Bank of Taiwan

The Bank of Taiwan (BOT) was established on May 20, 1946 as the first government-owned bank following the island's restoration to the Republic of China in 1945.  During much of its operating history, it has been under the administration of the Taiwan Provincial Government. Following the phase out of the Taiwan Provincial Government on Dec. 21, 1998, the Bank was subsequently taken over by the central government of the Republic of China and placed under the administration of the Ministry of Finance, in accordance with the regulations on government-owned financial institutions. BOT has been judicial person under Banking Law since 1985. Effective July 1, 2003, BOT became a corporate organization under Company Law.In accordance with the regulations upon financial holding corporations, on January 1, 2008, Taiwan Financial Holdings was established on the basis of the share transfer .Meanwhile the Bank has become a subsidiary of Taiwan Financial Holdings. On January 2, 2008 the Bank split its Department of Securities and Department of Life Insurance to organize the other two subsidiaries of Taiwan Financial Holdings, BankTaiwan Securities Co., Ltd. and BankTaiwan Life Insurance Co., Ltd. The current amount of capital of the Bank is forty-five billions of New Taiwanese Dollars.

     During its formative years, the BOT managed the business of the national treasury, issued currency in the Taiwan area, and carried out many of the functions of a central bank. In the early years following the central government's move to Taiwan in 1949, it acted as agent in carrying out most of the functions of the Central Bank of China (CBC), thus giving it a dual character; that of a central bank, as well as a general commercial bank. Following restoration of the CBC in Taiwan in July 1961, however, the BOT switched its primary emphasis to general banking. After the passage of the Local Autonomy Law in July 1994, provincial, county, and city governments were given the right to choose the banks in which to deposit their funds. Faced with competition from other banks, the BOT has been able to rely on its outstanding image and efficiency, which it built up through decades of effort. It has steadfastly adhered to sound operating principles. It is also responsible for the operation of businesses related to the issuance of New Taiwan Dollar currency, the handling of deposits of military and civil servants' retirement funds at preferential interest rates. All of these activities reflect the vital position that the BOT continues to hold within the banking system of Taiwan.

     Throughout the history of Taiwan's economic development, from post-war reconstruction, currency reform, and the implementation of successive economic construction plans to the more recent promotion of key and strategic industry development, the Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center plan, and B.O.T. (build-operate-transfer) public construction projects, the Bank has at all times offered its opinions for reference in policy-making and has done its utmost to supply funds needed to support the implementation of government policies. It can truly be said that the BOT has made many contributions to economic development in the Taiwan area.