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Bank of CommunicationsChina

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Bank of Communications' head office. Photo: BankTrack

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Last update: 2024-02-13 15:51:14
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About
Website http://www.bankcomm.com/BankCommSite/shtml/jyjr/en/2600212/list.shtml?channelId=
Headquarters
188 Yinchengzhong Road
200120 Shanghai
China
CEO/chair Ren Deqi
Chairman, Executive Director
Supervisor
China Banking and Investment Regulatory Commission (CBIRC)
Ownership
listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange & Shanghai Stock Exchange

Bank of Communications' complete shareholder structure can be accessed here.

Founded in 1908, Bank of Communications is one of the major financial services providers in China. The Bank's business includes commercial banking, insurance and offshore financial services. It has branches in Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Frankfurt, Macau and Ho Chi Minh City and representative offices in London, Sydney and Taipei. Subsidiaries controlled by the Bank include BOCOM Schroder Fund Management, BOCOM International Trust and BOCOM Insurance.

Sustainability
Commitments
Policies
Voluntary standards

Bank of Communications does not have a web page on its sustainability commitments, nor does it have publicly available bank policies. The bank only lists its most recent annual CSR reports.

Guidelines on environmental information disclosure for financial institutions

Bank policy
2021-07-22 00:00:00 | People's Bank of China
Bank of Communications has committed itself to the following voluntary standards:
Carbon Disclosure ProjectTags: carbon | climate change | greenhouse gas emissions
Global Reporting InitiativeTags: sustainable development | human rights
Guidelines for Ecological Environmental Protection of Foreign Investment Cooperation and Construction ProjectsTags: China | corporate social responsibility
Dodgy Deals

Bank Of Communications is linked to a number of companies and projects that BankTrack considers controversial (so called Dodgy Deals), e.g. as a current or past financier or through an expression of interest. The profiles below provide more details on the nature of Bank Of Communications's link to these deals.

Projects / Companies
Finance type
Year
News
BankTrack
Partners
Blog
External
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Major ‘coal banks’ refuse to stop financing coal power boom in Asia

To stop a wave of new coal development across Asia, the End Coal Finance coalition is asking likely financiers to pledge not to back new coal power projects.
2024-11-14 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Inclusive Development International, Recourse
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Major banks fueling biodiversity collapse by $395 billion since the Paris Agreement; Governments failing to reign in banks

New reports reveal escalating financing to destructive sectors and highlight the urgent need for financial sector regulations to achieve Global Biodiversity Goals
2024-10-16 | San Francisco | BankTrack, Amazon Watch, CED Cameroon, Friends of the Earth US, Milieudefensie, Profundo, Rainforest Action Network, Repórter Brasil, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, TuK Indonesia
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Energy supply financing ratios: the next milestone in banks’ climate strategy

The energy supply financing ratio is a key indicator that synthesizes two major challenges in limiting global warming to 1.5°C: the phase-out of fossil fuels and the development of sustainable alternatives.
2024-10-07 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks financed fossil fuels by $6.9 trillion dollars since the Paris Agreement; $705 billion provided in 2023 alone; JPMorgan Chase, Mizuho, and Bank of America are worst 3 funders

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report with an updated methodology offers comprehensive look at who’s bankrolling the climate crisis
2024-05-13 | BankTrack, urgewald, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

The banks financing dirty steel

The world’s major banks continue to support the largest and most polluting steel producers
2024-03-26 | Paris, France | Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Decarbonization: steel not making the cut

Analysis by Reclaim Finance shows that few financial institutions have steel targets, and that those that have been adopted are riddled with flaws
2023-08-23 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New report: Canadian bank RBC the #1 financier of fossil fuels, world’s biggest banks continued to pour billions into fossil fuel expansion

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report follows the money and details massive bank support for the world’s worst climate-destroying corporations
2023-04-13 | San Francisco | BankTrack, urgewald, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Santos announces refinancing of syndicated debt facilities

Santos announced it had executed documentation to amend and extend its two syndicated bank loan facilities totalling US$1.25 billion.
2022-08-30 | Santos
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New report: Despite ‘net zero’ rhetoric, world’s biggest banks continued to pour billions into fossil fuel expansion in 2021

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report follows the money and details massive bank support for the world’s worst climate-destroying corporations
2022-03-30 | San Francisco, Bemidji, Nijmegen, Oakland, Paris, Sassenberg, Washington DC | BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, Urgewald
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

A future without coal: banking on Asia's just energy transition

2021-11-10 | Fair Finance Asia
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Fossil Banks No Thanks demands banks commit to end fossil fuel finance before Glasgow Climate Summit

210+ groups support urgent call to action
2021-09-23 | BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Forests & Finance Coalition warns foreign investors about the risk of the anti-environment agenda in the Brazilian Congress

