ICBC (Asia) will seek more business in the debt-capital market because intense competition has sharply hit profit in the mortgage-lending sector.
Managing director Chris Chan sees more attractive underwriting and facility fees from syndicated and wholesale banking loans - both in Hong Kong and on the mainland.
'We can get about a HK$5 million fee from a loan deal [in these markets], which is not bad,' Mr Chan said.
In the next several months the bank would conclude seven to eight loans.
On the mainland, Mr Chan said, the bank would leverage on the name of its parent - the biggest state-owned bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.
In order to reduce credit risk, ICBC (Asia) would become selective in lending with priority to Hong Kong blue chips and mainland companies with solid foundations, he said.