ICBC NZ’s sustainable lending reaches $155m, 13% of corporate loans

Detailed summary

ICBC NZ is a sponsor of the Herald’s Sustainable Business and Finance report. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China New Zealand (ICBC NZ) is expanding its sustainable lending…

Artist’s impression of the completed Te Whare Wai Para Nuku | Moa Point sludge minimisation facility. Illustration / Wellington City Council

ICBC NZ is a sponsor of the Herald’s Sustainable Business and Finance report.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China New Zealand (ICBC NZ) is expanding its sustainable lending and strengthening how it assesses climate-related risks.

From property-level flood modelling to new financing structures that reward businesses for cutting emissions, the bank is integrating climate considerations into how it evaluates borrowers and allocates capital.

“ICBC NZ recognises that climate change is one of the most significant challenges affecting the future of our economy and communities,” says ICBC NZ chief executive Bin Liu.

“We also understand the importance of supporting meaningful climate action to enhance resilience and contribute to the broader economy.”

ICBC NZ has operated in New Zealand for 13 years and is a wholly owned subsidiary of ICBC – the world’s largest bank by total assets.

Its green and sustainability-linked lending reached $155.4 million in 2025, up from $99.7m two years earlier, and now accounts for 13% of its total corporate loan portfolio. The bank currently has no lending to coal, oil or gas extraction.

Property is a significant source of climate-related exposure for ICBC NZ.

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