Industrial Bank (IB) recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with HSBC China to provide agent service for accessing to the CNAPS to HSBC rural branches.

As the first international bank to enter China’s rural market, HSBC has opened 11 rural banks in eight provinces or cities across China so far.

Industrial Bank began to provide agent service for accessing to the CNAPS for rural banks based on its “Interbank Platform” from 2009. IB also provides rural banks with training and technical support services. By the end of July 2011, there were 41 rural banks that have undergone business cooperation with IB for agent accessing to the CNAPS.

The bank also provides system integration service for rural banks and has signed 20 clients to help them constructing their IT and core systems.