November 2017

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dominated by the largest banks in the world by far, China’s economy has soared to towering heights. But what lies beyond the horizon?

As debt burdens inside China rise,  the country's banks are ramping up cross-border lending.

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.

Jerry Zhang, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (China), speaks about the bank’s award-winning efforts in sustainable, socially responsible banking practices.

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

Jiajin Lyu, president of the Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC), talks about the relationship between the bank and the postal group and how it helps them meet the financial needs of millions.

Jalak Jobanputra, founding partner of Future\Perfect Ventures, an early-stage venture-capital fund, visited Global Finance to discuss the state of fintech, the future of blockchain and digital currencies, and how corporations can extract more value from such technology.

Tunisia’s economic problems high-light the need for foreign direct investment to shore up its economy. 

By June 2018, 32 million Saudi women will be allowed to drive. 

The deal could be a win-win for both buyer and the seller.

The country recorded a GDP growth of 2.7% for the second quarter of  2017 after almost two years of negative growth. 

New restrictions will make it costlier for corporations to hedge erratic currency markets—but could also make the financial system safer.

Work-space management lags behind work-style changes, presenting new challenges for property managers.

Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, is in talks with Tesla about the possibility of using renewable microgrids to revamp the island's electric infrastructure.

The Catalan president gained wider recognition after calling last month’s referendum to secede from Spain, which was deemed illegal by Madrid.

Ukhnaa Khurelsukh was unanimously elected prime minister in October after his predecessor, Jargaltulga Erdenebat, was ousted by parliament following corruption allegations.

A professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Richard Thaler’s advances in behavioral economics merited a Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science in October.

Banks and fintech companies often work on a symbiotic basis by bringing new technologies and algorithms to legacy institutions. 

Consumer-staples giants such as Mondelez and PepsiCo too have become targets of investors pushing for more cost efficiency and growth.

European companies have spent almost $176 billion on US takeovers during 2017.

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has pledged to phase out Libor by 2021. 

The potential IPO for 5% of Aramco is expected to be the largest IPO ever and was scheduled for 2018.

These futures would be China’s first such contract open to direct trading by foreign enterprises. If successful, the country could create similar contracts for other strategic commodities.

Companies that follow this strategy tend to create a culture of awareness about cost drivers, budget cuts and targets.

Defined loosely as the region spreading from Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria in the northeast, and including Egypt in the southwest, with Cyprus off the shore, the Levant sees many points of light despite the current gloomy outlook.

Dr. Ziad Fariz, governor of Jordan’s central bank since 2012, talks about the refugee problem, recovery from the financial crisis, and how his country is keeping its financial system on an even keel. 

Riad Salamé, governor of Lebanon’s central bank, discusses economic conditions for his country and the region in general, and how Lebanon benefits from its “strong, healthy and conservative banking sector.”

As Latin America’s laggards recover, growth is trending toward a regional norm of slow but steady.