Bank of Tianjin
A Chinese city commercial bank headquartered in Tianjin and serving corporate, retail, and institutional customers.
Last updated October 9, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Bank of Tianjin is a Chinese city commercial bank headquartered in Tianjin and regulated by the People's Bank of China. The institution was established on 6 November 1996 as Tianjin City Co-operative Bank, with an initial mandate focused on serving local communities and supporting the financial needs of the city. It was renamed Tianjin City Commercial Bank in May 1998, reflecting the evolution of China's urban banking sector and the institution's broader commercial-banking role. In March 2007, it adopted its current name, Bank of Tianjin, following a strategic foreign investment by Australia-based ANZ Group. ANZ invested US$111.4 million for a 20 percent stake, making the transaction an important step in the bank's institutional development and international profile. The bank expanded beyond Tianjin during the same period, opening operations in Beijing in 2007. Its business is centered on conventional commercial-banking services, including deposits, lending, payments and settlement, wealth-management products, and other services for corporate and individual customers. As a city commercial bank, its identity is rooted in regional banking while its branch network has extended into other major Chinese cities. The available reference material describes a network of 109 branches and 306 outlets as of 31 December 2015, indicating a substantial physical distribution platform at that point in its development. Bank of Tianjin also developed interests outside its core banking operations. It held a stake in Tianjin Jixian County Bank Co. Ltd., a commercial bank in Jixian County. Its interest was initially reported at 53.87 percent and later reduced to 35 percent after part of the holding was transferred to other investors. This investment connected Bank of Tianjin with another local banking institution while preserving its primary focus on commercial banking. The bank became a publicly traded institution in March 2016, when it listed H shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The initial public offering was led by BOC International, ABC International, and CCB International. The offering raised approximately US$950 million, below the initially targeted US$1.23 billion. The listing broadened access to international capital markets and established the bank's publicly traded identity under stock code 1578. The bank's post-listing history also included a reported fraud incident at its Shanghai branch involving approximately US$122 million. The incident attracted attention because it occurred soon after the initial public offering and was discussed alongside reports of a similar investigation involving Agricultural Bank of China. The available material does not establish the full outcome, responsibility, or subsequent remediation. Accordingly, the event is best treated as a reported control and governance issue rather than as a basis for broader conclusions about the institution. Bank of Tianjin's brand positioning is that of a regional Chinese commercial bank combining local-market relationships with a wider mainland branch presence and access to public-market funding. Its historical milestones include formation as a cooperative bank, renaming as a city commercial bank, foreign strategic investment, expansion into Beijing, diversification through an associated banking investment, and Hong Kong listing. Detailed current information about its leadership, website, present operating scale, ownership structure, and product-level branding is not established by the supplied reference material.
History
Bank of Tianjin was created on 6 November 1996 as Tianjin City Co-operative Bank. Its original purpose was to provide banking services to local communities in Tianjin, placing it within the group of urban financial institutions that developed to serve municipal and regional economies in China. In May 1998, the bank changed its name to Tianjin City Commercial Bank. The new designation reflected a transition from a cooperative identity toward a broader commercial-banking model. A significant stage in the bank's development came in 2007. In March of that year, it adopted the name Bank of Tianjin after receiving foreign direct investment from ANZ Group, an Australian banking group. ANZ reportedly invested US$111.4 million and acquired a 20 percent interest. The investment provided the institution with an international strategic shareholder and coincided with geographical expansion into Beijing. The name change also gave the bank a more concise identity as it developed beyond its original municipal base. The bank subsequently broadened its activities through an investment in Tianjin Jixian County Bank Co. Ltd., a commercial bank based in Jixian County. Bank of Tianjin was initially reported to hold 53.87 percent of that institution, but later ceded part of the interest to other investors, leaving a reported 35 percent stake. The transaction illustrates the bank's participation in the wider network of locally oriented Chinese banking institutions, although its principal business remained its own commercial-banking operation. By 2015, the bank had established a sizeable physical presence. The supplied reference material describes 109 branches across major Chinese cities and 306 outlets as of 31 December 2015. It also records the bank's ranking at number 219 by tier-one capital in The Banker's Global Banking 1000 for 2015. These figures place Bank of Tianjin among substantial regional banking institutions, while its stated business scope continued to include corporate and personal financial services, deposits, loans, payments and settlement, and wealth-management products. In March 2016, Bank of Tianjin entered the Hong Kong equity market through an H-share initial public offering. BOC International, ABC International, and CCB International led the offering. The transaction raised about US$950 million, although the bank had reportedly sought approximately US$1.23 billion. The listing gave the institution a public-market presence under Hong Kong stock code 1578 and provided an additional capital-market platform. The period after the listing was complicated by a reported fraud incident at the bank's Shanghai branch, valued in the supplied material at approximately US$122 million. The case was discussed in connection with another investigation involving Agricultural Bank of China. The available source does not specify the complete investigative outcome, the individuals responsible, or the final financial recovery. It therefore remains a reported governance and internal-control event rather than a fully documented historical conclusion. The bank is governed through a board structure; the reference material identifies Yuan Fuhua as chairman and Yuanhua Wen as president and executive director at the time described. Current executive appointments, ownership details, branch numbers, website information, and the present status of the associated Jixian County investment are not established in the supplied sources. On the evidence available, Bank of Tianjin's historical development is defined by its transformation from a Tianjin cooperative bank into a publicly listed city commercial bank with foreign strategic investment, mainland expansion, and a broad conventional banking-service portfolio.
