A total of 3.49 trillion yuan ($554 billion) worth of bank loans, or 37.5 percent of the outstanding level at the end of 2012, are maturing over the next three years, Shang Fulin, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission said at a conference according to China Securities Journal.

Outstanding loans at local government financing vehicles stood at 9.3 trillion yuan at the end of 2012, Shang said.

He said as local government leadership changed this year, it is likely that investment pressures will increase.

The CBRC last month ordered banks to stop extending new loans to these vehicles over bank exposure fears.