Since the first operating institution of foreign-funded banks was established in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in 1981, there have been 71 foreign banks from 21 countries and regions that have established operating institutions in 24 cities of Chinese mainland, including 183 branches of foreign banks, accounting for 80 percent of the total, and 14 legal entities.

Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing and Guangzhou have the most institutions of foreign banks. Among them, Shanghai embraces 30 percent of the total institutions with 55 percent of the total business volume. There have been 21 foreign banks establishing institutions in the northeastern, central and western parts of China, accounting for 8 percent of the total institutions of foreign banks in China.