- 2016
Listed H shares in Hong Kong
[1]The bank completed a Hong Kong Stock Exchange IPO in March 2016 under stock code 1578.
- 2015
Recorded substantial branch and outlet network
[1]As of 31 December 2015, the bank was described as having 109 branches and 306 outlets, and ranked 219th by tier-one capital in The Banker's Global Banking 1000.
- 2007
Adopted the Bank of Tianjin name and received ANZ investment
[1]The bank changed its name in March 2007 after ANZ Group invested US$111.4 million for a reported 20 percent stake.
- 2007
Expanded operations into Beijing
[1]Bank of Tianjin extended its operating footprint beyond Tianjin by entering Beijing during 2007.
- 1998
Renamed Tianjin City Commercial Bank
[1]In May 1998, the bank adopted a commercial-bank name as its institutional role expanded beyond its original cooperative identity.
- 1996
Established as Tianjin City Co-operative Bank
[1]The institution was founded on 6 November 1996 to serve local communities in Tianjin.
Products and positioning
A regional Chinese city commercial bank providing corporate and personal banking services, with roots in Tianjin and operations extending into other major Chinese cities.
Retail and corporate banking
Deposit accounts
Deposit-taking is a core commercial-banking activity for Bank of Tianjin. The supplied material identifies deposits among the bank's typical services but does not specify individual account names, interest structures, eligibility rules, digital features, or current availability. Deposits support the bank's relationships with both personal customers and corporate clients.
Corporate banking
Corporate loans
Corporate lending forms part of the bank's business serving companies and local institutions. The available sources do not identify specific sector programs, loan sizes, collateral terms, or branded products. Its regional-bank heritage indicates a focus on commercial relationships, but the precise current composition of corporate lending is not established here.
Retail banking
Personal loans
Personal lending is included in the bank's broad retail financial-services scope. The reference material does not provide details about mortgages, consumer credit, personal business loans, application channels, pricing, or underwriting. Accordingly, this entry describes the documented category rather than a specific named offering.
Transaction banking
Payments and settlement
Bank of Tianjin provides payments and settlement services as part of its corporate and personal banking activities. The supplied sources do not distinguish between domestic transfers, merchant services, clearing products, card services, or electronic-payment channels. The category is therefore documented at a general service level.
Wealth management
Wealth-management products
Wealth management is listed among Bank of Tianjin's typical products. No specific product series, investment mandate, risk classification, distribution channel, or current product status is supplied. This entry refers generally to the bank's wealth-management offering for eligible customers.
Controversies
2026
Failure to report abnormal service of key information system, fined RMB 200,000
In June 2026, regulators fined the Bank of Tianjin RMB 200,000 for failing to report an abnormal external service incident involving a key information system, and the personnel involved were given warnings.
2026
Chengdu Branch fined RMB 3.7984 million for account management violations
In July 2026, the People's Bank of China Sichuan Provincial Branch published a penalty notice against the Bank of Tianjin Chengdu Branch for account management violations, imposing a fine of RMB 3.7984 million.
