RURAL ORIENTED: Agriculture Bank of China is devoted to serving the country's agriculture, rural areas and farmers. By the end of 2009, the bank's rural-related loans totaled 1.2 trillion yuan ($176 billion)

In fact, top managers of ABC earlier this year hinted that its IPO will not be affected by the refinancing wave of other banks at all, said a recent report by the Shanghai Business Daily.

The regulators will arrange a reasonable timetable for financing of commercial banks, and the IPO of ABC is surely the most important, said Lu Zhengwei, chief economist at the Industrial Bank Co.

ABC's Timeline

1999: The "big four" state-owned commercial banks—ICBC, CCB, BOC and ABC—spin off 1.4 trillion yuan ($200 billion) of non-performing assets to their corresponding asset management companies.

2004: ABC for the first time puts forward its shareholding reform plan.

September 2007: ABC starts a trial program in some provinces to strengthen financial services for "agriculture, rural areas and farmers."

August 2008: ABC sets up a department providing financial services for "agriculture, rural areas and farmers" as part of its shareholding reform.

October 22, 2008: The State Council approves ABC's shareholding reform plan.

November 6, 2008: Central Huijin Investment Co. Ltd. injects 130 billion yuan ($19 billion) into ABC, and ties as its largest shareholder with the Ministry of Finance.

January 9, 2009: ABC convenes its founding meeting in Beijing with a registered capital of 260 billion yuan ($38 billion).

February 2, 2009: Premier Wen Jiabao says the Central Government will inject 200 billion yuan ($29 billion) into ABC to help it prepare for the asset reorganization.

April 7, 2010: ABC kick starts the process of IPO, and 21 underwriters report their initial underwriting programs.

April 14, 2010: ABC says nine investment banks will help with its share issuance.

May 4, 2010: Reports hold that ABC files applications to list on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange.