Table: Bank of China by the Numbers

FOUNDED

In 1912, the year China became a republic.OWNED

By China's central government, but plans to split off the Hong Kong and Macao operations in a $2 billion to $5 billion share offering this year.TOTAL ASSETS

$382 billion at the end of 2000, ranking it among the world's 30 largest banks.PROFITS

$1.3 billion, pretax, in 2001.NONPERFORMING LOANS

Equaled 29% of total loans at the end of 2000. Under 6% is the international norm.BRANCHES

12,967 in mainland China, 443 in Hong Kong and Macao, and 117 outside of China.