Jiangbeizui financial central area in Chongqing. (Photo/WCICO)
Chongqing - Chongqing's financial sector has experienced steady growth during the 14th Five-Year Plan, with banking, securities, and insurance institutions expanding. At a press conference on January 22, officials from the People's Bank of China (PBOC) Chongqing Branch shared the city's financial performance in 2025 and its priorities for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period starting in 2026.
Hou Wei, Deputy Governor of PBOC Chongqing Municipal Branch, reported that by the end of 2025, the number of financial institutions reached 457, with total assets exceeding 9.5 trillion yuan (about 1.36 trillion U.S. dollars). The city's deposits and loans reached 6.04 trillion yuan and 6.39 trillion yuan, respectively, showing significant growth from 2020- 46.3% for deposits and 55.9% for loans.
Chongqing has made notable strides in China’s national cross-border financial services platform, managed by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The city introduced 10 new service models, helping over 1,800 local businesses secure financing and complete transactions. These services facilitated $75.6 billion in financing and settlements, making Chongqing the leading city in western China and one of the top five nationwide in financing volume.
Chongqing's financial services under the "Five Major Areas" policy saw strong growth, with double-digit increases in loans for sectors such as technology, small businesses, and green finance. By 2025, loans for technology, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance totaled nearly 2.2 trillion yuan, with green loan balances exceeding 1 trillion yuan.
The city also made progress in financial reforms, including the creation of a green finance pilot zone and financial support for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). Innovative financial products, such as the digital bill of lading for multimodal transport along the ILSTC, have been successfully rolled out.
In 2025, the PBOC Chongqing Municipal Branch injected 127.7 billion yuan in central bank funds, leading to 430.2 billion yuan in new loans. The loan balance grew by 7.2% year-end. The average interest rate for new corporate loans dropped to 3.15%, reducing costs for businesses.
Hou said that in 2026, the PBOC Chongqing Municipal Branch will continue its moderately relaxed monetary policy, aiming to increase financial support for the real economy. The bank plans to release 30 billion yuan in low-cost central bank funds in the first quarter and over 140 billion yuan for the entire year. These measures are designed to support Chongqing's economic stability and growth.