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Its consumer loan unit intends to open the branches in the next three years. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. wants to focus its capital on China, where it already has a presence. It already has offices in Shenyang and Shenzhen and is to open a third in Tianjin. SMBC Consumer Finance’s subsidiaries in Shenyang and Shenzhen have 13 branches in both cities. It expects the number of Chinese outlets to increase to 70 after it opens the additional offices. SMBC Consumer Finance, which was created after Sumitomo Mitsui made Promise Compabt a wholly owned subsidiary in 2012, is expanding in faster-growing foreign markets as deflation crimps borrowing in Japan. Lending outstanding in China, Hong Kong and Thailand came to US$235 million as of Dec. 31, some 3% of SMBC Consumer Finance’s total loan amount of US$8 billion. Sumitomo Mitsui Chief Executive Officer Koichi Miyata recently said that consumer finance is one of the strengths of the Tokyo-based bank, Japan’s second largest by market value.  

Asset management companies will be set up to fend off risks.

Net interest income growth of around 2.5% is expected.

Check out how DBS, OCBC, and UOB fared in 4Q12.

Profit growth will slip to single-digit levels.

Expansion will see 20 branches by 2018.

But profit growth may slow sharply.

Average loan yields in micro loans have dropped to 20% in 2012.

And check out the 2 upside risks.

Loose monetary conditions in China is one reason.

Ask government to draft rules to head off higher risk.

Move is meant to entice foreign investors into its troubled banking sector.

Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam will receive US$65 million credit.

Find out why Barclays prefers CCB.

Blame it on competitive pressure in a mature low interest-rate Hong Kong market.

Branch network increased by 1.6 times between 2009 and 2012.