By linking up with China’s second biggest financial institution, the Royal Bank of Scotland has secured a powerful local partner ahead of the opening of China’s fast-growing banking sector next year.
Bank of China is the nation’s top foreign exchange lender and one of the big four banks, which together control 60% of the domestic banking assets. Like its domestic rivals, the institution has been preparing for the arrival of foreign competition by announcing plans for a stock exchange listing, which could come next year.