Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges faced by Chongqing Fumin Bank, a private bank in China, including declining performance growth and issues related to related-party transactions, particularly in light of recent events involving its major shareholder, Hanhua Jinkong [3][10]. Group 1: Company Overview - Chongqing Fumin Bank was established in August 2016 and is one of the first pilot private banks in China, focusing on serving local economies and small to medium-sized enterprises [3][4]. - The bank's initial shareholders represent three major industry clusters: inclusive finance, advanced manufacturing, and life health [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - As of the end of 2024, Chongqing Fumin Bank's total assets reached 62.294 billion yuan, a 3.10% increase from the end of 2023 [5]. - The bank reported a revenue of 2.098 billion yuan in 2024, up 3.56% year-on-year, but the growth rate decreased by 2.68 percentage points compared to 2023 [15]. - Net profit for 2024 was 416 million yuan, reflecting a 1.90% increase, but the growth rate fell by 20.92 percentage points from the previous year [15]. Group 3: Operational Challenges - The bank's interest income reached 2.1 billion yuan, a 1.23% increase, while investment income surged by 78.76% to 294 million yuan [16]. - However, the bank faced a loss of 325 million yuan in fees and commissions, which increased by 33.00% year-on-year, indicating a structural imbalance in its business [16]. - The bank's loan balance was 39.991 billion yuan at the end of 2024, a decrease of 5.81% from the previous year, with a non-performing loan ratio of 1.44%, slightly up from the end of 2023 [17]. Group 4: Governance and Management Changes - Recent events involving former chairman Zhang Guoxiang, who was taken into custody, have raised concerns about governance and related-party transactions at the bank [6][10]. - Following Zhang's resignation in August 2024, Zhao Weixing, the new president, has been acting as chairman, exceeding the allowed interim period for such roles [13]. - The bank underwent significant management changes in 2024, with five out of eleven board members leaving, including the former chairman and president [13][14]. Group 5: Regulatory Issues - Chongqing Fumin Bank has faced multiple penalties for related-party transactions, including a fine of 8.5 million yuan in 2021 for unfair pricing and improper loan practices [10][11]. - As of the end of 2024, the bank's related-party credit transactions amounted to 959 million yuan, with significant exposure to individual related parties [11].