Recently, ICBC hosted the "ICBC Seventh Assistance Program to Impoverished University Students with Academic Promise" in Sichuan's designated poverty-alleviation areas (Wanyuan City, Nanjiang County, Tongjiang County). The Program was a commitment of ICBC to fulfill its social responsibility and assist impoverished and outstanding high school graduates to go to university.

The process involved application by the students, recommendation by the school, certification by Village Committee and County (Town) People's Government, household survey and screening by the Judging Group, media publicity. One hundred and fifty students from the three counties (cities) (50 students from each county) who have been enrolled into university and excellent both in character and learning were chosen to receive ICBC subsidy. Each of them received a subsidy of RMB 5000. Most of the subsidized students are the children coming from low-income families in town, very poor families in the rural village, families with disabled persons or poverty-stricken families because of disaster. The subsidies address their real practical needs and help them realize their dream of going to university. Up till now, the subsidy amounts have been passed to their hands. All the students expressed that they will study harder and take real actions to help the country and society after graduation.

As related, ICBC started the assistance program in 2004 which is an important measure of ICBC to improve the education in old revolutionary regions and help the deprived students. Over the past seven years ICBC has subsidized 590 such poor students involving an amount to nearly RMB 3 million. The program, coined as a real education initiative in helping the poor, has been very well-received by the local governments and the community folks.