2026
Beijing Branch fined RMB 1.2 million over loan classification and post-loan management issues
In September 2026, the Beijing Financial Regulatory Bureau fined the Bank of Tianjin Beijing Branch RMB 1.2 million for inaccurate loan risk classification and inadequate post-loan management, and held relevant personnel accountable.
2026
Dispute over Staff's Unauthorized Private Sale of Third-Party Wealth Management Products Turns Bad; Court Rules Bank Not Liable
In 2026, media reported on a dispute involving Bank of Tianjin employees who privately sold third-party wealth management products outside the bank's official channels (a practice known as "feidan"). The court held that the conduct was not part of the bank's business and ruled that the bank bore no liability. The entry clarifies the employees' conduct and the outcome of the civil judgment.
2019
Fined RMB 6.6 million for 12 violations including interbank and wealth management business
In 2019, regulators fined the Bank of Tianjin RMB 6.6 million for 12 violations including interbank and wealth management business, and penalized the responsible persons. This entry records that batch of penalties, distinguishing it from subsequent penalties imposed on branches in various regions.
2016
Reported Shanghai branch fraud incident
A fraud incident involving approximately US$122 million was reported at Bank of Tianjin's Shanghai branch after the bank's Hong Kong listing. The available reference does not establish the complete findings, responsible parties, recovery, or final regulatory outcome.
Brand decisions
2016
Reduced its holding in Tianjin Jixian County BankM&ABackground
Bank of Tianjin held a majority interest in Tianjin Jixian County Bank Co. Ltd. before transferring part of its stake to other investors.
Action taken
The bank reduced its reported holding from 53.87 percent to 35 percent.
Aftermath
Bank of Tianjin remained an investor in the associated commercial bank, but the supplied material does not explain the transaction's rationale or subsequent effects.
2016
Completed Hong Kong initial public offeringOtherBackground
The bank sought access to international equity markets and planned a Hong Kong H-share listing.
Action taken
Bank of Tianjin listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in March 2016 under stock code 1578, with the offering led by BOC International, ABC International, and CCB International.
Aftermath
The IPO raised approximately US$950 million, below the reported initial target of US$1.23 billion.
IPO proceeds. Initial reported target of US$1.23 billion → Approximately US$950 million raised (March 2016)
2007
Accepted ANZ strategic investment and adopted a new nameStrategyBackground
Bank of Tianjin was developing beyond its original Tianjin cooperative-bank identity and received foreign direct investment from ANZ Group.
Action taken
The institution changed its name from Tianjin City Commercial Bank to Bank of Tianjin, while ANZ acquired a reported 20 percent stake through a US$111.4 million investment.
Aftermath
The transaction gave the bank an international strategic shareholder and coincided with expansion into Beijing.
ANZ investment. US$111.4 million investment for a reported 20 percent stake (2007)
2007
Expanded into BeijingStrategyBackground
The bank sought to extend its reach beyond its Tianjin home market.
Action taken
Bank of Tianjin began operations in Beijing during 2007.
Aftermath
The move formed part of the bank's broader development as a city commercial bank serving multiple major Chinese cities.
Recent events
Tianjin Bank released its 2019 annual results[8]
Reported:
Tianjin Bank published its 2019 annual results on March 20, reporting operating revenue of 17.05 billion yuan, up 40.5% year over year.
Sources9 sources
- 1Bank of Tianjin - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- 2Failure to report abnormal service of key information system, fined RMB 200,000eeo.com.cn
- 3Failure to report abnormal service of key information system, fined RMB 200,000xinhuanet.com
- 4Chengdu Branch fined RMB 3.7984 million for account management violationseeo.com.cn
- 5Beijing Branch fined RMB 1.2 million over loan classification and post-loan management issueseeo.com.cn
- 6Fined RMB 6.6 million for 12 violations including interbank and wealth management businessjiemian.com
- 7Dispute over Staff's Unauthorized Private Sale of Third-Party Wealth Management Products Turns Bad; Court Rules Bank Not Liablestatic.nfnews.com
- 8天津银行发布2019年全年业绩finance.sina.com.cn
- 9天津银行2019年营业收入增长40.5% 净息差大幅提升finance.sina.com.cn
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/bank-of-tianjin · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled