This book documents the evolution of modern Chinese banking, from the establishment in 1897 of the first Chinese bank (along a Western model), to the abrupt interruption in 1937 of professional banking by the Japanese invasion. Drawing from original documents of major Chinese banks, Linsun Cheng explains how the banks were able to grow into viable and self-sustaining institutions in China, despite a succession of foreign and domestic crises. Rich with historical details, this book presents a comprehensive narrative of the origins and growth of professional banks.