China Internet Industry Survey: ICBC Won the First of Internet Banking

In the newly-announced result of China Top 50 Internet Industrial Brand -- "TOP 50" Award, ICBC won the First of Internet Banking, owing to its fast and convenient, secure and reliable online banking services. Since the First of each detail sector in China Top 50 Internet Industrial Brand automatically came out, ICBC was automatically in the "TOP 50" list as well.

It is introduced that "2005-2006 China Internet Industry Survey" was organized by China Internet Association and co-sponsored by four domestic professional survey and consultancy companies: CCID Consulting Co., Ltd. IDC China, iResearch and Analysys International. This year survey was conducted through Internet, mail and phone by a combination of three methods: user investigation, industrial analysis and case study.

Final result was declared by a consultancy group involving 150 experts. Survey has received passionate responds from mass Internet users since started. By the end of the survey in mid-December, over 110,000 users voted. It was the largest industrial survey ever conducted in the history of China Internet.

Person-in-charge from ICBC E-banking Department stated that the winning of ICBC Internet Banking this time was depended on its quality services -- fast and convenient, strong and reliable. He further introduced that ICBC Internet Banking now offers full online banking services to corporate and personal customers.

Its "Banking@Home" Personal Internet Banking offers customers a series of services including account enquiry, transfer, 7x24 remittance, toll station, online forex trading, exchange purchase for international card repayment, online securities, online insurance, online payment and so on. At present, "Banking@Home" is a Personal Internet Banking service with the most powerful functions in China.

"ICBC e-Fortune Link" Corporate Internet Banking is specially designed for companies and government institutions. It offers many advanced electronic fund management services as account management, collection, payment and group finance. To meet the needs from different types of customers, "ICBC e-Fortune Link" also offers ordinary service for small-and-medium companies and Bank-Enterprise Interconnect services for large corporations with their own financial/ERP system.

In 2005, ICBC launched a series of new Internet Banking products and functions such as Bills Custody, Corporate Annuity, Co-brand e Card, Common Bill Payment, Reserved Information Verification and so on. Numerous large sales promotional activities with prizes were organized to further expand the recognition and influences of ICBC Internet Banking, which placed ICBC the undisputable leader in the sector.

By the end of November, ICBC Internet Banking had 5.732 million new personal customers, 50% increase compared to the same period last year, with an accumulated total of 15.454 million customers. Its trading volume reached RMB 42.7 trillion, 20% increase compared to the same period last year.

This Person-in-charge from ICBC also indicated that ICBC Internet Banking winning the first of "TOP 50" Internet Banking showed the recognition from mass Internet users on its quality banking services. ICBC will continue to move faster in the innovation of Internet Banking, so that more good modern banking services will be offered to all customers based on the full advantage of its multi-channel capability in the future.