ICBC to meet increased capital req’s after G-SIB upgrade: S&P

Its 21.52% TLAC already exceeds the new minimum requirement

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. (ICBC) will be able to meet increased capital requirements, according to S&P Global Ratings.

The China-based bank has been raised to the bucket 3 of the Financial Stability Board’s global systematically important banks (G-SIB) framework. This entails increased capital requirements.

As of 30 September 2025, ICBC’s total loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC) capital ratio was 21.52%. This exceeds the new minimum requirement of 20.5%.

The bank’s capitalisation is adequate, as assessed by S&P. ICBC is also slated to receive an equity capital injection from the Chinese government next year.

S&P also believes that ICBC's conservative growth strategy will help it preserve capital and address its narrow capital buffer.

“Given the prevailing economic uncertainties, we expect the bank to maintain manageable asset growth over the next two years, with loan growth likely to remain in single digits,” the ratings agency said in a report on 28 November 2025.