How bad is bad? A look at 30 small banks in China

An anxious China has rescued three banks this year. At least 25 more share some of their worst traits

Over four months this year, China’s government swooped in to shore up three rural banks.

In May, it seized the Baoshang Bank outright, something it had not done in nearly 20 years. Next, in July, one of the ‘Big Four’ state-owned banks suddenly became the largest stakeholder in the troubled Bank of Jinzhou. Then in August, the HengFeng Bank – about twice the size of the other two banks – was infused with cash by China’s sovereign wealth fund.

The inadequacies at the three banks varied, but all