May 2017

A checkup on the health of global banks shows an industry in recovery but still threatened by rapidly changing externalities.

Two economists lay out some arguments—pro and con—about US and European bank oversight

An overview of our analysis and coverage of the World's Best Banks, as Global Finance marks its twenty-fourth year giving these awards.

Global Finance names the winners of its 24th annual awards for the World’s Best Banks, by region and by country

Banks across North America are doing what they are supposed to do. They are lending more money and making more money. 

Bank of America grew earnings 16% last year and plans further expansions, says chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan.

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

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.

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

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

Facing domestic vulnerabilities and external shocks, Latin American banks adapt to a changing environment

With Latin growth poised to accelerate, Santander is positioned to benefit from improved growth and stability, says Antonio Cortina, deputy director of economic research

Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 rankings of the best banks in Asia-Pacific. 

The sprawling Chinese bank faces a slowing domestic economy and new opportunities in international markets.

Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 rankings of the best banks in the Middle East. 

CEO Nemeh Sabbagh talks to Global Finance about how Arab Bank combines careful management with innovation in a region facing a challenging environment.

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

Sim Tshabalala, joint group chief executive of Standard Bank, explains how the continent’s biggest bank will benefit from Africa’s coming renewal.

Global Finance Magazine’s 2017 rankings of the best US regional banks

Our annual awards illustrate how shariah-compliant institutions are expanding into new markets, even in the non-Islamic West, and taking up the global call for “inclusive growth.”

Al Baraka Banking Group is expanding into new markets and seeking greater share in its home countries, says Adnan Ahmed Yousif, chairman and chief executive.

Islamic finance has great opportunities to gain market share, says Endy Abdurrahman, CEO of Bank Muamalat Indonesia.

Dato’ Mohamed Rafique, head of Maybank’s Islamic Banking Group and CEO of Maybank Islamic Berhad, explains how Islamic finance is contributing to the bank’s growth.

Investors snapped up Saudi Arabia’s debut international sukuk, a type of Islamic financing gaining popularity worldwide.

Gideon Rachman, author of “Easternization: Asia’s Rise and America’s Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond,” talks with Global Finance about the growing power of Eastern nations.

With the presidential referendum finally over, Turkish business wants to see its government get back to probusiness reforms.

Taiwan faces growing competition in manufacturing, and relations with Beijing are strained; yet its savvy citizens may benefit from political and economic flux worldwide.

The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund increasingly engages in activism over the governance of companies it invests in.

El Nino storms have caused Peru more than $12 billion in damage, and are expected to shave a full percentage point off the country’s GDP this year.

The government of India has set up a new type of bank intended to support funding for large projects.

South Africa’s new minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, whose appointment brought on ratings agency downgrades, faces low confidence and slow growth.

Famously fit Fabio Schvartsman faces environmnetal, financial and market challenges as newly appointed CEO of Brazilian iron-ore maker Vale.  

The Starbucks brand will be impacted by COO Johnson taking the top slot from CEO Howard Schultz, adding to pressure on the company.  

After Wells Fargo forced two senior executives to pay back $75 million in compensation, other companies are rethinking clawback clauses—which experts say are effective governance mechanism.  

UK regulators are probing the behavior of Barclays CEO Jes Staley for his efforts to unmask a whistleblower, raising issues of confidentiality, liability, culture and honesty throughout the banking industry.

For the US Federal Reserve to diminish its balance sheet, it must take care not to spook the markets.   

Venezuela’s state-owned oil company is struggling to make bond payments, and could put US oil company Citgo up for sale to Russia’s Rosneft.  

Nomu, a new Saudi equity market, will have lighter listing requirements than Tadawul, deepening the Saudi capital market with an alternative platform.

Spotify is considering embracing the hot trend of self-selling shares rather than an exchange IPO listing.

Amazon enters Arab markets of the Middle East / North Africa region by buying up Souq.com, an established online retailer.

With interest rates insanely low, many corporate borrowers have been refinancing with leveraged loans—despite significant risks—and investors are eagerly snapping up the debt

Facing increasing competition from Amazon and Alibaba, India’s Flipkart ecommerce platform has turned to Microsoft, Tencent and eBay for financial, technical and market support.

Alipay is partnering with banks around the world to provide its Chinese customers with seamless service at their preferred tourist destinations, with Italy’s UniCredit Bank following France’s BNP Paribas and Barclays in the UK.

Equity-based real estate platform Yielders is the first Islamic fintech to receive accreditation from Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority.

African financial institutions are tapping into technology to expand and consolidate as the banking sector matures.

Patrick Akinwuntan, group executive director of Ecobank Transnational, explains the bank’s plans to use mobile technology to vastly expand its customer base in the 33  African countries in which it operates

New approach to funding fills gaps for African entrepreneurs with strong networks and solid track records.  

After ratings downgrades a year ago, the Kingdom of Bahrain has worked to diversify revenue sources while maximizing the benefits of its strong relationship with Saudi Arabia.

After years of reform and a series of elections, the countries of Southeastern Europe are stable and starting to see a pickup in economic activity