ICBC has been named the "Investment Bank of Competitiveness of Excellence" at the recent "2012 (Fourth) China Financial Institution of Competitiveness of Excellence" hosted by China Business Journal in collaboration with the Institute of Industrial Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This marks ICBC's third year in a row to win the award.

The award selection process lasted for five months. The result was tabulated by China Business Journal Research basing on the open data of China Banking Regulatory Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission, China Insurance Regulatory Commission and the application material submitted by the participating financial institutions. China Business Journal Research worked with the Institute of Industrial Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to determine the finalists and choose the winners. ICBC earned the highest accolade from the judging panel and experts for being an investment bank established earliest, of largest scale, offering most comprehensive services with the most excellent brand in China.