China’s retail banking sector faces regulatory and macroeconomic pressures that are lowering revenues and profits, with banks turning to AI and technology to boost growth and customer engagement

North America and Asia Pacific banks maintain overall balance sheet strength over those in other regions, with the Middle East showing some improvements. Profitability among all 1000 banks improved, driven by higher interest rates, while asset quality indicators stayed stable.

The Global RMB Internationalisation Survey 2024 reveals that usage in cross-border trade has surged, accounting for over half of China’s cross-border payments. The results show high engagement from financial institutions and companies in RMB-based transactions, with notable growth in cross-border cash management, trade financing and investments.