Businessweek

Bank of China Limited provides a range of banking and related financial services primarily in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The company is a subsidiary of Central SAFE Investments Limited. As of December 31, 2008, the company had a total of 10,789 domestic and overseas branches, subsidiaries, and outlets, including 9,983 branches, subsidiaries, and outlets in the Chinese Mainland; and 806 branches, subsidiaries, and representative offices in Hong Kong, Macau and internationally. Segments The company operates through five segments: Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, Treasury Operations, Investment Banking, and Insurance. The Corporate Banking segment provides current accounts, deposits, overdrafts, lending, custody, trade related products and other credit facilities, foreign currency, and derivative products to corporate customers, government authorities, and financial institutions. The Personal Banking segment offers current accounts, savings, deposits, investment savings products, credit and debit cards, consumer loans, and mortgages to retail customers. The Treasury Operations segment offers foreign exchange transactions, customer-based interest rate and foreign exchange derivative transactions, money market transactions, proprietary trading, and asset and liability management. The Investment Banking segment engages in debt and equity underwriting and financial advisory, sales and trading of securities, stock brokerage, investment research and asset management services, and private equity investment services. The Insurance segment underwrites general and life insurance, and offers insurance agency services. History Bank of China Limited was founded in 1912.