The 5,497 bank branches damaged in the May 12 earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province had reopened by Thursday, said the provincial banking regulatory commission.

A total of 715 branches were unable to use buildings in dangerous conditions or flattened. They reopened in tents, vehicles and rented buildings, or used nearby outlets. Sichuan's 12,689 bank branches have lent 34.4 billion yuan (US$4.98 billion) for disaster relief and reconstruction, the commission said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2008)