Inevitable, but fascinating nevertheless: the benchmark annual rankings by The Banker magazine of the world’s top 1,000 banks bears no relation whatsoever to the 2008 list.
Using broad Tier 1 as a yardstick (common stock, preferred stock and hybrid debt-equity instruments), some of the results are bound to surprise. But then this is a ranking by strength, not size.
China’s ICBC, the world’s biggest bank by so many measures, manages just eighth place in The Banker’s rankings, while Royal Bank of Scotland, one of the year’s biggest losers and now 70 per cent owned by the UK government, retains a place in the world’s top five banks, albeit in fourth rather than last year’s first place by assets.
You will have to fork-out $153 for a copy of the July edition (delivery included), since The Banker’s ranking is something of a reference tome. But there’s a video available with editor Brian Caplen and finance editor Philip Alexander discussing the list.
Here’s the top twenty by Tier 1, with and without government support:
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And here are the top ten in terms of losses:
Related links:
JPMorgan tops strong bank list, RBS biggest loss - Reuters