by YANG Zhijin

"Our commitment to China is unwavering. It's not simply a strategic decision – it's rooted in our identity as a bridge between East and West," said Yina Fu, chief executive of East West Bank (China). The U.S.-based lender has built its China business around cross-border banking, technology finance and media and entertainment finance. Fu, who joined the bank in 2021 after senior roles at HSBC, Standard Chartered, Capital One and Alibaba, believed China's next phase of growth will continue to create opportunities for international financial institutions willing to take a long-term view.

In an interview with Jiemian News, she discussed China's economic outlook, technology finance and the growing demand from Chinese companies expanding overseas.

Jiemian News: How has East West Bank developed its business in China?

Fu: East West Bank was founded in Los Angeles' Chinatown in 1973 to serve Chinese immigrants whose banking needs were largely overlooked by mainstream financial institutions at the time. Since then, our identity has remained the same – we are a bridge between East and West.

Unlike many foreign banks, our heritage is rooted in serving Chinese entrepreneurs and businesses. That legacy has shaped our strategy in China, where we have developed three areas of specialization.

Cross-border banking remains at the heart of our business, supporting companies expanding overseas while serving clients with operations spanning China and the United States.

Technology banking builds on decades of experience working with Silicon Valley companies. Since bringing that expertise to China in 2014, we have partnered closely with venture capital and private equity firms to support innovative businesses.

Media and entertainment finance is another natural extension of our strengths. Drawing on our long history in Hollywood, we have broadened our focus from film and television to gaming, digital media, short-form video, music and AI-generated content.

These businesses increasingly reinforce one another. Entertainment companies, for example, are becoming more global, creating growing demand for cross-border financial services. While we are not among the largest foreign banks in China, our specialization allows us to offer corporate clients more flexible, tailored solutions.

 

Jiemian News: What differentiates East West Bank's approach to technology finance?

Fu: Our approach is relationship driven. Rather than simply evaluating financial statements, we spend considerable time understanding a company's technology, business model and long-term prospects.

For companies that meet our credit standards, we provide facilities of at least 10 million yuan (US$68 million) – a level of financing that can make a tangible difference for early-stage technology companies.

Another important advantage is our close collaboration with venture capital and private equity investors. We provide financing to both investment firms and their portfolio companies, while gaining deeper insight into emerging industries through these partnerships.

Many technology companies today also have international investors, suppliers or customers. Combining technology banking with cross-border financial services allows us to offer more comprehensive solutions than traditional lenders.

 

Jiemian News: What further improvements could China's technology finance ecosystem make?

Fu: China is already among the world's leaders in developing technology finance and has placed increasing emphasis on long-term capital.

Innovation takes time. Many technology companies need five to ten years before generating returns, while banks naturally face constraints in providing funding over such long horizons.

Greater collaboration across financial institutions would strengthen the ecosystem. Banks, insurers, investment firms and government-backed risk-sharing mechanisms each have a role to play in supporting innovation.

Better information sharing would also improve risk management. If banks had more timely operational data from advanced manufacturers, for example, they could better assess business conditions and tailor financing to companies' actual needs.

 

Jiemian News: As more Chinese companies expand globally, what opportunities and challenges do this create for foreign banks?

Fu: Chinese companies going global is a long-term trend across virtually every industry.

For foreign banks, this presents clear opportunities because we can offer more than financing. Companies entering overseas markets often need guidance on local regulations, taxation, legal systems and business environments. Those are areas where international banks can add significant value.

Competition is intense, however, so differentiation is critical.

East West Bank has expanded its Asian network to Hong Kong and Singapore while leveraging our US platform to support Chinese companies entering Southeast Asia and North America. We will continue adjusting our network based on clients' evolving needs.

 

Jiemian News: Has today's uncertain geopolitical environment affected East West Bank China's strategy?

Fu: Our position as a bridge bank has not changed.

For more than 50 years, East West Bank has focused on facilitating cross-border business. Whether companies are investing abroad or bringing overseas business into China, we remain committed to supporting them.

That identity is part of our DNA. While globalization may no longer move at the pace it once did, demand for cross-border finance continues to exist. Wherever our clients need us, we will continue providing professional and responsive financial services.

 

Jiemian News: How do you view China's economic outlook and East West Bank China's long-term plans?

Fu: We remain confident about China's future.

China continues to offer enormous market potential and remains one of the world's leading manufacturing economies. At the same time, the country's transition toward advanced manufacturing, green industries and artificial intelligence is creating opportunities.

Given both our history and our business model, our commitment to China is waivered. Serving as a bridge between East and West has been our mission since the bank was founded, and that mission continues to guide our investment in the Chinese market.

 

Jiemian News: Why has East West Bank concentrated its network in the Yangtze River Delta and Greater Bay Area?

Fu: Those regions are home to many of China's most dynamic businesses, making them a natural focus for us.

Future expansion will depend on client demand and business development, but our priority remains improving service quality rather than expanding simply for scale.

China's financial opening has also removed most geographic restrictions on foreign banks. We can operate nationwide, but in practice we carefully balance customer needs with operational efficiency and risk management.

 

Jiemian News: Will East West Bank expand into retail banking or new business lines?

Fu: Our three core strengths – cross-border banking, technology finance and media and entertainment finance – will remain our priorities.

We also serve clients across sectors including healthcare, renewable energy and consumer industries, but we have no plans to enter retail banking. Our focus will continue to be corporate banking and helping Chinese companies grow both domestically and internationally.

 

Jiemian News: From the perspective of a foreign bank, what are Shanghai's greatest strengths as an international financial center?

Fu: Shanghai's role as China's international financial center is firmly established.

Its greatest strength lies in implementing the country's broader financial strategy while attracting global capital and financial resources. Ultimately, the purpose of an international financial center is not simply to expand financial activity, but to better serve the real economy and support China's long-term development.