2021-08-19 | Forests & Finance
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Chinese banks urged to divest from firms linked to deforestation

China funnelling billions into harmful production of beef, soy and palm oil, says campaign group
2021-06-09 | The Guardian
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Under the spotlight: Chinese banks' risky agribusiness portfolio

New Global Witness analysis shows Chinese banks are pouring billions into destructive agribusiness linked to global deforestation, highlighting huge gaps in environmental and social risk management
2021-06-07 | Global Witness
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

China is world’s second largest financier of deforestation-linked commodities

New study finds significant risk associated with nearly 15 billion USD in loans and underwriting by Chinese financial institutions
2021-05-04 | BankTrack, Forests & Finance, Profundo, Rainforest Action Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banking on Climate Chaos 2021: World’s 60 largest banks have poured USD 3.8 trillion into fossil fuels since Paris Agreement

Even amidst the global economic downturn, fossil fuel financing numbers were higher in 2020 than 2016
2021-03-24 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Cambodia: Communities impacted by Lower Sesan 2 Hydropower Project seek IFC dispute resolution process; Companies' responses

2021-02-22 | BHRRC
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Global finance sector failing to apply conservation criteria to pulp and paper funding

2020-03-21 | New York/Amsterdam | Environmental Paper Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

The Chain: Paradise Papers Links APRIL’s Tax Avoidance to Deforestation and Banks, Could Impact USD 500 Million Loan

2017-11-16 | Chain Reaction Research
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New online platform reveals banks and investors financing companies linked to tropical forest loss in Southeast Asia

Financial sector under the spotlight in new international push to protect forests and forest communities
2016-09-06 | Singapore | Rainforest Action Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

China digs in conflict-ridden Burma for oil and gas

2011-09-06 | Bangkok | Finance GreenWatch
Resources
Documents
Links

Banking on biodiversity collapse 2024

Partner publication
2024-10-16 00:00:00 | Forest and Finance Coalition

Banking on climate chaos 2024

Fossil fuel finance report 2024
BankTrack publication
2024-05-13 00:00:00 | BankTrack, urgewald, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance & Sierra Club

ESG Report 2023

Annual report
2024-04-19 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Annual report 2023

Annual report
2024-04-08 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

CSR report 2022

Annual report
2023-06-13 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Annual report 2022

Annual report
2023-06-12 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Banking on Climate Chaos 2023

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report follows the money and details massive bank support for the world’s worst climate-destroying corporations
BankTrack publication
2023-04-13 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, Urgewald

Background briefing: Just 7% of global banks' energy financing goes to renewables, new data shows

BankTrack publication
2023-01-27 00:00:00 | Profundo for Sierra Club, Fair Finance International, BankTrack, Rainforest Action Network

Who is Who No. 3 - Chinese commercial banks: an NGO guide

Partner publication
2023-01-23 00:00:00 | Urgewald

CSR report 2021

Annual report
2022-07-05 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Annual report 2021

Annual report
2022-04-12 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Banking on Climate Chaos 2022

Despite ‘net zero’ rhetoric, world’s biggest banks continued to pour billions into fossil fuel expansion in 2021
BankTrack publication
2022-03-30 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, urgewald

Recipients of the letter about the risk of the anti-environment agenda in the Brazilian Congress

NGO document
2021-08-19 00:00:00 | BankTrack

CSR Report 2020

Annual report
2021-08-03 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Guidelines on environmental information disclosure for financial institutions

Bank policy
2021-07-22 00:00:00 | People's Bank of China

Annual report 2020

Annual report
2021-04-23 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Annual report 2019

Annual report
2020-07-31 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

CSR report 2019

Annual report
2020-07-31 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

CSR report 2018

Annual report
2019-07-31 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

CSR report 2017

Annual report
2018-07-31 00:00:00 | Bank of Communications

Financiers of IOI and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) face material ESG risks from failure to respect land tenure rights

NGO document
2017-03-27 00:00:00 | RAN, TuK & Profundo

Tycoon-controlled oil palm groups in Indonesia - Executive Summary

NGO document
2015-02-16 00:00:00 | TuK, Profundo

Going out, but going green?

Assessing the implementation of China's Green Credit Guidelines
BankTrack publication
2014-11-25 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Friends of the Earth US

Green Credit Footprint of Chinese banks (2008-2012)

-Chinese version-
NGO document
2013-11-25 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

Environmental report on Chinese banks 2011

-English summary-
NGO document
2012-11-26 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

Letter from BankTrack et al. to various financial institutions on APP

Correspondence
2012-11-06 00:00:00 | BankTrack et al.

