Bank of China Limited (3988.HK) Stock Analysis & Winston Score

Bank of China is one of the oldest and largest banks in China. It offers everyday banking services like savings accounts, loans, and credit cards to regular people, as well as more complex services like corporate lending, investment banking, and foreign exchange to businesses and governments. It is one of China's "Big Four" state-owned banks and has a particularly strong focus on international banking compared to its peers. The bank earns money mainly through interest — it takes in deposits and lends that money out at higher rates. It also collects fees for services like wealth management and trade finance. Bank of China operates in over 60 countries, making it the most internationally active of China's major banks, and its state ownership gives it a stable funding base and implicit government backing. The main risk is China's slowing economy and ongoing stress in the property sector, which has left many borrowers struggling to repay loans.