Fed Clears Way for Chinese Firms to Buy US Banks (2024)

U.S. News

CNBC.com

For the first time in its history the Federal Reserve gave the thumbs upto an acquisition of a U.S. bank by a Chinese bank, opening the door for other Chinese banks to follow suit.

Fed Clears Way for Chinese Firms to Buy US Banks (1)

Teh Eng Koon |AFP | Getty Images

Pedestrians walk past a branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in central Beijing.

“It is a signal the Fed has gotten comfortable with Chinese banks,” said Fred Cannon, Keefe Bruyette and Woods Director of Research.

The central bank approved the application by China’s largest bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Investment Corp. (CIC)and Central Huijin Investment Ltd, to buy 80 percent of the voting shares of The Bank of East Asia.

The Bank of East Asia is based in New York City and has $780 million in assets. Through the acquisition, ICBC, CIC and Huijin both of which hold stakes in ICBC, will become bank holding companies here in the U.S. with their U.S. operations subject to Fed supervision.

Attorney Rodgin Cohen, a partner in Sullivan and Cromwell who advised The Bank of East Asia on the deal and whose firm also represented CIC, noted it is the first time the Fed has said a Chinese bank is subject to “comprehensive consolidated supervision.” In laymen’s terms, this means the Fed believes oversight by the Chinese banking regulators has improved enough to be considered in keeping with global standards. Cohen said once this term is applied to one Chinese bank it is likely to be applied to other, similarly situated Chinese banks.

ICBC is China’s largest banks with $2.5 trillion in assets. It is 70 percent owned by the Chinese government through CIC, the country’s sovereign wealth fund and Huijin, a government run entity set up to invest in Chinese financial firms. In the increasingly overlapping world of banking, New York based Goldman Sachs owns a stake in ICBC while CIC owns a stake in New York based Morgan Stanley .

As for the impact on the U.S. banking industry, Cohen said he “doesn’t expect to see a wave of acquisitions by Chinese banks.” Cohen said it is more likely Chinese banks will expand their U.S footprints by modest acquisitions of with under $2 billion in assets in metropolitian areas where there are large Chinese communities.

Cannon concurred, noting the entry of Chinese participants is an “incremental positive” for mergers and acquisitions activity in the small to mid-sized bank space. Cannon expects Chinese banks to focus on buying U.S banks that can enhance trade between the two countries, adding we are still a “long way” from a Chinese bank buying a large American bank.

-By CNBC's Mary Thompson
Follow Mary Thompson on Twitter: MThompsonCNBC

Fed Clears Way for Chinese Firms to Buy US Banks (2)

Mary ThompsonCNBC Reporter

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Fed Clears Way for Chinese Firms to Buy US Banks (2024)

FAQs

Fed Clears Way for Chinese Firms to Buy US Banks? ›

For the first time in its history the Federal Reserve gave the thumbs upto an acquisition of a U.S. bank by a Chinese bank, opening the door for other Chinese banks to follow suit.

Does China own Wells Fargo and Bank of America? ›

No, Bank of America isn't owned by China. BofA is an American multinational investment bank that has a partnership with China Construction Bank.

How much of Bank of America does China own? ›

Is Bank of America Partly Owned by China? No, Bank of America is not partly owned by China. It is an American bank.

Does China own any banks in the United States? ›

In other decisions, the Fed approved a bid by Bank of China Ltd, the third largest Chinese bank, to expand its U.S. presence by setting up a branch in Chicago. The bank, which is 71 percent-owned by the Chinese government, already has two branches in New York and a limited branch in Los Angeles.

Why is China blocking banks? ›

In early 2021, Beijing banned banks from selling deposit products via online platforms, fearing that the rapid expansion of the fintech sector could increase risks in the wider financial system.

What country owns Bank of America? ›

Bank of America is owned by Bank of America Corporation, a U.S.-based financial services holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bank of America Corporation was founded in 1904 and has owned Bank of America ever since.