Environmental Report on Chinese Banks (2011)

-Chinese version-
NGO document
2012-04-18 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

Executive Summary of Environmental Report on Chinese Banks (2011)

NGO document
2012-03-28 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

Notice of the CBRC on Issuing the Green Credit Guidelines

Other bank document
2012-02-24 00:00:00 | China Banking Regulatory Commission

民间环保组织就陆良化工铬污染事件致16家中资上市银行的公开信（Chinese）

Correspondence
2011-08-29 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

An Open Letter from a Coalition of Environmental NGOs to 16 Chinese banks Regarding the Chromium Pollution Incident in Luliang(English)

Correspondence
2011-08-29 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

Environmental Record of Chinese Banks 2010

NGO document
2011-07-06 00:00:00 | Green Watershed

China Sustainable Finance Newsletter #12 -English-

NGO document
2011-06-24 00:00:00 | Friends of the Earth US
Accountability
Grievances

Bank of Communications does not operate a complaints or grievances channel for individuals or communities that might have been adversely affected by its finance.

This page evaluates Bank of Communications's responses to instances of alleged human rights violations linked to its finance, raised by civil society organisations. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but covers selected impacts raised by BankTrack and other civil society partners since 2016. For the full scoring methodology, see here. For more information about BankTrack's evaluation of bank responses to human rights impacts, see the 2021 report "Actions speak louder: assessing bank responses to human rights violations".

Impacts reviewed
Responded?
Total score
Response
Action
Monitoring

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Banks and Climate

Banks and Climate

The 2024 Banking on Climate Chaos report showed that Bank of Communications provided US$ 51.421 Billion in financing to the fossil fuel industry between 2016 and 2023. In 2023 only, Bank of Communications provided US$ 2.907 Billion for oil, gas and coal companies expanding fossil fuels. Find further details on Bank of Communications fossil fuel portfolio and how it compares to other large banks globally on Fossil Banks No Thanks and in the Banking on Climate Chaos report.

Fossil fuel finance data Bank of Communications

Banking on Climate Chaos fossil fuel finance data

Partner organisation Reclaim Finance tracks the coal, oil and gas policies of financial institutions, including banks, in their Coal Policy Tool (CPT) and the Oil and Gas Policy Tracker (OGPT). BankTrack works closely with Reclaim Finance and endorses their policy assessments. Find further details on their assessment of Bank of Communications' fossil fuel policy below.

Assessment of Bank of Communications coal policy in the Coal Policy Tool

Assessment of Bank of Communications oil and gas policy in the Oil and Gas Policy Tracker
Banks and Nature

Banks and Nature

Bank of Communications’ policies for forest-risk sectors (beef, soy, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber and timber) have been assessed by the Forests & Finance coalition, achieving an overall score of 0 out of 10 and ranking it as a laggard. Bank of Communications achieved a score of 0 out of 10 specifically for its policies related to the beef sector and 0 out of 10 for its policies related to the palm oil sector. In addition, BankTrack and the Environmental Paper Network have assessed Bank of Communications' policies related to the pulp and paper sector.

Between 2016 and 2022, Bank of Communications provided USD 839 million in credit to companies operating in these forest-risk sectors. For more information, see the links below.

Forests & Finance

Banks and beef

Banks and palm oil

Banks and pulp & paper

Forest & Finance Policy Assessment 2022: Overall scores

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Bank of Communications
2022-09-21
CHN
0
Laggard 0
Explanation

A bank can obtain a total of 10 points for the quality of its policies. The total score is based on their scores per sector, weighted against their financing and investment for each sector. For further details on this see here. Based on their overall score, banks are then classified as Laggards, Followers, Front runners or Leaders, as follows:

Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 1 points
1 - 4 points
4 - 7 points
7 - 10 points
For more details see this page.

Forest & Finance Policy Assessment 2022: Beef

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Bank of Communications
2022-09-21
CHN
0
Laggard 0
Explanation

A bank can obtain a total of 10 points for the quality of its beef policy. The total score is based on their scores per sector, weighted against their financing and investment for each sector. For further details on this see here. Based on their overall score, banks are then classified as Laggards, Followers, Front runners or Leaders, as follows:

Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 1 points
1 - 4 points
4 - 7 points
7 - 10 points
For more details see this page.

Forest & Finance Policy Assessment 2022: Palm Oil

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Bank of Communications
2022-09-21
CHN
0
Laggard 0
Explanation

A bank can obtain a total of 10 points for the quality of its palm oil policy. The total score is based on their scores per sector, weighted against their financing and investment for each sector. For further details on this see here. Based on their overall score, banks are then classified as Laggards, Followers, Front runners or Leaders, as follows:

Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 1 points
1 - 4 points
4 - 7 points
7 - 10 points
For more details see this page.
Banks and Steel

Banks and Steel

According to a report by Reclaim Finance, between 2016 and June 2023, Bank of Communications provided $6.3 billion in finance to the fossil-steel industry, making it the 20th largest financier worldwide. Find further details on Bank of Communications' steel financing and how it compares to other large banks globally in the report. 

Steeling our future: The banks propping up coal-based steel