China’s Big Four banks reported stronger earnings for the first quarter of 2026, posting a combined net profit of about 305 billion yuan (US$44.6 billion) [1].
Net interest income rose more than 7% across all four lenders, marking a significant boost from earlier periods [1]. The banks benefited from strong loan growth to infrastructure and policy-backed sectors, which helped lift profits during the quarter [1]. Judy Zhang at Citi said the results reflected "resilient loan growth driven by government-related loans" [1].
Net interest margins showed early signs of stabilisation after a prolonged decline, with some lenders reporting slight sequential improvements [1]. Large state-owned banks outperformed peers due to their stronger exposure to corporate and government lending. Easing margin pressure and lower funding costs also supported a recovery in interest income for these institutions [1].
On average, the banks earned roughly 3.4 billion yuan a day in combined net profit in Q1 2026 [1].
The banks credited government policy support and targeted lending to drive credit expansion, contributing to the stronger financial performance. The results indicate improving conditions in China’s banking sector amid ongoing efforts to support infrastructure and priority industries.
The four lenders will release detailed financial reports later this month, providing more clarity on individual bank performance and outlook for the rest of 2026 [1].
