ABN-Amro expects fast China loan growth

ABN-Amro Bank expects its loan portfolio in China to experience double-digit growth for at least the next few years, its chief executive for China, Sergio Rial, says.

In terms of loan portfolio size, the bank ranked eighth of 40 foreign banks operating in Shanghai, with loans of more than US$1 billion as at December last year, he said.

The first four on the list, and the sixth and seventh, were Japanese. Hongkong Bank was fifth and Citibank ninth.

Mr Rial said ABN-Amro had had a branch in Shanghai for four years.

The bank was particularly active in trade and structured finance for foreign-invested enterprises and locally-listed Chinese corporations.

Capitalising on this advantage, the bank had submitted an application for a yuan licence.