ICBC, CCB, BOCOM, and Postal Savings Bank were the first to announce

Ask AI · How do high-dividend payout plans reflect state-owned big banks’ commitment to rewarding investors?

With six state-owned big banks officially entering the 2025 annual earnings disclosure period, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Postal Savings Bank of China were the first to release their annual reports on the evening of March 27. All four banks turned in an impressive set of results that highlights operational resilience and a focus on both quality and efficiency. Total assets achieved steady growth, and both operating income and net profit delivered “double growth.”

Worth noting is that the four banks simultaneously disclosed substantial dividend plans. The total dividend payout hit a new high, the payout ratio remained steady, and this fully demonstrates the strong operating capabilities of state-owned big banks, as well as their sense of responsibility to share development outcomes with investors and firmly return value to shareholders.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

In 2025, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China recorded operating income of RMB 838.70 billion, up 2.0% year over year; attributable net profit was RMB 368.56 billion, up 0.7% year over year. As of the end of 2025, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s total assets were RMB 5.348 trillion, up 9.5% from the end of the prior year. In terms of asset quality, as of the end of 2025, the bank’s non-performing loan ratio was 1.31%, down 0.03 percentage points from the end of the prior year; the provision coverage ratio was 213.60%, down 1.31 percentage points from the end of the prior year.

For 2025, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is expected to distribute dividends of approximately RMB 110.6 billion, setting a new record high. Of this, the interim dividend of RMB 50.4 billion has already been paid out.

China Construction Bank

In 2025, China Construction Bank achieved operating income of RMB 761.049 billion, up 1.88% year over year; attributable net profit was RMB 338.906 billion, up 0.99% year over year. As of the end of 2025, China Construction Bank’s total assets were RMB 4.563 trillion, up 12.47% from the end of the prior year. In terms of asset quality, as of the end of 2025, the bank’s non-performing loan ratio was 1.31%, down 0.03 percentage points from the end of the prior year; the provision coverage ratio was 233.15%, down 0.45 percentage points from the end of the prior year.

To share development outcomes with a broad base of investors, China Construction Bank plans to distribute a cash dividend for the end of 2025 of RMB 2.029 per 10 shares (including tax). The total dividend amount is approximately RMB 53.079 billion.

Bank of Communications

In 2025, Bank of Communications recorded operating income of RMB 265.071 billion, up 2.02% year over year; attributable net profit was RMB 95.622 billion, up 2.18% year over year. As of the end of 2025, Bank of Communications’ total assets exceeded RMB 1.55 trillion, up 4.35% from the end of the prior year. In terms of asset quality, as of the end of 2025, the bank’s non-performing loan ratio was 1.28%, down 0.03 percentage points from the end of the prior year; the provision coverage ratio was 208.38%, up 6.44 percentage points from the end of the prior year.

According to Bank of Communications’ 2025 profit distribution proposal, the bank will use 88.364 billion shares of ordinary stock outstanding as of the end of the reporting period as the base. It will distribute cash dividends of RMB 1.684 per 10 shares to ordinary shareholders (including tax), for a total cash dividend of RMB 14.88 billion.

Postal Savings Bank of China

In 2025, Postal Savings Bank of China recorded operating income of RMB 355.728 billion, up 1.99% year over year; attributable net profit was RMB 87.404 billion, up 1.07% year over year. As of the end of 2025, Postal Savings Bank of China’s total assets reached RMB 1.868 trillion, up 9.35% from the end of the prior year. In terms of asset quality, as of the end of 2025, the bank’s non-performing loan ratio was 0.95%, up 0.05 percentage points from the end of the prior year; the provision coverage ratio was 227.94%, down 58.21 percentage points from the end of the prior year.

For full-year 2025, Postal Savings Bank of China plans to distribute cash dividends of RMB 2.183 per 10 shares (including tax), for a total cash dividend distribution of RMB 26.217 billion (including tax).

According to the schedule for listed-bank regular reports publicly released by the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China will publish their 2025 performance reports on March 31.

Source: Financial Times client

Reporter: Zhang Bingjie

Editor: Yunyang