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Tag: Renminbi

  • Deutsche Bank Pioneers as First European Institution to Secure Renminbi Clearing License

    Deutsche Bank Pioneers as First European Institution to Secure Renminbi Clearing License

    The city of Frankfurt has just received a significant boost as a financial hub. Deutsche Bank, a prominent financial institution based in Frankfurt, has successfully become the first European bank appointed to serve as a renminbi clearing bank by the People’s Bank of China. This news was confirmed through an official statement on Monday.

    The provision of clearing services in Frankfurt will offer financial establishments and firms a direct, fast channel for processing, clearing, and settling cross-border transactions involving the renminbi. This move is anticipated to reinforce the financial ties between Europe and China.

    Deutsche Bank’s Role as a Clearing Bank

    Alexander von zur Mühlen, CEO for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Germany at Deutsche Bank, weighed in on the matter. He believes that their new role as a renminbi clearing partner in Europe deepens Deutsche Bank’s position as a globally recognized clearing bank. This commitment also reaffirms the bank’s long-standing dedication to the internationalization of the renminbi. Mühlen is optimistic that this development will bolster the financial connectivity between China and Europe. This will help Deutsche Bank to better serve its clients’ cross-border trade and investment activities.

    Even though renminbi clearing services were accessible in Europe prior to this, they were only offered through branches of Chinese banks.

    Renminbi Hub: A Shift from Competition to Normalcy

    Over a decade ago, the concept of establishing a renminbi hub in Europe was a contentious issue that incited competition among Europe’s financial centers. In Switzerland, the establishment of a renminbi hub emerged as a crucial prestige project for the nation’s banking industry.

    China Construction Bank (CCB) earned a banking license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority in October 2015. When CCB’s Zurich branch launched in January 2016, it was attended by several notable representatives from the Swiss financial center and public authorities. Since then, CCB has been in charge of renminbi clearing in Switzerland.

    As of January 2021, CCB had processed transactions totalling nearly 600 billion francs. A total of 13 Swiss partner banks were reported to be participating in the hub. Currently, Zurich represents a key center within the offshore renminbi ecosystem.

    It remains unclear if a Swiss bank will pursue clearing status, however, UBS and Zürcher Kantonalbank could potentially be the only viable candidates.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of Deutsche Bank’s new role as a renminbi clearing bank?
    This development strengthens Deutsche Bank’s position as a globally recognized clearing bank. It will enhance financial connectivity between China and Europe.

    What is the history of renminbi clearing in Europe?
    Renminbi clearing services were available in Europe previously, but only through branches of Chinese banks.

    What is the status of the renminbi hub in Switzerland?
    Currently, Zurich represents a key center within the offshore renminbi ecosystem, with China Construction Bank handling renminbi clearing in Switzerland since 2016.

  • Renminbi breaks into top 5 world payments currency, says SWIFT

    Renminbi breaks into top 5 world payments currency, says SWIFT

    The Chinese yuan (renminbi) overtook the Canadian and Australian dollar as a global payments currency in November 2014, and now takes position behind the Japanese Yen, British pound, Euro and US dollar, data from SWIFT shows.

    Brussels, 28 January 2015 – After nearly one year firmly positioned at #7, the Renminbi (“RMB”) has entered the top five of world payment currencies since November 2014, overtaking both the Canadian Dollar and the Australian Dollar by value.

    Just two years ago, in January 2013, the renminbi was ranked at position #13 with a share of 0.63 percent. In December 2014, it reached a record high share of 2.17 percent in global payments by value and now trails the Japanese Yen which has a share of 2.69 percent.

    “The rise of various offshore renminbi clearing centres around the world, including eight new agreements signed with the People’s Bank of China in 2014, was an important driver fuelling this growth,” said Wim Raymaekers, Head of Banking Markets at SWIFT.

    Overall, global renminbi payments increased in value by 20.3 percent in December 2014, while the growth for payments across all currencies was 14.9 percent. It has been showing a consistent three digit growth over the past two years with an increase in value of payments by +321 percent.

    Over the last year, renminbi payments grew in value by 102 percent compared to an overall yearly growth for all currencies of 4.4 percent.

    SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative that provides the communications platform, products and services to connect more than 10,800 banking organisations, securities institutions and corporate customers in over 200 countries and territories.