Rivals did not pay much attention to CMB up until 2017, but since then its stock has almost doubled, and now all eyes are on this Chinese financial institution.

With its commitment to sustainable finance, Agricultural Bank of China is helping shape Asia's financial system.

This financial institution is clearly one to watch on a global scale, thanks to its presence in 57 countries and domination of the renminbi clearing market.

This financial institution is one to watch – if you can find its hiding place.

Just 35 years in the making, ICBC is the world's largest bank – and is continuing to shape the global financial system to also become the best.

CICC's international background gives it a major role in shaping Asia's financial system, connecting China with the world.

One to watch in China is this transformed financial institution, which claims not only that it knows what its customers want – but how to give it to them, too, in a digital world.

With much of CLSA's value tied up in the creative brains who have now left the Hong Kong brokerage, its remaining staff must be nervously watching to see how much of the financial institution's free-wheeling spirit remains – and if it can survive.

With one billion customers and beyond, Alibaba’s payments engine is disrupting the financial system in Asia – and it's one to keep an eye on globally too.