Core Insights - The A-share banking sector has experienced a prolonged period without new listings, with the last IPO being Lanzhou Bank in January 2022, until Dongguan Bank and Guangdong Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank recently had their IPO status restored to "accepted" [1][3][4] - Dongguan Bank has faced numerous challenges since proposing its IPO in 2008, including multiple application terminations and audit suspensions, while Guangdong Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank has similarly faced a lengthy process since initiating its IPO in 2018 [4][5] - In contrast, Guangdong Shunde Rural Commercial Bank has withdrawn its IPO application, reducing the number of banks waiting to list in A-shares to five, amidst a challenging environment characterized by narrowing net interest margins and asset quality pressures [1][8] Company Summaries - Dongguan Bank reported a revenue of 10.197 billion yuan in 2024, a decrease of 3.69% year-on-year, and a net profit of 3.738 billion yuan, down 8.1% [5] - Guangdong Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank achieved a revenue of 6.429 billion yuan, a decline of 6.3%, but its net profit increased by 2.99% to 2.453 billion yuan [5] - Guangdong Shunde Rural Commercial Bank, which has withdrawn its IPO application, was established in 1952 and underwent a transformation into a rural commercial bank in 2009 [6][7] Market Context - The A-share market has not seen new bank listings since Lanzhou Bank, with many banks considering the Hong Kong market as an alternative due to the high barriers and uncertainties in A-shares [9][10] - Yibin Bank successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in January 2025, but its stock performance was lackluster, reflecting the challenges faced by small and medium-sized banks in the Hong Kong market [9][10] - The overall environment for bank IPOs is complicated by regulatory demands for sustainable profitability, leading some banks to withdraw their applications due to poor financial performance [8][10]

Core Viewpoint - The IPO application of Shunde Rural Commercial Bank has been withdrawn, marking the end of its nearly six-year journey towards listing, and it is the second small bank to withdraw its application this year [1][3]. Group 1: IPO Withdrawal and Market Context - Shunde Rural Commercial Bank's IPO application was submitted in 2019 and was accepted, but it faced delays and issues with financial data updates, leading to its eventual withdrawal [3][4]. - The current environment for small banks seeking to list on the A-share market has become increasingly challenging, with only five banks remaining in the queue for IPOs [1][6]. - The overall trend shows a slowdown in the IPO process for small banks, with several banks withdrawing their applications in recent years, particularly after the implementation of the comprehensive registration system [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Capital Adequacy - As of the end of 2024, Shunde Rural Commercial Bank reported total assets of 471.99 billion yuan, with capital adequacy ratios above regulatory minimums: 14.90% for capital adequacy, 12.71% for tier 1 capital, and 12.04% for core tier 1 capital [3][4]. - Despite maintaining adequate capital ratios, the bank has faced declining profitability, with net profit decreasing for three consecutive years, including a 7.89% drop in 2024 [3][4]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Strategic Adjustments - The bank's withdrawal from the IPO process is attributed to strategic planning adjustments, with intentions to potentially reinitiate the process based on market conditions [4][5]. - Other small banks in Guangdong, such as Dongguan Bank and Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank, are still in the IPO queue, having updated their financial data recently [5][6].

Core Viewpoint - The annual reports of three banks in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—Dongguan Bank, Shunde Rural Commercial Bank, and Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank—reveal a mixed performance in terms of revenue and net profit, with all three banks experiencing a significant decline in net interest margins [2][4][6]. Group 1: IPO Progress and Challenges - Dongguan Bank was the first to initiate its IPO plan in March 2008, but faced multiple setbacks, including a halted review in 2014 and a stalled process since 2025 due to outdated financial data [3][4]. - As of March 2023, all three banks had their IPO applications moved to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, but their progress has been repeatedly interrupted due to the need for updated financial information [4][5]. - The total assets of the three banks exceeded 300 billion yuan, with Dongguan Bank at 672.73 billion yuan, Shunde Rural Commercial Bank at 481.05 billion yuan, and Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank at 334.85 billion yuan [4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Dongguan Bank reported a revenue decrease of 3.69% to 10.197 billion yuan and a net profit decline of 8.20% to 3.733 billion yuan, attributed to market changes and increased support for small and micro enterprises [6][7]. - Shunde Rural Commercial Bank's revenue slightly increased by 1.24% to 8.49 billion yuan, but net profit fell by 8.54% to 3.169 billion yuan, with a narrowing net interest margin from 1.65% to 1.40% [7][8]. - Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank's revenue decreased by 6.30% to 6.429 billion yuan, while net profit grew by 2.99% to 2.453 billion yuan, with a net interest margin contraction from 1.72% to 1.34% [8]. Group 3: Asset Quality and Capital Adequacy - As of the end of 2024, Dongguan Bank's non-performing loan (NPL) ratio rose to 1.01%, while Shunde Rural Commercial Bank's NPL ratio increased to 1.61%. In contrast, Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank's NPL ratio decreased to 1.43% [5]. - Capital adequacy ratios showed improvement across the banks, with Dongguan Bank at 13.93%, Shunde Rural Commercial Bank at 14.90%, and Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank significantly increasing to 16.15% [4].