China Merchants Bank says it has issued more than five million dual-currency international standard credit cards, blazing a trail in the plastic money business. The Shenzhen-based lender enjoys a market share in excess of 30% for dual domestic and foreign currency cards. Strength in retail banking and a comparatively cleaner balance sheet bode well for the bank's initial public offering in Hong Kong later this year. China Merchants Bank intends to shift about 15% of its enlarged share capital to raise in the region of US$1.5 billion to US$2 billion – making it the first mainland lender listed at home and abroad.
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