What American companies does China own? ›

Keep reading to see which U.S. giants are backed by foreign conglomerates.
  • AMC. Popular cinema company AMC, short for American Multi-Cinema, has been around for over a century and is headquartered in Leawood, KS. ...
  • General Motors. ...
  • Spotify. ...
  • Snapchat. ...
  • Hilton Hotels. ...
  • General Electric Appliance Division. ...
  • 49 Comments.
Jan 12, 2021

How many corporations in the US are owned by China? ›

Summary: Linked here is table of Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and NYSE American, the three largest U.S. exchanges. As of January 9, 2023, there were 252 Chinese companies listed on these U.S. exchanges with a total market capitalization of $1.03 trillion.

Who is the largest shareholder of Bank of America? ›

Top 10 Owners of Bank of America Corp
StockholderStakeShares owned
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Investm...12.96%1,032,852,006
The Vanguard Group, Inc.7.33%584,293,565
BlackRock Fund Advisors3.82%304,680,133
SSgA Funds Management, Inc.3.55%283,070,553
6 more rows

Who is the richest between China and America? ›

China has 780,000 millionaires, while the US has nearly 7 times that. While China and the US are comparable in nominal GDP, there are far more wealthy individuals in America than in China.

What U.S. banks have ties to China? ›

China - US Banks and Local Correspondent BanksChina - US Banks
  • Citibank.
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
  • BNY Mellon.
  • East West Bank.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank.
  • Morgan Stanley Bank International.
  • SPD Silicon Valley Bank.

Is PNC Bank owned by China? ›

PNC Bank is a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., a U.S.-based bank holding company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1845. PNC Bank has been a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. since it was established as a separate division of the company in 1983.

How many banks are owned by China? ›

China has six state-owned commercial banks.

Can banks seize your money if economy fails? ›

The short answer is no. Banks cannot take your money without your permission, at least not legally. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures deposits up to $250,000 per account holder, per bank.

Can the government take money from your bank account in a crisis? ›

So, can the government take money out of your bank account? The answer is yes – sort of. While the government may not be the one directly taking the money out of someone's account, they can permit an employer or financial institution to do so.

Why is China having a cash crisis? ›

Many blame the economic shortfall on the severe lockdowns and quarantines imposed by Beijing in response to Covid outbreaks. No doubt these have played a role.

Is Bank of America going under? ›

Based on the latest financial disclosure, BANK OF AMERICA has a Probability Of Bankruptcy of 50.0%. This is much higher than that of the sector and significantly higher than that of the Probability Of Bankruptcy industry. The probability of bankruptcy for all United States stocks is notably lower than that of the firm.

Who owns Wells Fargo Bank now? ›

Wells Fargo Bank is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, a U.S.-based multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California and founded in 1852. Wells Fargo Bank has been a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company since it was established as a separate division of the company in 1968.

Is Charles Schwab owned by Bank of America? ›

The company becomes "America's Largest Discount Broker," and later a subsidiary of Bank of America.

Is Amazon China owned? ›

Amazon.com, Inc. (/ˈæməzɒn/ AM-ə-zon UK also /ˈæməzən/ AM-ə-zən) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.

Does China own Walmart? ›

No, Walmart is not owned by China, nor has it been sold to a Chinese investment group. According to USA TODAY fact check, a claim that Walmart had been sold to a Chinese firm was proven false. On Jan. 2 2021, a Facebook post claimed a Chinese business group bought out America's largest retailer.

Does China own Burger King? ›

Burger King (BK) is an American-based multinational chain of hamburger fast food restaurants.

How much does the US owe China? ›

China holds about $1 trillion of U.S. debt, about 3% of all U.S. debt outstanding.

How does China hold US debt? ›

Impact of China Buying U.S. Debt

Hence, as long as China continues to have an export-driven economy with a huge trade surplus with the U.S., it will keep piling up U.S. dollars and U.S. debt. Chinese loans to the U.S., through the purchase of U.S. debt, enable the U.S. to buy Chinese products.

Is Whirlpool owned by China? ›

Whirlpool Corporation is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, United States.

