BNP Paribas is the latest bank said to be expanding its China business

2021 is turning out to be the year that banks are making renewed commitments to China. BNP Paribas is the latest said to be eyeing an expanded presence in mainland China according to two sources.  

The move comes after Beijing relaxed rules for bans looking to establish an on-shore banking presence, leading some to gain majority ownership in their existing joint ventures in order to gain licenses and increase the size of their teams.

Credit Suisse acquired a majority of Founder Securities last year, while JP Morgan and UBS have moved an increasing number of bankers onshore, according to a source. In June 2020, Credit Suisse became a majority shareholder in its China securities joint venture - Credit Suisse Founder Securities. Last November, JP Morgan announced plans to increase its shareholding in its Chinese securities joint venture to 71%. 

Morgan Stanley, Citi and BAML are also looking to add to their onshore businesses in China, according to one headhunter.

BNP Paribas has had a presence in China dating back to 1860 when it opened its first office in Shanghai. It has nearly 500 staff based in the country, with business ranging from banking, financing and advisory services. The bank holds an 18% stake in Bank of Nanjing and a 49 per cent share in asset management company HFT Investment Management.

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