China Bank corporate lending up 17% in 2017

MANILA, Philippines — China Banking Corp. said its corporate lending portfolio expanded 17 percent last year with the strengthening of its institutional banking division.

Lilian Yu, head of the bank’s Institutional Banking Group (IBG), said her marching order from the senior management is to drive revenue, accelerate organic growth, and enhance the group’s strategic capabilities.

“IBG is a major contributor to the bank’s bottom line.  We expect corporate lending to grow 17 percent in 2017. I hope to build on this growth by leveraging on the bank’s network of relationships,” Yu said.

Yu, who was also appointed advisor to the board of the bank’s investment house subsidiary China Bank Capital Corp. (CBCC), served as an international consultant for the Asian Development Bank.

She also previously held senior management positions at ABN AMRO Bank, ING Bank NV, Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, and the International Finance Corporation. Yu holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

China Bank president William Whang said the continuing senior management changes is aimed at optimizing the bench strength of the bank’s executive team.