Which Bank is safest in USA? ›

5 Safest Banks in the U.S.
BankAssets
JP Morgan Chase$3.2 trillion
Bank of America$2.42 trillion
Citi$1.77 trillion
Wells Fargo$1.72 trillion
1 more row
Jun 1, 2023

Did Warren Buffett buy Bank of America stock? ›

The investor owns 13.75% of the outstanding Bank Of America stock. The first Bank Of America trade was made in Q2 2007. Since then Warren Buffett bought shares twelve more times and sold shares on five occasions. The stake costed the investor $26.7 Billion, netting the investor a gain of 14% so far.

Which Bank is richest in America? ›

1. JPMorgan Chase. Chase Bank is the consumer banking division of JPMorgan Chase.

What would happen if the US stopped importing from China? ›

This data suggests that if U.S. hypothetically stops buying Chinese goods, China's export will suffer a 18% loss, which accounts for 18%*20% = 3.6% of China's GDP. It is unlikely a 3.6% loss in GDP will collapse the Chinese economy.

Whose economy is better China or USA? ›

China's advance, in economic terms, has outperformed all other countries in recent times . China's GDP, in Purchasing Power Parity terms (the favoured measure of both the IMF and the CIA) has overtaken the USA to become the largest in the world. But perhaps the most astonishing comparison is with Russia.

Which is the wealthiest country in the world? ›

  • Apr 6, 2023. 10 Most Richest Countries in the World 2023. ...
  • Luxembourg. In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) Luxembourg scores at the top of the richest countries. ...
  • Singapore. ...
  • Ireland. ...
  • Qatar. ...
  • Bermuda. ...
  • Norway. ...
  • United Arab Emirates.
Apr 6, 2023

Which banks have most exposure to China? ›

JPMorgan, Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley had combined China exposure of $48 billion in 2022, though that's down 16% from the previous year.

Does China own US Treasury? ›

Which countries hold the most US debt? Over the past 20 years, Japan and China have owned more US Treasuries than any other foreign nation. Between 2000 and 2022, Japan grew from owning $534 billion to just over $1 trillion, while China's ownership grew from $101 billion to $855 billion.

What banks do China own? ›

The Big Four and others. In 1995, the Chinese Government introduced the Commercial Bank Law to commercialize the operations of the four state-owned banks, the Bank of China (BOC), the China Construction Bank (CCB), the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

Is Capital One owned by China? ›

Capital One is a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation, a U.S.-based bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia and founded in 1994.

Does China own TD Bank? ›

TD Bank is Canadian

Toronto-Dominion. That's what the "TD" in TD Bank stands for. TD is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and was founded in 1855. So it's important to remember that an investment in TD is an investment in a foreign-owned corporation.

Who bought PNC Bank? ›

PNC-BBVA Bank Merger: What You Need to Know.

Which is the most powerful bank in the world? ›

With $5.5 trillion in assets, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited is the largest bank in the world, as measured by total assets. Given its size and dominance, it's no surprise that ICBC China has earned high marks for financial stability and profitability.

Who is the largest shareholder of Bank of China? ›

2022
NameEquities%
China Investment Corp. (Investment Company)190,271,558,10790.3%
China Securities Finance Corp. Ltd.7,941,164,8853.77%
Dajia Property & Casualty Insurance Co. Ltd. (Invt Port)382,238,6050.18%
China Life Insurance Company Limited335,393,2500.16%
6 more rows
4 days ago

Is Truist Chinese owned? ›

Truist Financial Corporation is an American bank holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Should I pull my money out of the bank 2023? ›

Do no withdraw cash. Despite the recent uncertainty, experts don't recommend withdrawing cash from your account. Keeping your money in financial institutions rather than in your home is safer, especially when the amount is insured. "It's not a time to pull your money out of the bank," Silver said.

What banks are in trouble in 2023? ›

By the numbers: The three banks that failed this year — Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), First Republic Bank (FRB) and Signature Bank — accounted for 2.4% of all assets in the banking sector.

