Bank excels with long history, numerous honors

It now stands in the front ranks of global financial institutions in terms of international influence, competitiveness and comprehensive strength after a century's development

YUAN SHENGGAO

Bank of China is the Chinese bank with the longest history in operations.

It was founded in February 1912 under the approval of Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the fledgling democratic government of China. Since then, it had functioned as the central bank, an international exchange bank and a specialized bank for international trade in China.

Since 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, BOC has long been a national bank specializing in foreign exchange and international trade, with its missions including managing the State's foreign exchange reserves, international trade settlement, overseas remittance and other non-trade foreign exchange operations.

In 1994, BOC was transformed into a wholly State-owned commercial bank, offering comprehensive financial services. It has since developed into a large-sized commercial bank with a rich portfolio of currencies, services and products.

In 2006, BOC became the first bank on the Chinese mainland to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and also the first Chinese bank listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. So it is often mentioned as the first A+H-listed bank in China, as A refers to A share and H refers to H share.

BOC is also known as the "dual Olympics" bank in China as it was the only official partner in the banking sector for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

In 2011, BOC was rated as the first global systematically important bank from emerging economies in a report issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. It has since maintained the status for 12 consecutive years, showing that it has been in the front ranks of global banks in terms of international influence, competitiveness and comprehensive strength.

BOC's global operational network consists of regional headquarters, branch banks, representative offices and outlets in 64 countries and regions outside the Chinese mainland, including 44 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. It is worth mentioning that BOC Hong Kong and BOC's Macao branch are the issuers of local bank notes.

Through its extensive global operational network, BOC offers a rich portfolio of services and products that includes corporate finance, personal finance, direct investment, securities, insurance, mutual funds, aircraft leasing, asset management, financial technologies and financial leasing.

In recent years, BOC has seen its international influence continue to rise, which is manifested in the great number of awards and honors it has secured.

In 2022, its awards and honors included:

・ The fourth place among the global 1,000 banks and fourth place among the global 500 banking brands rated by The Banker.

・ The 42nd place on the 2022 Global Fortune 500 list.

・ Outstanding Leadership in ESG-Related Loans Award, China Star — Best Private Banking Award, Outstanding Leadership in Sustainable Project Finance Award and other awards released by Global Finance.

・ Best ESG Bank in China and Chinese Private Banking — Best State-Owned Bank awards granted by Asiamoney.

・ Innovation Award of the IFF Global Green Finance Awards granted by the International Finance Forum.

・ Best Banking Infrastructure Technology Application Award granted by The Asian Banker.

・ Triple A Digital Finance Innovation Award, Best QDII Custody Bank Award, Best Sustainable Creditor Award granted by The Asset.

・ Best Trade Finance Bank in the Asia-Pacific Award granted by Trade Finance Global.

・ Fintech Development Award granted by the People's Bank of China.

・ Green Credit Committee's Outstanding Award granted by the China Banking Association.

・ Typical Case of Universal Finance Award granted by the China Banking Association and 21 Finance Academy.

・ Best Renminbi-Foreign Exchange Market Maker Award granted by China Foreign Exchange Trading System.

・ Best Wealth Management Bank Award granted by China Business News.

・ Responsible Investment Best Bank Award granted by Sina.

・ IDC Fintech Application Scenario Innovation Award granted by IDG.

・ People's Craftmanship Service Award granted by people.cn.

・ Golden Roundtable Awards — Governance Special Contribution Award granted by Manager magazine.

・ Best Investor Relationship Award and Best Investor Relationship Board of Directors Award granted by Securities Times.

・ Annual Report Gold Prize granted by LACP.

・ The sixth place among best Chinese brands recognized by Interbrand.

・ The sixth place among brands with best Chinese historical and cultural connotations rated by Hurun Academy.

・ Best Employer — Attractive Brand Award granted by xinhua.net, 58.com and ChinaHR.com.

・ 2022 Best Employer in China Award, Best Employer in Sustainable Development Award and Best Employer in Digital Responsibility Award granted by Forbes.

In September 2023, BOC was granted the GIP Best Innovation Award at the fifth annual conference of BRI Green Investment Principles.

Sri Lanka

BOC Colombo in Sri Lanka was founded in 2018. At the heart of the nation's capital city of Colombo, the office is in a four-story building, which was constructed in 1844 during the colonial period and was listed as one of the historical buildings by the local government. The BOC office occupies a two-story, rented space of 1,100 sq m.

Paris

BOC Paris was founded in 1986. It was relocated to a building at 23-25 Grande Armee Street in 2004. The office building is a structure featuring Haussmannien style, constructed in 1921. The classical, stately and elegant seven-story building, with a floor space of 2,200 sq m, is on the list of key structures under the protection of the government of Paris.

Hong Kong

Founded in 2001, BOC Hong Kong has its office at No 1 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong. The office tower was designed by Leoh Ming Pei, borrowing inspiration from bamboo, which symbolizes rapid growth in Chinese culture. The building is one of the most eye-catching landmarks of Hong Kong, especially when it become brilliantly colorful during the light show in the evening.

London

BOC London was founded in 1929. Its office has been relocated six times since then, until it settled its office at No 1 Lothbury, London in September 2010. It is a 10-story building covering 11,000 sq m in floor space and neighboring the Bank of England.

Bank of China Head Office

The BOC headquarters complex, built in 2001, is located at the convergence of the Chang'an Avenue and Xidan Commercial Street in Beijing. It was designed by Leoh Ming Pei, a renowned China-born American architect and the 1983 laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Singapore

BOC Singapore was founded in 1936. Its office building underwent a renovation and expansion in 2000, on the basis of the former office building. With a total floor space of 26,000 sq m, the new building inherits the architectural style of the old one. Featuring an exterior with rising, upward lines and Chinese-style, geometrized decorative elements in details, the building is a landmark in the city's financial district. In 2019, its image was printed on one of the local commemorative bank notes to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Singapore's opening-up as a port city.

Kazakhstan

BOC Kazakhstan was founded in 1994, evolving from a branch bank in Alma-Ata established in 1993. In March 2013, BOC Kazakhstan was relocated to a new building at 71B, Microdistrct Zhetysu-2, Auezov District in Alma-Ata. Constructed in 2010, the six-story building has a floor space of 4,531 sq m.

Hungary

BOC Hungary was founded in 2003. Its office was relocated to the building at No 7 Jozsef Nador, Budapest. This building, used to house the office of French bank Credit Agricole, was built in 1833.

Johannesburg

Founded in 2000, BOC Johannesburg was the first Chinese-funded bank registered in South Africa. Its office is in Alice Lane, a building at No 15 Alice Street, Sandton. The area is an emerging business district in Johannesburg.

New York

BOC New York was founded in 1981. Its office is a 28-story building at the Sixth Avenue, near Bryant Park in New York City. This is the largest office building owned by BOC in overseas regions other than Asia.