List of largest banks

WorldBrand briefing

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Original synthesis to sit alongside the encyclopedia article below. Not part of Wikipedia; verify facts on Wikipedia when precision matters.

This Wikipedia entry compiles global rankings of the world's largest banks, using metrics like total assets, market capitalization, and net profit, with data sourced from authoritative institutions such as The Banker magazine, the International Monetary Fund, and national financial regulators. Rankings vary significantly based on the chosen measurement standard.

Key moments

1970The Banker magazine begins publishing annual global bank rankings based on Tier 1 capital
2008Global financial crisis triggers a shift in bank rankings, with Chinese lenders rising in global standing
2011Industrial and Commercial Bank of China becomes the world's largest bank by total assets
2024-2026Chinese state-owned banks continue to lead in total assets, while US banks top market capitalization rankings

Shifting Global Banking Landscape

The rankings reflect the changing balance of global financial power. Prior to the 2008 financial crisis, most top-ranked banks were based in Western Europe and the United States. Since then, large commercial banks from China have consistently occupied leading positions in asset-based rankings, driven by the country's rapid economic expansion and domestic credit market growth.

Metric-Dependent Rankings

The order of the rankings changes drastically depending on the core metric used. For total assets, Chinese state-owned banks dominate, while market capitalization rankings prioritize US banks like JPMorgan Chase, which have strong profitability and investor confidence. Profit-based rankings also favor banks with diversified business models, such as investment banking and wealth management.

Methodological Limitations

The list has inherent limitations, including differences in national accounting standards, variations in reporting of off-balance-sheet items, and the exclusion of non-bank financial institutions. This means the rankings only offer a partial view of global banking scale rather than a comprehensive assessment of financial strength.

The following are lists of the largest commercial banks in the world, as measured by total assets and market capitalization.

By total assets

This list is based on the April 2025 S&P Global Market Intelligence report of the 100 largest banks in the world. The ranking was based upon assets as reported and was not adjusted for different accounting treatments.[1] Another publication which compiles an annual list of the world's largest banks is The Banker magazine. It publishes a list of the World 1000 Largest Banks every July.[2] The financial data published by the July yearly issue of The Banker are much more extensive compared to the S&P Top 100 banks, but it is not a publication intended for the general public.

Accounting treatment affects the assets reported: for example, the United States uses US GAAP (as opposed to IFRS), which only reports the net derivative position in most cases, leading to US banks having fewer derivative assets than comparable non-US banks.[3]

List of largest banks

WorldBrand briefing

Shifting Global Banking Landscape

Metric-Dependent Rankings

Methodological Limitations

By total assets

Banks by country or territory

By market capitalization

See also

References