Which Chinese bank was established in 1912 as the country's central bank?

The Bank of China was established in 1912 and initially served as the central bank of the Republic of China.

It was created after the fall of the Qing dynasty, replacing the Imperial Bank of China in the new republican financial system. The institution issued currency, handled government financial business, and supported international trade. Over time, its central-bank responsibilities changed as China's monetary institutions were reorganized.

The People's Bank of China became the modern mainland central bank in 1948. The Bank of China continued as a major commercial and international bank rather than retaining the same central-bank role. It later became especially important in foreign exchange, trade finance, and cross-border banking.

A common mistake is to identify the People's Bank of China as the institution founded in 1912. The two banks are separate. The Bank of China is also distinct from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which was established much later in 1984.