Asset Scale Surpasses 1.6 Trillion Yuan Mark, Does Hengfeng Bank Achieve Dual Breakthroughs in Risk Resolution and Development?

Produced by | China Visitor Network

Reviewed by | Li Xiaoyan

Recently, Hengfeng Bank held its 2026 annual work conference, revealing key operational data for 2025: by the end of the year, total assets exceeded 1.6 trillion yuan, with operating income and net profit growing by 5.38% and 10.44% respectively against the trend, ranking among the top for growth among joint-stock banks; the loan loss reserve coverage ratio reached its highest since restructuring, and the non-performing loan ratio dropped to its lowest since restructuring. These impressive figures confirm Hengfeng Bank’s successful transformation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period—“recovering from serious illness, regaining vitality, and gradually strengthening its foundation”—marking its full transition from risk resolution to a new stage of sustainable high-quality development.

Leader Xin Shuren repeatedly emphasized “restoring vitality” in his New Year message and during the work conference. This 60-year-old banker has led Hengfeng Bank out of the initial lows following the share reform, completed the core task of risk resolution, and laid a solid foundation for future development. Although the listing goal has not yet been achieved, the phased results of “getting back on track” have delivered a solid answer sheet for his career and the group’s growth. As the “Fifteen-Five” begins, Hengfeng Bank anchors itself in performance, leverages organizational optimization, and embarks on a new journey of high-quality development.

In 2025, Hengfeng Bank achieved steady growth amid a complex economic environment, with all key indicators improving, demonstrating resilience in its transformation. Total assets surpassed 1.6 trillion yuan, an increase of over 4% from the previous year. Although the growth rate narrowed compared to over 9% in previous years, it remained steady amid industry-wide slowdown, with assets steadily rising. Profitability was particularly notable, with both operating income and net profit achieving positive growth; net profit growth reached 10.44%. In an industry environment where the overall net profit of joint-stock banks declined by 2.8% year-on-year in 2025, Hengfeng Bank demonstrated strong risk resistance and profit recovery capabilities.

Asset quality continued to improve as a core highlight of this performance. The loan loss reserve coverage ratio rose to its highest level since restructuring, strengthening the “safety cushion” against potential risks and operational fluctuations; non-performing loan ratio also fell to its lowest since restructuring, with asset structure continuously optimized and risk resistance significantly enhanced. The dual improvement of these two indicators reflects the long-term effectiveness of risk resolution efforts and provides ample space for future business expansion and resource allocation.

Historical data shows that Hengfeng Bank’s profitability growth has experienced fluctuations, with negative net profit growth in 2023. The positive double growth in 2025 is inseparable from the deepening efforts of the management team and the optimization of business structure. In 2025, more than one-third of the board members changed, and the core management team was renewed and upgraded, injecting new vitality into development. White Yushi, a 44-year-old “Post-80s” president, was approved for appointment, becoming the youngest president among national joint-stock banks. With professional qualifications including CPA, CFA, and FRM, and over ten years of experience at Hengfeng Bank, he is familiar with core businesses such as asset-liability management and financial markets, injecting youthful professionalism and driving faster business transformation.

At the start of 2026, Hengfeng Bank accelerated organizational optimization through intensive adjustments of branch senior management and core business layout, promoting the transformation of development momentum and demonstrating its commitment to high-quality growth. Since January, the bank has added at least 14 senior managers across branches in Chongqing, Kunming, Jinan, Nantong, Shenzhen, and others. Most of these new appointments are assistant presidents and vice presidents, with assistant presidents accounting for over half, ensuring sufficient management strength for grassroots business expansion and regional development.

In regional layout optimization, the Chongqing branch’s adjustments are particularly critical. Chang Yong, who has served as assistant president since 2023, was promoted to vice president in 2024 and approved as branch president in February 2026—achieving three consecutive promotions in just three years, demonstrating solid business ability and promotion potential. As a core hub of Hengfeng Bank’s western deployment, the Chongqing branch managed 18 institutions in 2024 and is an important platform for serving the western market. To strengthen branch capabilities, Hengfeng Bank accelerated integration of rural banks, acquiring Chongqing Jiangbei Hengfeng Rural Bank and establishing the Dashiaba branch in 2024, and acquiring Chongqing Yunyang Hengfeng Rural Bank and establishing the Yunyang branch in 2025. The Yunyang branch officially opened in January 2026, further expanding the service network to cover county and rural markets and supporting rural revitalization strategies.

Besides Chongqing, many other branches have filled key positions: Wang Ziqian was appointed assistant president of Kunming Branch; Sun Min, assistant president of Jinan Branch; Ma Fufeng, assistant president of Nantong Branch; and Li Ke, assistant president of Shenzhen Branch. The addition of these new senior managers not only strengthens regional management but also brings new ideas and vitality to branch operations, aligning regional development with the bank’s overall strategy.

Alongside organizational adjustments, Hengfeng Bank clarified the implementation path of the “Nine Major Projects,” emphasizing “returning to fundamentals and focusing on main business,” anchored in the “3510” target system and the “1476” transformation strategy, with a focus on retail banking, transaction banking, and industry banking. In new quality productivity, loans in key areas account for half of new loans, with over 80% directed toward the Yellow River basin, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and other key regions. The bank also leverages its foreign shareholders’ advantages to expand into Southeast Asia, achieving dual optimization of regional layout and business structure.

While recognizing achievements, Hengfeng Bank also faces development challenges that need addressing to steer high-quality growth. The first challenge is the narrowing growth of total assets: from 2022 to 2024, the growth rates were 9.39%, 8.12%, and 6.64%, respectively, showing a decreasing trend, with about 4.21% in 2025—the lowest in recent years. This reflects both the overall industry environment and the need for Hengfeng Bank to further optimize its asset expansion path, balancing scale growth with quality improvement to avoid risks from blind expansion.

The sustainability of profit growth also needs reinforcement. From 2021 to 2024, Hengfeng Bank’s revenue growth fluctuated significantly, shrinking from 13.56% to 1.98%, with net profit growth even dropping sharply by -23.70% in 2023. Although positive at 10.44% in 2025, the stability of profit growth remains a concern. How to expand profit sources while maintaining asset quality, optimize income structure, and reduce reliance on traditional businesses is a core issue for Hengfeng Bank.

Starting from the new milestone of 1.6 trillion yuan in assets, Hengfeng Bank has completed its phased risk resolution tasks and entered a new track of high-quality development. Led by Xin Shuren, the management team bases its foundation on “restoring vitality,” uses organizational optimization as a lever, and supports performance breakthroughs to lay a solid foundation for the bank’s future. The young management team led by White Yushi, with professional skills and innovative thinking, is accelerating transformation and activating new development momentum.

In 2026, Hengfeng Bank will focus on the “Nine Major Projects,” continuously optimize its asset structure, improve profitability quality, strengthen regional layout, and find its position in serving national strategies and demonstrating strength in the domestic market. Facing challenges such as slowing asset growth and pressure on profit expansion, Hengfeng Bank will adhere to steady progress and quality improvement, maintaining strategic resolve while flexibly adjusting strategies to achieve coordinated growth of scale and efficiency under controlled risks.

As a typical case of banking reform and risk mitigation, Hengfeng Bank’s transformation journey is not only a process of self-reinvention but also offers valuable lessons for the high-quality development of small and medium-sized banks. In the future, Hengfeng Bank will continue with perseverance, strengthen its foundation, and steadily advance on the path of high-quality development, injecting more vitality into the stable growth of the financial industry.