An even more direct interference is the use of specialized public financial institutions
(SFI) to carry out the government policy of widespread credit extension to the grassroots and
SME. Banks such as the Government Savings Bank, the Government Housing Bank, and the
SME Development Bank played important roles in this policy. Between 2000 and 2005,
lending of these SFI to households and businesses expanded by 15.2% on average compared
to an average growth of only 4.2% for lending by commercial banks and finance companies to
the same group. The lending of Government Savings Bank and SME Development Bank to
households and business grew particularly rapidly at an average of 32.2% and 72.4% per
annum, respectively, between 2000 and 2005. Total lending of the SFI to households and
businesses increased from 13.3% of GDP in 2000 to 18.7% of GDP in 2005