ICBC Beijing branch's total outstanding small business loans grew more than 60% to nearly RMB 15 billion by end-2011, as reported from the Branch, much faster than the growth of all loans.

Supporting small business owners is always a long-term development strategy of ICBC Beijing branch, said an executive with the Branch. In 2008, the Branch set up Beijing's first small business financial center in Zhongguancun, the first among the banks in Beijing to adopt a professional approach in the delivery of financial services to small enterprises. As of today, ICBC Beijing branch has set up 10 small business financial centers in Beijing's Zhongguancun, Shunyi, Economic-Technical Development Zone where a great number of small enterprises are located. The financial centers offer integrated and one-stop financial services in "specialized, exclusive, professional" manner for small enterprises in these areas. Total outstanding small business loans in the 10 centers surpassed RMB 8 billion by end-2011.

In order to address the "short-term, small, frequent, urgent" loans needed by small enterprises, Beijing Branch sets up the highly efficient "2+1+2" vertical approval scheme, an independent process for the approval of loans to small enterprises distinct from loans to large enterprises. Dedicated staff are assigned to approve small business loans. Application procedures are simplified to the largest extent for faster and better approval while combining risk management and business authorization.

Small enterprises belong to many sectors. In view of this, a team of high-level and professional staff is needed to drive the business on a large scale. The Branch has organized 8 certification exams for staff engaging in lending to small enterprises since 2006. So far, a highly efficient team is set up in the Branch having 100 staff dedicated to the business and more than 700 staff obtaining the qualifications.

In 2012, ICBC Beijing branch will continue lending intensive support to the fast growth of small enterprises in Beijing. The Branch has allocated RMB 7 billion for small enterprises to borrow as and when necessary, with an aim to fill the funding gap of small enterprises to the greatest possible extent.