Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the operational performance of small and medium-sized banks in the first half of the year, highlighting the ongoing differentiation and competitive landscape among these banks, as well as some new developments in the sector [3]. Group 1: Performance of Listed Banks - As of mid-2023, the total asset scale of 42 A-share listed banks reached approximately 321 trillion yuan, with 27 city commercial banks and rural commercial banks accounting for about 36 trillion yuan, an increase of over 3 trillion yuan compared to the end of last year [4]. - City and rural commercial banks have seen their share of total assets among listed banks rise from less than 11% at the end of last year to around 11.21% [5]. - Jiangsu Bank has overtaken Beijing Bank to become the new "leader" among city commercial banks, with an asset scale of 4.79 trillion yuan, while Beijing Bank has 4.75 trillion yuan [6][7]. - Jiangsu Bank's revenue and net profit for the first half of the year were 448.64 billion yuan and 202.38 billion yuan, respectively, with growth rates of 7.08% and 8.05%, while Beijing Bank's figures were 362.18 billion yuan and 150.53 billion yuan, with growth rates of 1.02% and 1.12% [6][8]. Group 2: Profitability and Asset Quality - The net interest margin (NIM) among listed city and rural commercial banks varies significantly, with the highest NIM at 2.58% for Changshu Bank and the lowest at 1.08% for Xiamen Bank [12]. - The overall NIM for commercial banks was reported at 1.42%, with city commercial banks at 1.37% and rural commercial banks at 1.58% [12]. - The article notes that the asset quality remains a critical factor affecting the risks of small and medium-sized banks, with several banks reporting high non-performing loan (NPL) ratios, particularly in the real estate sector [14][15]. - Qingnong Bank's real estate loan NPL ratio surged from 7.17% at the end of last year to 21.32%, indicating significant risk exposure in this area [15]. Group 3: Changes in Non-Listed Banks - Non-listed small and medium-sized banks have also experienced notable changes, with some rural commercial banks seeing significant declines in asset scale, such as Ningbo Yinzhou Rural Commercial Bank, which saw a decrease of 15.45% [16]. - The reliance on financial investments has increased among banks, particularly rural commercial banks, with some banks reporting financial investments accounting for over 45% of their total assets [16].