Andrew Cunningham

GCC banks still dominate, with First Abu Dhabi Bank firmly on top.

Global Finance looks back at our list of Safest Banks Of 2007, to see who survived and thrived in the last decade. 

In commercial rankings, which exclude government-supported entities, DZ knocks Toronto-Dominion from the top slot.

South Korea still leads among emerging-market banks, while some Gulf entities are rising in the ranks. 

Global Finance magazine has expanded the individual country rankings, with 15 banks making the list for the first time.

China, China, China. Most emerging markets can’t outgrow Asia’s dynamic behemoth.

Large multinationals are edged out of Europe’s top 50 by midsize banks that are based in developed economies and offer global service.

China and Europe dominate the largest-bank rankings.

As shariah-compliant vehicles gain traction, the agencies are increasingly willing to rate Islamic banks.

Global Finance’s ranking includes all 25 Chinese banks that are rated by at least one of the three major credit-rating agencies.

Banks come, go, merge and split, but our annual Safest bank ratings provide a consistent measure of bank stability. Read ahead to find out the top 50 global banks and other rankings.

Global Finance Magazine's 16th annual ranking of the World's Safest Banks illustrates how  sovereign rating upgrades impact the perceived strength of a country's financial institutions. 

Abu Dhabi’s Al Hilal Bank is the safest Islamic bank in the six GCC states, replacing Al Rajhi Bank of Saudi Arabia, which falls to seventh position following downgrades prompted by the downgrading of the Saudi government. Kuwait Finance House ...

Global Finance ranks the 50 safest commercial banks in the world. 

Global Finance’s country-by-country ranking of the Safest Banks comprises 104 countries. Sixteen of these countries have a new safest bank this year. Most new winners have earned their places through ratings upgrades, while some have taken the top position by ...

Ten years ago, Global Finance’s ranking of the world’s safest banks included such household names as Citigroup, Royal Bank of Scotland, Deutsche Bank and the Spanish giants, Santander and BBVA. None of these now feature in the Safest 50—indeed, several ...

The safest banks in the Middle East are all based in the GCC, with the exception of the two large Israeli banks, Hapoalim and Leumi, which rank 26th and 27th. National Bank of Abu Dhabi remains the Safest Bank in ...

The safest banks in Europe are located in Northern and Western Europe, with Germany contributing ten of the Top 50 banks and France nine. The safest nine European banks are the same nine that lead our Global Safest Banks ranking.  ...

The safest three emerging markets banks are South Korean, following ratings upgrades by Moody’s and S&P. Korea Development Bank, Export-Import Bank of Korea and Industrial Bank of Korea now have at least one AA and one AA- rating each, which ...

The assets of the 50 biggest emerging markets banks rose in 2015 by 35%, to $27.2 trillion, even as many emerging markets currencies lost value against the dollar. The rise in asset size of the biggest 50 was driven by ...

This year’s ranking of Chinese banks includes all 21 Chinese banks that have a rating from one of the three large, international rating agencies. In principle, the only criterion for inclusion, apart from having one or more rating, was that ...

We present a rare tour of the newly opened Iranian banking sector.  Westerners will be surprised by what they find—in both philosophy and performance—in this long-hidden area of the banking world.

It is not even close: The 12 largest emerging markets banks in the world are Chinese.

Chinese banks receive high ratings, but many also fall below investment grade.

Banks in Western Europe occupy the most spots in the ranking of Global Finance’s Safest Commercial Banks—but one bank from Canada tops the list again.

Financial institutions from two regions dominate the ranking of the 50 Safest Emerging Markets Banks.

Global Finance’s country-by-country ranking of the safest banks in the world includes eight new country leaders.

Chinese banks are assuming an increasingly important position among the world’s biggest banks. But European banks are still the largest geographic grouping in our rankings.

With financial markets strengthening in most quarters, a stellar credit rating—not just a solid one—is now required to gain a place on our list of the World’s Top 50 Safest Global Banks.

Saudi bank Al Rajhi retains its crown in this year’s rankings.

Standard Bearers
New entrants raise the benchmark for Global Finance’s annual ranking of the Top 50 Safest Global Banks.

Digging Deep
Global Finance’s country-by-country ranking provides an objective and transparent listing of the safest banks worldwide.

Big Is Beautiful
Assets of ICBC exceed $3 trillion, while European banks shrink.

Stars Of China | Safest Banks In China
Chinese banks display a wide variety of strength and size.

Safety In Numbers
The safest 50 EM banks are concentrated in 10 countries; Saudi Arabia, Korea and China account for more than half.

On A Grand Scale
Chinese banks take first 10 places in rankings.

Al Rajhi retains its crown as the Safest Islamic Bank.

European Leaders
Europeans dominate Global Finance’s Safest Commercial Banks ranking.

SPECIAL REPORT By Andrew Cunningham Al Rajhi tops the rankings of Safest Islamic Banks in the GCC. The use of Islamic finance arouses strong emotions. For its supporters, it offers an ethical way of conducting financial transactions that is far ...

SPECIAL REPORT By Andrew Cunningham Kuwaiti banks are in good health. Capital levels are high, nonperforming loans low and declining, and liquidity remains strong. The IMF’s latest Article IV report on Kuwait, concluded at the end of November, found that ...

COUNTRY REPORT   By Gordon Platt   Oil-rich Kuwait is finally making progress on implementing its multibillion-dollar development program and improving its business operating environment.   Despite its aim to become a world-class financial and commercial center, the Arab Gulf ...

Global Finance presents its annual ranking of the Top 50 Safest Banks in the Emerging Markets.

Global Finance presents its annual listing of the biggest Banks in the Emerging Markets.

PRIVATE-SECTOR SUPERSTARS   By Andrew Cunningham   Banks from Australia, Canada and Singapore dominate the list of the Top 10 Safest Commercial Banks.   State-owned banks and those that enjoy some form of sponsorship from government or regional organizations have ...

KEY TO THE TOP   By Andrew Cunningham   Global Finance presents its annual ranking of the World’s Safest Banks. There are few changes at the top, showing the stability of the highest echelon of banks.   The safest 10 ...

RISING TO THE TOP   By Andrew Cunningham   Global Finance presents the World’s Biggest Banks 2013.   For the first time, a Chinese bank topped the list of the biggest banks in the world at the end of 2012—displacing ...

SEARCHING FOR SECURITY   By Andrew Cunningham   Global Finance presents its half-year update to the World’s Safest Banks Ranking. Canadian banks suffer downgrades but remain well represented in global safest rankings.   Downgrades by both S&P and Moody’s have ...

HOW WE MEASURE THE SAFETY OF BANKS By Andrew Cunningham   The safest banks chart compares the ratings for the world’s largest 500 banks, based on asset size. Long-term foreign currency ratings issued by Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and ...

CONTINENTAL EROSION By Andrew Cunningham   Global Finance presents its annual ranking of the Top 50 Safest Banks in the Emerging Markets.   Banks in the Arabian Gulf and Asia have strengthened their hold on the rankings of safest banks ...

EMERGING GIANTS   By Andrew Cunningham   Global Finance presents its annual listing of the Biggest Banks in the Emerging Markets.   Eight of the 10 biggest emerging markets banks are Chinese, and a further 10 Chinese banks are included ...