Where is the safest place to keep cash at home? ›

Where to safely keep cash at home. Just like any other piece of paper, cash can get lost, wet or burned. Consider buying a fireproof and waterproof safe for your home. It's also useful for storing other valuables in your home such as jewelry and important personal documents.

What happens to my money in the bank if the dollar collapses? ›

The agency collects insurance premiums from banks so that in the event that bank becomes insolvent deposits at the financial institution are guaranteed up to a limit, at no expense to the US taxpayer. The standard deposit insurance coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, per FDIC bank.

Is bank of America safe from collapse? ›

Based on the analysis of Bank of America's financial health, risk profile, and regulatory compliance, we can conclude that the bank is relatively safe from any trouble or collapse. The bank's financial performance has been stable, and its balance sheet shows a healthy level of capital and a diversified loan portfolio.

Can IRS see your bank account? ›

The Short Answer: Yes. Share: The IRS probably already knows about many of your financial accounts, and the IRS can get information on how much is there. But, in reality, the IRS rarely digs deeper into your bank and financial accounts unless you're being audited or the IRS is collecting back taxes from you.

Will China overtake US? ›

There is still much work to be done to propel China to the top of the world's economy, but it is certainly possible that the Chinese economy can surpass the power of the US by 2050. It may also be too early to make definitive projections of China's future.

Is the US economy in trouble? ›

Economic growth hit 5.9% in 2021 - the fastest rate in nearly four decades - as pandemic reopenings fuelled consumer spending and job growth. Companies also had it good, enjoying unusually strong profits, despite facing higher costs for supplies.

When China's economy will overtake the US? ›

China is forecast to overtake the US as the world's largest economy by around 2035, while India is expected to become the world's second largest by 2075.

What country owns Wells Fargo Bank? ›

Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence. The company operates in 35 countries and serves over 70 million customers worldwide.

What U.S. banks are affiliated with China? ›

China - US Banks and Local Correspondent BanksChina - US Banks
  • Citibank.
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
  • BNY Mellon.
  • East West Bank.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank.
  • Morgan Stanley Bank International.
  • SPD Silicon Valley Bank.

Does China have Wells Fargo? ›

Wells Fargo does not have offices outside of the U.S. that provide services to consumer or small business customers. For assistance with your accounts when traveling internationally, refer to our international access codes for phone numbers, or visit our travel resource center.

What is Wells Fargo in trouble for? ›

Warren's report focused on Wells Fargo as a bank where fraud involving Zelle was particularly prevalent, as the number of fraudulent transfers rose 2.5 times between 2019 and 2022. The senator further said that the bank "attempted to mislead" by capping the data it provided in 2021.

Is Wells Fargo a safe bank now? ›

Like other major banks, Wells Fargo offers a lot of products and services, including bank accounts for consumers and small businesses, credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, home loans, as well as investing and wealth management services. The bank is FDIC-insure d.

Who is the largest shareholder of Wells Fargo? ›

Top 10 Owners of Wells Fargo & Co
StockholderStakeShares owned
The Vanguard Group, Inc.8.43%319,710,634
BlackRock Fund Advisors4.36%165,332,744
SSgA Funds Management, Inc.3.97%150,711,973
Fidelity Management & Research Co...3.56%135,033,906
6 more rows

Why Wells Fargo is closing international accounts? ›

Wells Fargo may view these U.S. expat clients as a source of perceived compliance risk. Ultimately, they may have decided for their overall business practice to close these retail international brokerage accounts. Again, the good news is that compliant and efficient U.S. expat investing options exist.

What is Wells Fargo in Chinese? ›

Chinese translation: 富国银行
English term or phrase:Wells Fargo
Chinese translation:富国银行
Entered by:Xiaoping Fu
Jan 23, 2003

Does China use debit cards? ›

While you are in China, you can use your debit card to withdraw money from a 24-hour ATM. Big cities and smaller towns all have 24-hour ATMs. However, many rural areas, such as parts of Tibet, don't have many ATMs. English interfaces are available for use on all ATMs.

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