Anti-corruption drive continues at ICBC
China's anti-corruption regulator, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), revealed on Tuesday that it has censured 137 bankers from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the biggest bank by assets in the world. This continues a drive to stamp out corruption that has accelerated this year, and particularly in recent weeks, with the country's two largest brokerages, CITIC Securities and Haitong Securities, both under investigation. The CCDI said that its investigation into ICBC has uncovered 25 instances of violations of Chinese Communist Party discipline at the bank, involving 47 people. These violations included organising prohibited internal banquets and accepting holidays from clients. Meanwhile, 18 other types of violation were found to have been committed by 90 employees.

Anti-graft watchdog censures 137 at China's biggest bank ICBC

SHANGHAI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - China's anti-graft watchdog said on Tuesday it censured 137 bankers at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) , the country's largest lender, the latest move in a campaign against corruption in the financial sector.

The announcement comes just weeks after anti-graft agents probed two of China's largest brokerages and censured four executives at a leading insurer.

The widening campaign has unnerved a financial industry recovering from a summer of plummeting stock prices, with fear of becoming entangled in investigations spreading among foreign investors.

On Tuesday, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), in a statement on its official website, said an investigation uncovered 25 instances of violations of Chinese Communist Party discipline at ICBC involving 47 people.

The CCDI said offences included organising prohibited internal banquets and accepting holidays from clients, and that it gave offenders warnings with different degrees of severity.

The watchdog said there were 18 other types of disciplinary cases involving 90 employees, some of whom received warnings while others were fired. It did not elaborate on the offences.

ICBC was not available for comment when contacted by Reuters.