Merchants Bank Chief Not Worried About Bad Loans

(St. Petersburg) – Facing a slowing Chinese economy and rising risk of bad loans, the president and CEO of China Merchants Bank says the higher non-performing loan (NPL) ratio doesn't concern him, and banks should pursue a balance between risk and return.

"When the economy slows, risk with banks will surely rise. It's not a big deal," Ma Weihua said on June 22 on the sidelines of an economic conference in Russia. "We are not endlessly pursuing the reduction of the NPL ratio."