Even before the AntiJapanese War, Central Bank, Bank of China, Jiaotong Bank and Chinese Farmers’ Bank had risen as the kernel of the Shanghaibased banking network established by Government of the Republic of China. However, their branch offices were distributed mainly in East and Central China rather than in Southwest and Northwest China. With the fullscale break of the AntiJapanese War, the Government moved to Chongqing as its new capital and Southwest and Northwest China became the rear areas. In order to develop economy in the rear areas and accomplish the mission of resisting against Japanese aggression and re-constructing the country, government vigorously promoted the project of establishing a banking network in the rear areas. In accomplishing this project, the national banks as the key force of establishing the banking network in the rear areas played an active role in intensifying the banking strength and enhancing wartime economic development in the rear areas.

national bank; rear area; establishing a banking network; the AntiJapanese War