All six of China's largest state-owned commercial banks have released their 2026 interim results, with each institution reporting growth in both revenue and net profit attributable to shareholders during the first half of the year.

The disclosures, which arrived on the evening of August 28, complete the earnings season for the country's banking heavyweights — ICBC, CCB, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, Postal Savings Bank of China, and Bank of Communications. According to financial data compiled from public reports, the combined net profit attributable to shareholders across the six lenders reached ¥712.598 billion.

Asset growth has remained steady across the board. As of the end of June, ICBC continued to hold the top position in total assets, expanding 6.70% from the close of 2025 to ¥57.07 trillion. Agricultural Bank of China and CCB followed with asset bases of ¥51.06 trillion and ¥47.33 trillion, respectively. Bank of China crossed the ¥40 trillion threshold, posting a 4.77% increase from end-2025 levels to ¥40.19 trillion. Meanwhile, Postal Savings Bank of China and Bank of Communications recorded assets of ¥19.82 trillion and ¥16.26 trillion, up 6.07% and 4.58% respectively.

Operational performance has remained largely steady, supported by higher-quality credit deployment and a gradual reduction in liability costs. In terms of net profit attributable to shareholders, ICBC led the pack with ¥173.686 billion. Growth rates exceeded 4% for Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, CCB, Postal Savings Bank of China, and Bank of Communications — rising by 5.1%, 4.9%, 4.62%, 4.62%, and 4.04% respectively. These gains translated into net profits of ¥123.594 billion, ¥146.381 billion, ¥169.564 billion, ¥51.503 billion, and ¥47.874 billion for each respective bank.

On the revenue front, ICBC generated ¥465.859 billion in turnover during the first half of the year. CCB and Agricultural Bank of China both surpassed the ¥400-billion mark, with revenues of ¥436.529 billion and ¥410.871 billion. Bank of China brought in ¥356.903 billion, while Postal Savings Bank of China and Bank of Communications posted ¥192.482 billion and ¥142.343 billion, respectively. All six lenders achieved positive year-on-year revenue growth, with Agricultural Bank of China and CCB recording double-digit expansion of 11.1% and 10.72%. ICBC, Bank of China, Postal Savings Bank of China, and Bank of Communications grew 9.1%, 8.48%, 7.26%, and 6.73% in revenue terms.

Asset quality, a key barometer of banking health, has shown resilience. As of the end of June, Postal Savings Bank of China recorded the lowest non-performing loan (NPL) ratio among the six at 1.00%. Bank of China's NPL ratio slipped 0.01 percentage points from end-2025 to 1.22%. Agricultural Bank of China, ICBC, and CCB each saw declines of 0.02 percentage points, reaching 1.25%, 1.29%, and 1.29% respectively. Bank of Communications reported an NPL ratio of 1.30%.

Capital adequacy ratios also moved favourably, with Bank of Communications rising 0.04 percentage points to 16.00%. CCB, ICBC, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, and Postal Savings Bank of China recorded ratios of 19.42%, 18.57%, 18.31%, 17.50%, and 14.19% respectively.

In a push towards greater technological integration, the banks are bolstering their intelligent risk-control capabilities. ICBC, for instance, is leveraging fintech expertise to transition towards a "technology-driven, smart-control" model, embedding intelligent risk management into business operations and scenarios with over 300 implemented use cases on its enterprise-level platform. CCB is strengthening its ability to identify and manage emerging risks, enhancing its model risk governance through validation, review, and post-evaluation processes, while also reinforcing controls over data risk, fraud risk, ESG considerations, and new-product exposures.

Turning to support for the real economy, the six banks have been proactive in aligning with national stabilisation policies, channelling resources into key sectors and demonstrating their role as financial "main forces" by ramping up credit supply. Agricultural Bank of China has intensified efforts to aid agriculture and rural areas, with county-level loan balances reaching ¥11.9 trillion by the end of June — an increase of ¥981.5 billion, or 9.0%, and representing a share of domestic loans that has climbed to 41.9%. Bank of China has concentrated on major strategies, key areas, and weak links, particularly supporting the modernisation of the industrial system. Its domestic manufacturing and strategic emerging industry loan balances grew 11.56% and 14.26% respectively from the end of the previous year. CCB has expanded financial support to significant strategies and priority sectors, with domestic corporate loans rising 7.19% from end-2025 levels to ¥16.82 trillion. Bank of Communications has also stepped up credit support, with manufacturing and private enterprise loans increasing 12.89% and 8.74% respectively from the start of the year.

All six banks are set to distribute interim cash dividends. According to their half-year profit distribution plans announced on August 28, ICBC proposes paying ¥1.511 per ten shares (tax inclusive), Agricultural Bank of China ¥1.297 per ten shares (tax inclusive), Bank of China ¥1.190 per ten shares (pre-tax), CCB ¥2.010 per ten shares (tax inclusive), Postal Savings Bank of China ¥1.330 per ten shares (tax inclusive), and Bank of Communications ¥1.68 per ten shares (tax inclusive).