村镇银行大瘦身：超百家被并购 城商行成最大“接盘侠”

Core Viewpoint - The recent approvals for the acquisition of rural banks by city commercial banks indicate a significant trend towards the restructuring and consolidation of smaller banks in China, driven by the need to mitigate risks and enhance financial services in local areas [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Approvals - On January 5, the Pingdingshan Financial Regulatory Bureau approved Zhongyuan Bank's request to acquire shares in Jia County Guangtian Village Bank [1] - Zhongyuan Bank also received approvals for acquisitions of several other village banks, including Puyang Zhongyuan Village Bank and Henan Luan County Minfeng Village Bank [1] - Over 100 merger applications for rural banks have been approved from January 2025 to January 5, 2026, primarily involving city commercial banks [1] Group 2: Motivations Behind Mergers - The surge in mergers is largely driven by the urgent need for structural reorganization of rural banks to address risks, as noted by industry experts [1][2] - City commercial banks aim to enhance their market penetration and service capabilities by leveraging their parent banks' technology, funding, and risk management systems [2] Group 3: Restructuring Methods - There are four primary methods for the structural reorganization of rural banks: absorption by the main initiating bank, mergers of multiple rural banks, market exit through dissolution, and increasing shareholding by the main initiating bank [2] - The absorption method allows for direct management of rural bank operations, enhancing service and risk management capabilities [2] Group 4: Future Trends and Policy Implications - The restructuring of rural banks is expected to accelerate, leading to a gradual reduction in their numbers, with a focus on improving quality over quantity [4] - The central financial work meeting emphasizes strict entry standards and regulatory requirements for small financial institutions, suggesting limited potential for cross-regional operations by city and rural commercial banks [3][4] - There is a call for guiding policies to support the restructuring process, ensuring rural banks focus on their core missions while mitigating risks [4]