Ben T. Smith IV, a longtime Silicon Valley executive and currently head of the Communications, Media and Technology practice at Kearney, speaks to Global Finance about the post-SVB venture capital industry and the pace of innovation.
Many of the world's richest countries are also the world's smallest: the pandemic and the global economic slowdown barely made a dent in their huge wealth.
Global Finance editor Andrea Fiano interviews Ásgeir Jónsson, Central Bank Governor of Iceland during Global Finance's World's Best Bank Awards at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on October 15th.
European banks continue to dominate our Safest Bank ratings, while this year Canadian banks crept higher in the ranking due to a sovereign upgrade. But the big driver of bank security in the new era has been regulation. Although banks have benefitted from sustained worldwide economic growth in recent years, the financial profile of many institutions improved as a direct result of the heightened regulatory environment post-financial crisis. Rules now require higher levels of bank liquidity and capitalization, with generally improving trends in asset quality across many developed markets.
Still, major challenges may arise from the planned shift to more restrictive monetary policy, potentially damaging trade wars, Brexit disruption and persistent geopolitical tensions. In this considerable uncertainty, the Global Finance annual rankings of the World’s Safest Banks provide an important measure of clarity.
Regulatory changes have been a catalyst for bank restructuring, and since our last ranking there have been a number of significant new mandates. Notably, the finalization of Basel III (designed to strengthen capital requirements and reduce bank leverage), the adoption of IFRS 9 (to harmonize definitions and accounting principles around financial instruments) and the implementation of recovery and resolution plans are global in scope.
Banks must address additional mandates related to consumer privacy under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and securities-trading transparency and investor protection under the revised EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II). In November, the European Banking Authority released the results of its latest stress test (which applies to 70% of EU banking sector assets), detailing the capital impact of a set of adverse assumptions. The Bank of England has imposed ring-fence requirements to separate retail and consumer business from wholesale and markets-related banking. UK banks must also issue additional subordinated liabilities up to a minimum buffer requirement to protect senior creditors.
Meanwhile, in the US, elements of Dodd-Frank have eased; this mainly impacts regional and community banks. Going forward, the refinement of capital and liquidity requirements, compliance with stress tests, and ensuring robust recovery and resolution plans will continue to underpin regulatory oversight. Such mandates ultimately contribute to the resilience of the sector.
After the 2008 crisis, central banks injected significant liquidity into the financial system through highly accommodative monetary policy (quantitative easing), hiking the threat of asset bubbles and inflation. This stance has shifted. The US Federal Reserve is now well into a tightening phase; its European counterpart is expected to follow, possibly in mid-2019. While rising rates in some regions could benefit banks’ net interest margins, innovation is needed to maintain profitability. Fintech has brought fresh competition in finance, and banks must develop or acquire robust online platforms to grow their consumer business.
In this era of heightened scrutiny, with the prospect of rising interest rates that may pressure economic growth, the sector faces additional challenges. Achieving earnings growth will be particularly daunting given the considerable costs related to regulatory compliance, new technology investment and maintaining legacy systems. Moreover, robust risk management is critical to manage global risks, ensure data security and prevent cyber threats. Banks must continue to identify cost efficiencies while focusing on revenue initiatives.
We apply a straightforward approach to ranking the World’s Safest Banks, using long-term foreign-currency debt ratings from the three major international rating agencies. (Details p. 19)
Overall, the Global Top 50 banks include institutions that exhibit considerable stability. As a result, scores remain in a narrow range. The score for inclusion among the Global Top 50 was relatively unchanged at 18.5 points (versus 19 in 2017) out of a top score of 30.
As in the past, sovereign-rating changes can have a large impact on movements year-over-year. For example, the Canadian banks rose in our 2018 rankings due to an upgrade by Moody’s in July 2018 following Canada’s adoption of new bank resolution regulations. The upgrades boosted the rankings for Toronto-Dominion (11th), Royal Bank of Canada (12th), The Bank of Nova Scotia (27th), Bank of Montreal (32nd) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (33rd and a new entrant).
Methodology: Behind the Rankings
Our ratings apply to the world’s largest 500 banks by asset size. We calculate the rankings based on the long-term foreign currency ratings issued by Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service. Where possible, ratings on holding companies rather than operating companies were used, and banks that are wholly owned by other banks were omitted. Within each rank set, banks are organized according to asset size based on data for the most recent annual reporting period provided by Fitch Solutions and Moody’s. Ratings are reproduced with permission from the three rating agencies, with all rights reserved. A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, and it does not comment on market price or suitability for a particular investor. All ratings in the tables were valid as of August 17, 2018.
