OREANDA-NEWS. January 4, 2013. Earlier, Millward Brown Optimor, a world renowned firm on brand study, published the ranking of "BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Chinese Brands" in Beijing. With a brand value of USD 40.444 billion ICBC continues to head up the ranking in the category of financial institutions and is the "Most Valuable Financial Brand in China" for three years in a row. In the ranking of "BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands" released by Millward Brown Optimor in May this year, for the fourth consecutive year ICBC is the "World's Most Valuable Financial Brand", defending its market dominance in global financial sector brands. Since Millward Brown Optimor published its "Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands" in 2006, ICBC's brand value has increased 152% in six years, representing an annual compound growth rate of 20.32% and catapulting ICBC to one of the best financial brands in the world in terms of growth.

Published by Millward Brown Optimor, a world renowned firm on brand study, the BrandZ rankings are widely accepted as one of the most influential rankings of brand value in the world. The rankings include a global ranking and rankings for 43 countries/territories. The highlight of the rankings is to count the consumer views into the assessment system. The rankings take three critical indexes into account. First, economic value of the brand. Second, brand contribution from consumer perceptions. Third, Brand multiple. Based on these three indexes, Millward Brown Optimor used the information from interviews with over 35,000 consumers in China as well as financial information audited by the third party to arrive at the list of Top 50 most valuable brands in China. A rigorous analysis was also conducted on the financial and business performance of each company to identity the value that brand plays in driving business revenue and market capitalization.

ICBC's brand value owed very much to the Bank's good performance, the recognition and support from the public, industry sector and customers, said an ICBC executive. The Bank is moving aggressively in all segments and spending conscious efforts on the reform and innovation since its shareholding restructuring and going public. The brand of ICBC is one important element of the Bank's core competence with its rich context, strong image and rising value. To a commercial bank, the key to build a high brand value is the level of financial services provided to the public, the recognition and degree of acceptance from the customers. In view of this, ICBC is committed to the philosophy of "customer demand is the key, customer satisfaction is the criteria". Brand commitment is implemented in every aspect of banking operation and customer services, covering every step from product R&D, channel set-up, service environment to customer communication, process re-engineering and service management. In serving the customers to go global, ICBC's brand also marches on to the international market and is now a "navigator" and "caretaker" for the Bank to compete in the world. While overseeing a continuous transformation from local bank to global bank, ICBC has established a global financial service network spreading over five continents of Asia, Europe, America, Australia and Africa with well-defined hierarchy, reasonable positioning, diversified channels and highly efficient operation. Leveraging the Group's advantages to build one unified mechanism to push ahead the domestic and overseas business, ICBC is the first Chinese bank to develop and roll out an integrated IT platform for the delivery of high-quality financial services under one standard across the world. As ICBC escalating its global footprint and strengthening its global service capacity and international competitiveness, the brand of ICBC is gaining wider concern and recognition in the worldwide market.