Foreign multinational banks in China: Are their entry strategies different?

Do foreign banks have different entry strategies in China? This paper tries to answer this question through the study of strategic entry behaviour of the foreign multinational banks (MNBs) investing in the Chinese banking sector. The study is grounded in the eclectic theoretical paradigm based on which a conceptual framework is developed. Using case study method and content analysis of interview data, the findings show that indeed under the centrally imposed regulatory conditions and the underdeveloped market conditions, the strategic entry behaviour of the foreign MNBs have tended to converge. However, the argument that the foreign MNBs have similar entry strategies cannot be fully supported. The study focuses on identifying the differences in entry strategies of the foreign MNBs in China.