the bank still faces challenges with a growing balance of non-performing loans and an increase in loans under scrutiny [9]. Group 4: Internal Control and Reputation Issues - The bank has been plagued by a series of corruption scandals involving high-ranking officials, which have tarnished its reputation [11]. - In 2023, Zheshang Bank received 20 regulatory fines totaling over 46 million yuan, indicating significant internal control issues [12]. - Chen Haiqiang's immediate tasks include optimizing internal controls and restoring the bank's reputation while also addressing existing risks [9][12]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - The competitive dynamics among Zhejiang banks have shifted from a focus on scale to a focus on quality and differentiation, posing additional challenges for Zheshang Bank [12].