WORLD'S SAFEST BANKS 2018 — The Global Top 50
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
KfW
Germany
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
566,486
31-Dec-2017
2
Zuercher Kantonalbank
Switzerland
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
167,945
31-Dec-2017
3
Landwirtschaftliche Retenbank
Germany
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
108,711
31-Dec-2017
4
L-Bank
Germany
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
84,640
31-Dec-2017
5
BNG Bank N.V.
Netherlands
AA+
Aaa
AAA
29
167,932
31-Dec-2017
6
Nederlandse Waterschapsbank
Netherlands
NR
Aaa
AAA
29
101,924
30-Jun-2017
7
Kommunalbanken
Norway
NR
Aaa
AAA
29
47,738
31-Dec-2017
8
NRW.BANK
Germany
AAA
Aa1
AA—
26
175,242
31-Dec-2017
9
Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de L'Etat
Luxembourg
NR
Aa2
AA+
24.5
54,305
31-Dec-2017
10
Caisse des Depots et Consignations
France
AA
Aa2
AA
24
207,623
31-Dec-2017
11
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
Canada
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
1,012,760
30-Apr-2018
12
Royal Bank of Canada
Canada
AA
Aa2
AA—
23
940,707
31-Oct-2017
13
DZ BANK
Germany
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
606,359
31-Dec-2017
14
DBS Bank
Singapore
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
387,337
31-Dec-2017
15
Ocersea-Chinese Banking Corporation
Singapore
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
340,370
31-Dec-2017
16
Svenska Handelsbanken
Sweden
AA
Aa2
AA—
23
336,116
31-Dec-2017
17
United Overseas Bank
Singapore
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
268,287
31-Dec-2017
18
Korea Development Bank
South Korea
AA—
Aa2
AA
23
246,231
31-Dec-2017
19
The Export-Import Bank of Korea
South Korea
AA—
Aa2
AA
23
78,826
31-Dec-2017
20
Deutsche Apotheker- und Aerztebank
Germany
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
49,583
31-Dec-2017
21
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
Switzerland
NR
Aa2
AA
23
46,602
31-Dec-2017
22
Swedbank
Sweden
AA—
Aa2
AA—
22
268,778
31-Dec-2017
23
Industrial Bank of Korea
South Korea
AA—
Aa2
AA—
22
255,805
31-Dec-2017
24
SFIL
France
AA—
Aa3
AA
22
71,010
31-Dec-2017
25
Banque Pictet & Cie
France
AA—
Aa2
NR
21.5
29,711
31-Dec-2017
26
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
734,723
31-Dec-2017
27
The Bank of Nova Scotia
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
709,899
31-Oct-2017
28
ANZ Group
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
703,415
30-Sep-2017
29
Nordea Bank
Sweden
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
697,527
31-Dec-2017
30
Westpac Banking Corporation
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
667,786
30-Sep-2017
31
National Australia Bank
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
617,969
30-Sept-2017
32
Bank of Montreal
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
550,361
31-Oct-2017
33
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
438,427
31-Oct-2017
34
SEB
Sweden
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
310,925
31-Dec-2017
35
HSBC France
France
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
200,935
31-Dec-2017
36
First Abu Dhabi Bank
UAE
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
182,156
31-Dec-2017
37
Federation des Caisses Desjardins
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
115,943
31-Dec-2017
38
AgriBank
United States
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
104,500
31-Dec-2017
39
Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (Sparkassen)
Germany
A+
Aa2
NR
20
1,235,669
31-Dec-2017
40
UBS
Switzerland
AA—
Aa3
A+
20
939,089
31-Dec-2017
41
Rabobank
