The Banker

The Banker is an English-language monthly publication focused on international banking and financial affairs. It is edited in London and is owned by The Financial Times Ltd, placing it within the Financial Times media group. The magazine was first published in January 1926. Its founding editor was Brendan Bracken, who was associated with the Financial News and later served as chairman of the Financial Times from 1945 to 1958. From its origins, The Banker positioned itself as an internationally oriented source of financial information rather than a publication limited to one national banking market. Its editorial coverage combines country and regional reporting with analysis of global financial markets, banking regulation, public policy, capital markets, financial technology, commodities, carbon finance, infrastructure and project finance, transaction banking, securities services, clearing and settlement, and corporate management. Its regular editorial formats include news analysis, opinion, interviews, profiles and specialist reports. The publication is primarily read by professional audiences in banks, other financial institutions, central banks, finance ministries, multinational corporations and related advisory organizations. The reference material describes a particularly senior readership, with approximately 60% identified as chief executives, presidents, chief financial officers or treasurers of their organizations. The publication therefore serves both as a source of industry intelligence and as a platform for discussion among senior participants in international finance. The Banker has developed a substantial research, ranking and events business alongside its magazine journalism. Its annual Top 1000 World Banks ranking evaluates banks globally and by country, principally using Tier 1 capital, while also presenting comparative measures such as assets, capital-to-asset ratios, profit growth, return on average capital and return on assets. The ranking is widely used as an industry reference for assessing the scale, capital strength and profitability of banks. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China first reached the top position in 2013 and remained at the top of the ranking in the cited 2022 edition. Its awards portfolio includes the Bank of the Year Awards, Deals of the Year, Innovation in Digital Banking, Transaction Banking, Investment Banking, Finance Minister of the Year, Central Bank Governor of the Year, Private Banking and Islamic Bank of the Year. The Bank of the Year Awards recognize financial institutions across international markets and were most recently reported in the supplied reference material as having taken place in December 2021. The Banker also publishes an annual assessment of leading Islamic financial institutions. That program, operating since 2007, is intended to help measure the size and development of the Islamic banking and finance market. The brand's editorial identity is reinforced by The Bracken Column, named after founding editor Brendan Bracken and presented as a forum for ideas and debate among financial-sector participants. By combining monthly journalism, data products, rankings, specialist reports, awards and events, The Banker operates as both a financial trade publication and an information brand for a global professional audience. The supplied editorial listing identifies Silvia Pavoni as editor-in-chief as of January 2025, supported by editors and reporters covering Europe, Asia, investment banking, capital markets and digital content.

The Banker began publication in January 1926 under the founding editorship of Brendan Bracken, who was connected with the Financial News. Its launch established a publication dedicated to financial affairs viewed through an international lens, at a time when banking and capital flows were becoming increasingly interconnected across national markets. Rather than serving solely as a domestic banking journal, the magazine developed coverage spanning financial institutions, monetary and regulatory policy, markets and the broader infrastructure of finance. Bracken later became chairman of the Financial Times, serving from 1945 to 1958. The relationship between The Banker and the Financial Times developed into the current ownership structure in which The Banker is published by The Financial Times Ltd. The magazine remains edited in London while addressing a worldwide professional readership. Across its history, the publication has expanded beyond monthly editorial content. Its coverage now includes regional and country analysis, global financial markets, banking regulation, policy, cash management, securities services, commodities, carbon finance, infrastructure and project finance, trading technology, clearing and settlement, governance and management. Its editorial formats include opinion columns, interviews, profiles and detailed industry reports. The Bracken Column preserves the name of the founding editor as a forum for ideas relevant to financial-sector participants. Research and comparative data became an important part of the brand's identity through The Banker Database and the annual Top 1000 World Banks ranking. The ranking compares banks by Tier 1 capital on both global and country-specific bases, with additional measures covering assets, capital intensity, profit growth and returns. The ranking has become a recognized reference point for the relative strength and performance of banks. The supplied reference material records Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as the first Chinese bank to take the top position, in 2013, and as retaining that position through the cited 2022 ranking. The Banker also established recurring awards and recognition programs. The Bank of the Year Awards recognize leading institutions in international banking, while other programs cover deals, digital banking innovation, transaction banking, investment banking, private banking, Islamic banking, finance ministers and central-bank governors. The publication's Islamic finance coverage includes an annual Top Islamic Financial Institutions listing, which has been produced since 2007 to help assess the size and growth of the Islamic banking and finance market. By the 2020s, The Banker operated as a multi-format professional information brand: a monthly magazine supported by digital content, rankings, databases, specialist reports, awards and events. The supplied editorial listing identifies Silvia Pavoni as editor-in-chief in January 2025, with a team organized around regional coverage, investment banking and capital markets, reporting and digital publishing. The brand's continuing focus is the international financial-services industry and the senior decision-makers who operate within it.

