The Chinese Banks’ Association Limited (CBSA) was founded in 1919 to foster communication and collaboration among its members, unite the strength of Chinese banks, and promote the development of the financial industry. Currently the CBSA has a total of 18 member banks, with nearly 3,000 individual club members.

In the early 20th century, Hong Kong experienced a period of rapid economic development. Banks at the time were generally categorised into “Western Banks”, operated by European bankers with modern management practices, and “Ngan-hos” (銀號), traditional Chinese money changers. As the Chinese business community flourished, the Ngan-hos could no longer fulfil the banking needs of local entrepreneurs, who generally had very limited dealings with foreign banks. As a result, modern banks founded by Chinese businessmen began to emerge.

Initially, these Chinese banks often lacked sophisticated management systems. To champion their interests and encourage modernisation, Mr Pei Tsu-Yee, Manager of The Bank of China Hong Kong Branch, proposed to establish the CBSA in 1919. This idea received strong support from Mr Kan Tong-Po, Chief Manager of The Bank of East Asia. The other founding member banks included The National Commercial & Savings Bank, Limited, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, Yien Yieh Commercial Bank Limited, and the Bank of Canton (now China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited).

The 1970s and 1980s marked a period of rapid expansion for the CBSA. It was officially registered as The Chinese Banks’ Association Limited in 1974, and established a permanent clubhouse in Central. Additionally, the CBSA formed a research group to study the Hong Kong financial system, analyse economic trends, propose reform initiatives, and offer recommendations for advancing Hong Kong’s financial industry.

Since Hong Kong’s reunification with the Chinese Mainland in 1997, the city has become increasingly integrated into the Mainland’s development. The CBSA has acted as a vital bridge, fostering exchanges among member banks to enhance their understanding of the market across the boundary, and to leverage Hong Kong’s unique strategic position as the gateway to the Chinese Mainland.

Today, the CBSA organises a variety of study tours, exchanges, and training activities designed to equip banking professionals with insights into national developments, and deepen their understanding of key national strategies, including the digital economy, green finance, and the Greater Bay Area.  Currently, the “Economic Research Sub-Committee”, “Training & Development Sub-Committee”, and “Recreation Sub-Committee” operate under the Management Committee, all dedicated to serving its members.

In 2024, in celebration of its 105th anniversary, the CBSA launched a new logo, and renovated its clubhouse, with enhanced meeting, training, and dining facilities to provide members with an ideal hub to connect.

The CBSA will uphold its founding principles to raise the professional standards of the banking industry, and promote the industry’s development. It will also harness the banking community’s collective strength to support government policies, contributing to boosting Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre, and driving Hong Kong’s long-term economic development.