Bank of China

Bank of China Limited (simplified Chinese: 中国银行; traditional Chinese: 中國銀行; pinyin: Zhōngguó Yínháng; often abbreviated as 中銀 (in Hong Kong) or 中行 (in mainland)) is one of the 5 biggest state-owned commercial banks in China.

It was founded in 1912 by the Republican government to replace the Imperial Bank of China. It is the oldest bank in mainland China still in existence. From its establishment until 1942, it issued banknotes on behalf of the Government along with the "Big Four" banks of the period: the Farmers Bank of China, Bank of Communications and Central Bank of the Republic of China. Its headquarters are in Xicheng District, Beijing.

As of 31 December 2009, it was the second largest lender in China overall, and the 5th largest bank in the world by market capitalization value. As of 30 June 2015, it has the third highest proportion of interest payable of Chinese companies.

It has over RMB6,951.68 billion in assets, making it part of the Fortune Global 500 for the past 17 years.

It is the second largest lender in China overall, the largest lender to non-institutions, and the largest foreign exchange lender (the largest lender in China is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China).

All overseas branches are only affiliated with Bank of China branches in China. That means that if you deposit money in a China branch, you cannot access your money in overseas branches.

Bank of China, New York internet banking is available for US dollar accounts and online access to stop payments, wire transfers and remittances. Great Wall debit MasterCard is available to account holders.

Bank of China, New York has two locations: 410 Madison (open Monday - Friday) and 42 East Broadway (open seven days). It also operates as a functional 24/7 clearinghouse for wire transfers and stop payments (allowing real time payments to China).

Although it is not a central bank, the Bank of China is licensed to issue banknotes in two of China's Special Administrative Regions. Until 1942, the Bank of China issued banknotes in mainland China on behalf of the Government of the Republic of China. Today, the Bank issues banknotes in Hong Kong and banknotes in Macau (under thePortuguese name "Banco da China, Sucursal de Macau"), along with other commercial banks in those regions

.As of 30 September 2015, largest shareholders of the Bank of China ordinary shares (both A shares and H shares) were:

China Central Huijin (an investment arm of the government of the People's Republic of China): 64.63% (A shares)

HKSCC Nominees Limited (nominee account): 27.78% (H shares)

China Securities Finance (state-owned legal person): 2.90% (A share]

As of 30 September 2015, largest shareholders of the Bank of China preference shares (both domestic and offshore) were:

The Bank of New York Mellon (custodian bank): 39.96% (offshore)

China Mobile Communications: 18.01% (domestic)

China National Tobacco Corporation: 5.00% (domestic)

Zhongwei Real Estate: 3.00% (domestic)