The People's Bank of China is set to lose three of its four deputy governors as personnel change sweeps through the central bank's second tier.

Deputy Governor Hu Xiaolian, 56, is departing and is set to be appointed as the Export-Import Bank of China's new chairwoman, according to people familiar with the situation. Li Dongrong will retire, while Yi Gang may be replaced after a promotion last year to concurrently be deputy director at a Party body that oversees economic policy.

That will leave Pan Gongsheng, 51, as the only deputy to Zhou Xiaochuan, who himself has been the subject of speculation as to when his 12 years as governor will end.