Netherlands
AA—
Aa3
A+
20
723,167
31-Dec-2017
42
DNB Bank
Norway
NR
Aa2
A+
20
326,832
31-Dec-2017
43
Hang Seng Bank
Hong Kong
A+
Aa3
AA—
20
189,201
31-Dec-2017
44
CoBank
United States
AA—
NR
AA—
20
129,211
31-Dec-2017
45
National Bank of Kuwait
Kuwait
AA—
Aa3
A+
20
86,279
31-Dec-2017
46
OG Corporate Bank
Finland
NR
Aa3
AA—
20
165,621
31-Dec-2017
47
AgFirst
United States
AA—
Aa3
NR
20
37,811
31-Dec-2017
48
Farm Credit Bank of Texas
United States
AA—
Aa3
NR
20
22,837
31-Dec-2017
49
U.S. Bancorp
United States
AA—
A1
A+
19
462,040
31-Dec-2017
50
Bank of Taiwan
Taiwan
NR
Aa3
A+
18.5
165,621
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — North America
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
TD Bank
Canada
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
1,012,760
30-Apr-2018
2
Royal Bank of Canada
Canada
AA
Aa2
AA—
23
940,707
31-Oct-2017
3
The Bank of Nova Scotia
Canada
AA
Aa2
AA—
21
709,899
31-Oct-2017
4
Bank of Montreal
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
550,361
31-Oct-2017
5
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
438,437
31-Oct-2017
6
Federation des Caisses Desjardins
Canada
AA—
Aa2
A+
21
115,943
31-Dec-2017
7
AgriBank
United States
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
104,500
31-Dec-2017
8
CoBank
United States
AA—
NR
AA—
20
129,211
31-Dec-2017
9
AgFirst
United States
AA—
Aa3
NR
20
37,811
31-Dec-2017
10
Farm Credit Bank of Texas
United States
AA—
Aa3
NR
20
22,837
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Latin America
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
Banco del Estamdo de Chile
Chile
A
A1
A+
17
61,588
31-Dec-2017
2
Banco Santander Chile
Chile
A
A1
A
16
58,229
31-Dec-2017
3
Banco de Chile
Chile
NR
A1
A
16
53,374
31-Dec-2017
4
Banco de Credotp e Onversiones
Chile
A
A2
A
15
55,075
31-Dec-2017
5
HSBC Mexico
Mexico
A
Baa1
BBB+
11
36,028
31-Dec-2017
6
Scotiabank Peru
Peru
A—
A3
BBB+
11
18,762
31-Dec-2017
7
Banco Mercantil del Norte
Mexico
BBB+
A3
BBB+
10
53,727
31-Dec-2017
8
Banobras
Mexixo
BBB+
A3
BBB+
10
38,762
31-Dec-2017
9
Nacional Financiera
Mexico
BBB+
A3
BBB+
10
26,254
31-Dec-2017
10
Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior
Mexico
BBB+
A3
BBB+
10
21,808
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Western Europe
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
KfW
Germany
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
566,486
31-Dec-2017
2
Zuercher Kantonalbank
Switzerland
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
167,945
31-Dec-2017
3
Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank
Germany
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
108,711
31-Dec-2017
4
L-Bank
Germany
AAA
Aaa
AAA
30
84,640
31-Dec-2017
5
Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten
Netherlands
AA+
Aaa
AAA
29
167,932
31-Dec-2017
6
Nederlandse Waterschapsbank
Netherlands
NR
Aaa
AAA
29
101,924
30-Jun-2017
7
Kommunalbanken
Norway
NR
Aaa
AAA
29
47,738
31-Dec-2017
8
NRW.BANK
Germany
AAA
Aa1
AA—
26
175,242
31-Dec-2017
9
Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de L'Etat
Luxembourg
NR
Aa2
AA+
24.5
54,305
31-Dec-2017
10
Caisse des Depots et Consignations
France
AA
Aa2
AA
24
207,623
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Central, Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
Ceska Sporitenlna
Czech Republic
A—
A2
A
14
62,431
31-Dec-2017
2
Komercni Banka
Czech Republic
A—
A2
A
14
47,158
31-Dec-2017
3
ING Bank Slaski
Poland
A
A2
NR
14
36,197
31-Dec-2017
4
Bank Pekao
Poland
A—
A2
BBB+
12
53,275
31-Dec-2017
5
Bank Zachodni WBK
Poland
BBB+
A3
NR
9.5
43,856
31-Dec-2017
6
mBank
Poland
BBB
Baa1
BBB+
8
37,751
31-Dec-2017
7
