The Introduction to Corporate Banking

The exciting Citi-Fudan University Banking Courses 2011 kicked off in Room 204, Starr Building on Oct 18th. 82 students, selected based on their educational backgrounds, working experience and strong interests in the financial field, attended the first course. Besides, the room was packed by a lot of sitter-ins who were not selected in the course but showed great enthusiasm in financial field. Dr. Zhan Gong, Assistant Professor of Finance Department, is the course advisor of this year. The course began with Opening Remarks delivered by Prof. Lu Xiongwen, Dean of the School of Management, and Mr. Henry Zhang, Executive Vice President, Citibank (China) Co., Ltd., Head of Global Corporate Bank, Citi China. Dean Lu stressed that the series of Citi-Fudan University Banking Courses is the only cooperation between Citibank and universities in China. Henry Zhang, also graduated from the management school of Fudan, expressed the idea that it’s a great honor to have this style of courses established between Citibank and Fudan. At the end of the opening remarks, Mr. Henry Zhang was very much appreciated to receive a special present rewarded by Dean Lu, a gift with the shape of a book but actually a lamp.　　

Opening Remark by Dean Lu

After half an hour of opening remarks, Henry Zhang began the formal lecture on the Introduction to Corporate Banking. He generalized the topic from the following 4 aspects: Macro environment, Banking industry, Citi China and Corporate banking strategy. Henry Zhang referred to such factors as CAGR of GDP, private consumption and savings, unemployment, inflation rate and CDS history to demonstrate the macro environment at present. He also differentiated Bond market from equity market in details. Inbound and outbound investment flows were carefully compared with each other to show how Chinese enterprises go abroad and where market trend and opportunities in China lies in. When it came to the last part, corporate banking strategy, Henry Zhang clarified the issue of M&A (Merge & Acquisition). He also called attention to 2 different kinds of banks, investment bank and corporate bank, which are driven by due and relationship respectively. A bank is called a global bank only if it includes both of banks.　

Guest Speaker Henry Zhang

After about two and a half hours, all the audience applauded Mr. Henry Zhang for the excellent course. He kindly replied several questions raised by some MBA students. After the course, Henry Zhang was even surrounded by some students with finance related questions. The great patience and enthusiasm reflected highly professional quality on him. The first Citi-Fudan University Course 2011 closed successfully. Increasing interests in financial industry were stirred up among the attendees. They were all looking forward to the next course scheduled on Oct 25.　

Written by: Xu Dazhao (Fudan-MIT IMBA Program Class 2013)
Fudan MBA Program
Oct. 18th, 2011