China Construction Bank said at a recent meeting it will attach more importance to consolidating growth and will focus on its credit business in the second half, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Aug 17.

The bank's new strategy is different from that of the beginning of 2012, which focused on controlling financing to property development and other risks.

Amid rounds of interest cuts and decision makers' efforts to liberate interest rates, banks in China are facing harder times than in past years in terms of making profits, the report said.

Among all the challenges, the toughest one is shrinking demands for credit services and loans, which may hinder profit growth, a source close to the bank said.

Financial institutions in China released new loans of 540.1 billion yuan ($86 billion) in July, among which 92 billion yuan were medium or long-term corporate loans, a 71 billion yuan decrease compared to June, according to reports.

The bank's statement shows that its focus in the second half is to support construction projects, especially key infrastructure projects and industries, according to the report.

 

wuyiyao@chinadaily.com.cn