Banca Comerciala Romana
Romania
BBB+
Baa3
NR
5
18,169
31-Dec-2017
8
BRD-Groupe Societe Generale
Romania
BBB+
Baa3
NR
5
14,070
31-Dec-2017
9
Vnesheconombank
Russian Federation
BBB—
NR
BBB—
2
58,611
31-Dec-2017
10
OTP Bank
Hungary
NR
Baa3
BBB—
2
51,059
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Asia
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
DBS Bank
Singapore
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
387,337
31-Dec-2017
2
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
Singapore
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
340,370
31-Dec-2017
3
United Overseas Bank
Singapore
AA—
Aa1
AA—
23
268,287
31-Dec-2017
4
Korea Development Bank
South Korea
AA—
Aa2
AA
23
246,231
31-Dec-2017
5
The Export-Import Bank of Korea
South Korea
AA—
Aa2
AA
23
78,826
31-Dec-2017
6
Industrial Bank of Korea
South Korea
AA—
Aa2
AA—
22
255,805
31-Dec-2017
7
Hang Seng Bank
Hong Kong
A+
Aa3
AA—
20
189,201
31-Dec-2017
8
Bank of Taiwan
Taiwan
NR
Aa3
A+
18.5
165,621
31-Dec-2017
9
China Development Bank
China
A+
A1
A+
18
2,450,812
31-Dec-2017
10
Agricultural Development Bank of China
China
A+
A1
A+
18
808,118
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Middle East
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
First Abu Dhabi Bank
UAE
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
182,156
31-Dec-2017
2
National Bank of Kuwait
Kuwait
AA—
Aa3
A+
20
86,279
31-Dec-2017
3
Qatar National Bank
Qatar
A+
Aa3
A
18
222,824
31-Dec-2017
4
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
UAE
A+
A1
A
17
72,159
31-Dec-2017
5
Kuwait Finance House
Kuwait
A+
A1
NR
17
57,524
31-Dec-2017
6
Unition National Bank
UAE
A+
A1
NR
17
29,277
31-Dec-2017
7
Al Hilal Bank
UAE
A+
A1
NR
16.5
12,195
31-Dec-2017
8
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
UAE
A+
A2
NR
15.5
33,568
31-Dec-2017
9
Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait
Kuwait
A+
A2
NR
15.5
14,455
31-Dec-2017
10
Ahli United Bank
Kuwait
A+
A2
NR
15.5
12,148
31-Dec-2017
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Australasia
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
734,723
31-Dec-2017
2
ANZ Group
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
703,415
30-Sep-2017
3
Westpac Banking Corporation
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
667,786
30-Sep-2017
4
National Australia Bank
Australia
AA—
Aa3
AA—
21
617,969
30-Sep-2017
5
Suncorp-Metway
Australia
A+
A1
A+
18
48,782
30-Jun-2017
6
Kiwibank
New Zealand
AA—
A1
A
18
15,103
30-Jun-2017
7
AMP Bank.
Australia
NR
A2
A
14
115,306
31-Dec-2017
8
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
Australia
A—
A3
BBB+
11
54,931
30-Jun-2017
9
Bank of Queensland
Australia
A—
A3
BBB+
11
40,799
31-Aug-2017
10
Macquarie Group
Australia
A—
A3
BBB
10
146,651
31-Mar-2018
Top 10 Safest Banks by Region — Africa
Rank
Company Name
Country
Fitch
Moody’s
S&P
Total Score
Assets ($ Mil.)
Statement Date
1
Standard Bank of South Africa
South Africa
BB+
Baa3
NR
—1
144,463
30-Jun-2018
2
Absa Bank
South Africa
BB+
Baa3
NR
—2
80,126
31-Dec-2017
3
FirstRand Bank
South Africa
BB+
Baa3
BB
—2
82,844
30-Jun-2017
4
NedBank
South Africa
BB+
Baa3
BB
—2
73,284
31-Dec-2017
5
Investec Bank
South Africa
BB+
Baa3
BB
—2
52,048
31-Mar-2018
6
BMCE Bank
Morocco
BB+
Ba1
NR
—4
33,509
31-Dec-2017
7
Attijariwafa Bank
Morocco
BB+
Ba2
BB
—5
50,867
31-Dec-2017
8
Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire
Morocco
NR
Ba2
BB+
—5.5
40,036
31-Dec-2017
9
Zenith Bank
Nigeria
B+
B2
B
—14
15,434
31-Dec-2017
10
Guaranty Trust Bank
Nigeria
B+
B3
B
—15
10,969
31-Dec-2017
Asset figures from Fitch, Moody’s, and company reports. Ratings valid as of Aug. 17, 2018.