Zhong Guo Zheng Quan Bao·2026-02-26 20:30Core Insights - The banking industry is transitioning from scale expansion to quality prioritization amid narrowing interest margins and intensified competition [1] Group 1: Regional Performance - Major banking sectors in Beijing, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang show significant asset scale advantages, with Beijing's total assets reaching 38.11 trillion yuan, Jiangsu at 36.72 trillion yuan (10.35% growth), and Zhejiang at 33.45 trillion yuan [2] - In the western regions, banks in Shaanxi and Chongqing are also experiencing steady asset growth, with Shaanxi's total assets at 9.54 trillion yuan (6.40% YoY growth) and Chongqing at 8.76 trillion yuan [2] - The pressure on liabilities and cost control is a core challenge for banks, with Ningxia's deposits growing by 10.43% YoY to 1.09 trillion yuan as of January 2026 [2] Group 2: Asset Quality - The overall non-performing loan (NPL) ratio remains within a reasonable range, with Zhejiang's NPL ratio at 0.83% (down 0.01 percentage points) and Jiangxi at 1.33% [3] - However, some regions like Hebei are experiencing rising risk indicators, with NPL balance increasing from 167.25 billion yuan to 214.36 billion yuan, leading to an NPL ratio rise of 0.45 percentage points to 2.09% [3] - The regulatory focus for 2026 will be on risk prevention and high-quality development, with efforts to address existing risks and prevent new ones [3] Group 3: Interest Margin Challenges - The banking sector faces common challenges with net interest margins under pressure, with the net interest margin for commercial banks at 1.42% as of Q4 2025 [4] - Different types of banks show varied net interest margin performance, with rural commercial banks achieving a higher margin of 1.60% [5] - Some banks are stabilizing their margins through refined liability management, with Hangzhou Bank reporting stabilization in net interest margin due to effective cost control and active asset deployment [5]