The total assets of China's lenders exceeded 120 trillion yuan ($18.86 trillion) by the end of May, according to data released by China Banking Regulatory Commission on Monday.

The figure went up by 19.1 percent in May from one year earlier, marking the fastest year-on-year growth since the beginning of 2012, according to the commission.

The total debt among lenders increased by 18.8 percent to 112 trillion yuan by the end of May.

Assets of major State-owned banks rose to 54.8 trillion yuan, accounting for 45.6 percent of the total assets, the smallest proportion since the year began.

Urban commercial banks continue to grow at the fastest pace compared with other categories. They registered a year-on-year growth of 31.2 percent in assets to 11 trillion yuan.

Joint-stock lenders piled up total assets of more than 20 trillion yuan, up by nearly 25 percent, in contrast to the major banks' less than 14 percent.

wangxiaotian@chinadaily.com.cn