As foreign banks are preparing to incorporate in China and conduct renminbi retail business, domestic banks will have to face the crisis of keeping their professionals.

 

Even the international banking giants need global vision with local expertise.

 

In other words, they need to hire high-caliber local professionals if they want to expand their foothold in the Chinese market more quickly to compete with deeply-entrenched domestic banks.

 

Foreign banks' competitive edge in attracting staff is obvious. Few domestic bank managers would turn down a high salary bid from the cash-rich international banks.

 

But the salary gap may not be the most crucial factor in shaking the loyalty of domestic bank managers.

 

Many Chinese banks, especially the big ones, come from the traditional planned economy, where they were required to abide by administrative orders with little concern for market demand.

 

Some of these banks are now publicly listed and have made impressive strides in their operation, with their balance sheets improving in recent years.

 

While their business performance can be jazzed up within a relatively short period of time, a more open and engaging corporate culture and environment will take much more time to develop.

 

This corporate culture may be what will make the difference between domestic and foreign banks, starting with staff training.

 

Foreign companies in China are generally considered more skilled in bringing out the full potential of their employees through specific and consistent training programs.

 

They may take an active role in helping employees develop their careers based on their abilities.

 

Foreign companies aim to make their employees feel they work not just for money but for greater career success, a sense of engagement that many Chinese employers are at a loss to develop.

 

Even if domestic banks raise the salaries of their managers, they will lose the war for local banking talent if they fail to build a more responsive corporate culture.

 

(China Daily March 14, 2007)