Investec topped the South Africa performance rankings and climbed up 63 places in the overall Top 1000 ranking. Its ‘Big Four’ peers fared less well.
Nigeria’s banks have had a tough year, as the economy hit a two-decade low.
Indonesia’s biggest banks have slipped down the Top 1000 ranking, though some have grown their Tier 1 capital.
Japan’s banks held on in a volatile environment but saw little capital growth.
South Korea’s banks have had a good year for Tier 1 capital growth, which has helped several move up the Top 1000 ranking.
The conversion from a mutual to a publicly traded holding company helped Eastern Bank boost its financial strength during an uncertain environment for the banking industry.
China fields the largest number of new entrants in 2021, led by Mengshang Bank, but low M&A activity means far fewer banks have joined the ranking overall.
China’s biggest banks dominate the global rankings once more, with strong increases in their Tier 1 capital.
BTG Pactual showed good profitability, as Brazil dealt with its worst year in decades
French banks went into the crisis well prepared, as their performance shows.
Hamburg Commercial Bank is Germany’s best-performer, leading a field that did well under tough conditions.
Banco de Bogotá outperformed its peers and has grown at a faster rate than the leader, Bancolombia.
Morgan Stanley takes the lead, but on its heels are two more traditional lenders.
Pre-Covid cost-cutting and digitisation programmes helped Russian banks put in an impressive performance in this year’s rankings.
Toronto Dominion Bank claims the top slot for best overall performance among Canada’s banks, while dominant lender RBC is the most profitable.
Banks reacted smartly to Spain’s sharp contraction in growth last year — with the resulting numbers showing that they are nicely positioned for the future.
Better profitability, efficiency and return on risk put Banco Inbursa ahead of its peers in 2020.
Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi leads the Turkish banks, whose adaptability has seen them through a tough year in face of currency depreciation and rising inflation.
Well-capitalised UK banks not only weathered the Covid-19 pandemic, but also helped the government support other businesses during it. However, other challenges, such as Brexit, remain.
While the world has grappled with a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis, the global banking sector has remained resilient, if not undamaged, in the face of unprecedented challenges.