Bank of China Limited is one of the big four state-owned commercial banks of the People's Republic of China.It was founded in 1912 by the Republican government to replace the Imperial Bank of China. It is the oldest bank in China still in existence.

From its establishment until 1942, it issued banknotes on behalf of the Government along with the "Big Four" banks of the period: the Farmers Bank of China, Bank of Communications and Central Bank of the Republic of China. Its headquarters are in Xicheng District, Beijing. As at 2009, it was the second largest lender in China overall, and the 5th largest bank in the world by market capitalization value.