1. 2025Silvia Pavoni listed as editor-in-chief

   The editorial team listing identifies Silvia Pavoni as editor-in-chief, alongside regional, capital-markets, reporting and digital specialists.

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2. 2022ICBC retains the top ranking

   The cited 2022 ranking continues to place Industrial and Commercial Bank of China first by Tier 1 capital.

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3. 2021Bank of the Year Awards held

   The most recent event identified in the supplied reference material takes place in December.

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4. 2016Top 10 World Banks ranking published

   The publication's cited 2016 edition presents its leading global banks by Tier 1 capital.

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5. 2013ICBC reaches the top of Top 1000 World Banks

   Industrial and Commercial Bank of China becomes the first Chinese bank to rank first by Tier 1 capital in the publication's global ranking.

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6. 2007Top Islamic Financial Institutions program begins

   The annual listing begins as a way to assess the size and development of the Islamic banking and finance market.

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7. 2000Top-bank historical comparison series begins

   The cited reference material presents a series of leading banks by Tier 1 capital beginning in 2000 as part of the publication's long-running comparative ranking work.

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8. 1958End of Bracken's Financial Times chairmanship

   Brendan Bracken's chairmanship of the Financial Times concludes after a tenure that began in 1945.

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9. 1945Brendan Bracken becomes Financial Times chairman

   The founding editor later becomes chairman of the Financial Times, serving in that role until 1958.

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10. 1926The Banker begins publication

    The first issue is published in January under founding editor Brendan Bracken, with an editorial mission centered on international financial affairs.

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An internationally focused, senior-audience financial trade publication combining banking journalism, industry data, rankings, research and awards.

• The Banker magazineMonthly financial publication1926

  The core monthly publication provides international coverage of banking and financial affairs. Its editorial mix includes market and policy analysis, country and regional reporting, interviews, profiles, opinion and specialist coverage of regulation, technology, transaction banking, capital markets, infrastructure finance and financial management.

• Top 1000 World BanksBank ranking and database

  An annual global and country-level ranking of banks, primarily ordered by Tier 1 capital. The publication also compares assets, capital-to-asset ratios, profit growth, profit on average capital and return on assets, making the ranking a reference for bank scale, capitalization and profitability.

• Top Islamic Financial InstitutionsIslamic finance ranking2007

  An annual listing and market assessment focused on Islamic banking and finance. Since 2007, the program has aimed to help estimate the size and growth of the emerging Islamic financial marketplace.

• The Bracken ColumnOpinion and thought-leadership column

  A named opinion and ideas forum honoring founding editor Brendan Bracken. It functions as a space for discussion and analysis relevant to participants in the banking and financial-services sectors.

• Bank of the Year AwardsFinancial-industry awards

  An annual awards program recognizing leading financial institutions in international banking. It forms part of a wider awards portfolio covering banking transactions, digital innovation, transaction banking, investment banking, private banking and Islamic banking.

1. The Banker
2. The Banker official website