Jonathan Gregson

The UK has brought criminal charges against Barclays and four former executives over deals made with Qatar in the depths of the 2008 financial crisis.

New patterns are disrupting global trade, altering relationships and reshaping international business practices. 

Despite gloomy forecasts, Britain’s expected economic collapse has not materialized, and new research suggests the impact on trade will be mitigated.

ING, long a pioneer in direct banking, is planning for a digital future that chairman and CEO Ralph Hamers says will transform the experience of both retail and wholesale customers.

Question and Answer with Johann Strobl chairman and CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International

Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 rankings of the best banks in Western Europe. 

Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 rankings of the best banks in Central & Eastern Europe. 

The title—“Back to the Future?”—was possibly a little mischievous, given recent political trends; yet the discussions at this year’s Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) Europe Bank-to-Bank Forum were anything but impish.

Swiss citizens rejected federal government proposals to overhaul the country’s corporate tax system.

All these extremely fragile and underdeveloped economies have either recently been through a civil war or are suffering from ongoing sectarian or ethnic conflicts. 

Global Finance ranks the world’s richest and poorest countries for 2016, taking into consideration GDP per capita, adjusted for relative purchasing power.

Global Finance rankings of the world's ten richest countries in 2016 homes in on a common attribute. 

China is committed to investing more than $360 billion in domestic renewable energy and supporting technologies by 2020, building on its existing position as the world’s largest investor in renewables.

Rosneft CEO and Putin ally Igor Sechin played a key role in selling off a stake in the giant state-owned mining concern. 

London’s financial sector is likely to lose business—but to whom, and how much? Other European nations are courting UK-based finance operations. 

After two inconclusive elections and 10 months without a fully functioning government, Spain has formed an coalition administration, but without a majority, action will be difficult. 

Scots are trying some novel theories for legitimate ways to escape the United Kingdom-wide exit from the European Union. 

Read how these winning financial institutions earned designation as one of the World's Best Banks for 2016. 

UK-based Barclays has reduced its shareholding in Johannesburg-listed Barclays Africa from 62.3% to 50.1% this year and is believed to be seeking to reduce that stake further to around 20%.

Global Finance unveils its annual lists of the best banks in the world, globally, regionally and by country. The winners outperformed their peers and provide top-notch service to clients in a challenging environment. 

Africa's enormous potential for growth is hampered by its citizens' lack of access to banking.

Yann Gérardin, head of corporate and institutional banking, talks about how BNP stays ahead in serving corporate and institutional clients.

The EU hit Apple with a tax bill, but it's not the only company in regulators' sights. McDonalds, Facebook, Google and Amazon are being called on the carpet about tax practices too.

With a wealth of cultivable land, Africa seeks to develop agriculture.

Ireland | Ireland has been a eurozone growth powerhouse in recent years, and remains strong, despite Brexit. 

While Asia recently pulled ahead of the West as home to wealthy individuals, some private banks are pulling out, leaving the field to nimble local rivals and committed global Goliaths.

Facing reputational risk and poor prospects, private banking operations are bailing on Russia and encouraging its wealthy to park their assets offshore. 

Britain might not leave the European Union after all. A lot of things have to happen to agree on a divorce that many seem to have changed their minds about. 

Management | Corruption
At the anticorruption summit held in London last month, world leaders pledged to fight tax dodging, boost transparency and redouble efforts to confiscate and repatriate stolen assets to many of the world’s poorest countries.

Iceland
The Panama Papers’ revelation that Iceland’s prime minister had offshore interests, including claims on Icelandic banks, caused outrage in this naturally volcanic island state.

The banking industry’s leading lights have largely adjusted their business plans to a world of tighter regulations, higher capital requirements and less leverage. Now, they are taking on new competitors by embracing the very information technology that has disrupted their business.

Global Finance presents the winners of its 23rd annual awards for the World’s Best Banks. 

Riding the commodities boom, Angola’s economy seemed invincible against recent global shocks. But the current slump in oil prices is forcing the country to rethink its dependence on oil.

Q+A
José Pedro de Morais, governor of Banco Nacional de Angola, spoke with Global Finance about the central bank’s efforts to restore order and build confidence in the country’s financial system.

He has been called a “rock star” in Portugal’s popular press.

Capital Markets | Fixed Income
A bail-in provision, which places the onus on bondholders and other investors to write down their holdings in the event of winding up a troubled financial institution within the European Union, came into effect on January 1, 2016.

The International Monetary Fund decided last month to alter its long-standing policy of not lending to countries with arrears to official creditors—national governments or agencies they sponsor—thereby enabling it to continue lending to Ukraine should it fail to repay on time a $3 billion bond due to Russia.

Global Finance unveils its annual list of the best banks globally, regionally and by country. The winners have provided the best service to clients.

When former UBS and Citigroup derivatives trader Thomas Hayes was found guilty last month on all eight charges of conspiracy to manipulate Libor, it was the verdict heard around the world.

Regional Report | The Caucasus
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, the nations that make up the region of the Caucasus, are all working hard to improve their business and economic climates, but with varying degrees of success.

Regional Report | Central & Eastern Europe
Although geopolitical risks are still keeping executives awake at night, there has been a remarkable turnaround in some countries of the region, thanks in large part to structural reforms—implemented early and strongly. 

Profiling this years winners of the World's Best Banks across all regions.

Banking | Portugal/Angola
A tug of war is developing over Portugal’s fourth-largest lender, Banco BPI, between its two largest shareholders.

Newsmakers | United Kingdom
After a bumpy ride, the UK’s candidate, lord Jonathan Hill, has been confirmed by the European Parliament as commissioner for financial stability, capital markets and financial services.

NEWSMAKERS | UNITED KINGDOM
From Washington to Madrid, there was a collective sigh of relief breathed around Western capitals when Scottish voters decided by a majority of 55% to reject the call for independence and remain part of the United Kingdom. For all those who did not want Scotland to secede, an unlikely hero had emerged in the form of Gordon Brown.

AFRICA 2014 | INTRA-AFRICA TRADE
The rise of the African consumer market is providing an opportunity for domestic companies to increase their footprint across the region.

Global Finance unveils its annual list of the  best banks globally, regionally and by country. The banking industry remains under stress, but there are bright spots.

SCOTLAND
The outcome of this September’s referendum on Scottish independence remains too close to call.

Although hit hard by the global financial crisis, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia recovered quickly. The three countries are building ever-closer EU ties to separate themselves economically from Eastern neighbors.

In our 21st annual survey, Global Finance identifies the best banks in 150 countries and eight regions. The winners are not always the biggest banks, but rather, the best—those with the qualities that corporations should look for when choosing a bank.