Bank History

Period of The Bank of Canton Period of Security Pacific Asian Bank & Bank of America (Asia) Period of CCB (Asia)

Period of The Bank of Canton

1912

CCB (Asia) originated from The Bank of Canton which was established in Hong Kong in 1912 by Chinese businessmen, including Li Yuk-tong and Look Pong-shan. It was the first Chinese-owned bank in Hong Kong and Look Pong-shan was the first chairman. The headquarter was located at 6 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong, which is now the flagship branch of CCB (Asia).

The Bank of Canton’s head office in 1912
The Bank of Canton’s head office was located at 6 Des Voeux Road Central


1936

Due to Great Depression, operations of the bank were suspended in 1935. Through re-capitalization by Soong Tse-ven, the bank reopened on November 23 and was chaired by Soong Tse-ven.


The bank expanded its business to Macau by setting up a subsidiary Bank of Canton (Macau), which was the first Chinese-owned financial institution registered in Macau.

Soong Tse-ven and his colleagues on photo which was taken in 1936
The Bank of Canton reopened in 1936. Soong Tse-ven (forth from right) served as the Chairman of the board.


1941

Hong Kong was occupied by Japan in World War II. The bank’s business was suspended again.


1945

World War II ended and Hong Kong was liberated. Former staff rebuilt The Bank of Canton and its banking business was quickly back on track. It soon became the largest Chinese-owned remittance and foreign exchange bank in Hong Kong in the post-war era.

The Bank of Canton in 1947
Celebration of the 35th Anniversary of The Bank of Canton (1947)


1966

Shanghai Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. became a subsidiary of The Bank of Canton and was renamed Hongkong & Shanghai Insurance Company Limited later. In 2001, Hongkong & Shanghai Insurance Company Limited merged with QBE Insurance (Hong Kong) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of QBE Group and was renamed QBE Hongkong & Shanghai Insurance Limited.



Period of Security Pacific Asian Bank & Bank of America (Asia)

1988

The Bank of Canton officially announced its cooperation with Security Pacific National Bank in 1971. In 1988, The Bank of Canton was officially renamed Security Pacific Asian Bank.

The inauguration of Security Pacific Asian Bank
The inauguration of Security Pacific Asian Bank


1993
Security Pacific Corporation merged with Bank of America Corporation. Security Pacific Asian Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation and was renamed Bank of America (Asia) in 1993. In 2001, the Chinese name of Bank of America (Asia) was changed to align with English.


Period of CCB (Asia)

2006

China Construction Bank acquired a 100% interest in Bank of America (Asia) from Bank of America and was renamed China Construction Bank (Asia).

The inauguration of CCB (Asia) (2007)
The inauguration of CCB (Asia) (2007)


2009

CCB (Asia) acquired AIG Finance (Hong Kong) and was renamed China Construction Bank (Asia) Finance, laying the solid foundation for expanding the credit card and personal loan businesses in Hong Kong.

Signing ceremony of the acquisition of AIG Finance (Hong Kong) in 2009
Signing ceremony of the acquisition of AIG Finance (Hong Kong)


2013

Business integration of China Construction Bank (Asia) and China Construction Bank Hong Kong Branch.

CCB Hong Kong Business Integration Ceremony in 2013
CCB Hong Kong Business Integration Ceremony


The three buildings of CCB in Hong Kong were officially inaugurated. CCB Tower is the head office of CCB (Asia), located at Central; CCB Centre is the mid-to-back office of CCB’s entities in Hong Kong, situated in Kowloon Bay; CCB Hong Kong Training Centre is CCB’s first offshore training site, located at Sai Wan.

CCB Centre, CCB Tower, CCB Hong Kong Training Centre
(From left to right) CCB Centre, CCB Tower, CCB Hong Kong Training Centre


2017

CCB (Asia) Celebrated the 105th Anniversary

Group photo of CCB (Asia) staff in 105th Anniversary Cocktail Reception on February 21
105th Anniversary Cocktail Reception on February 21, 2017



2019 to Present

After five-year effort, the successful completion of “New Generation System Overseas Integration Project” marked the launch of CCB (Asia)’s brand new core banking system which powers the bank’s strategic transformation and business development in the future.

“New Generation System Overseas Integration Project” successfully launched
“New Generation System Overseas Integration Project” successfully launched