In Focus

The Big Four could see profitability plunge to 5%.

Operating profit grew less than 10%, however.

Banks will struggle to write new mortgages to offset an annual repayment rate of ~15%.

From 18% in 2002 to 9% in Sep 2012 to -1% in 2021.

Indian banks face more NPAs.

OCBC sold F&N and APB while DBS sold its stake in BPI.

Total new RMB loans reached RMB6.72tn in the first nine months of 2012.

But loan growth will thrive.

Chinese banks loaned RMB623.2 billion in September, down 11% from RMB703.9 billion in August and below the industry estimate of RMB700 billion.

The European Investment Bank will open a representative office in Beijing to expand its presence in China.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has revised its rules and allowed more incentives on banks’ mergers and consolidations.

The Japanese bank that pioneered card-free ATM transactions in Japan is expanding the service into neighboring prefectures.

The Indian government has reassured the banking sector that the Banking Regulations Act will be amended to include rules liberalizing the issuance of new banking licenses.

Chinese banks are eager to make acquisitions abroad, but may not have the managerial capability to run major European banks.

That is compared to the 34.2% profit growth in the first semester of 2011.

Hana Bank, the banking unit of South Korea's Hana Financial Group, will introduce South Korean-style private banking in China this month.