Global Finance Names The World's 50 Safest Commercial Banks 2015

The top spots in this year’s list are dominated by Canadian and Singaporean banks. TD Bank Group once again tops the ranking of the 50 Safest Commercial Banks. Three of Singapore’s leading banks take the next three spots: DBS comes in second on the ranking, followed by Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada takes over from Rabobank in fifth place. The Dutch bank has dropped to 14th on this year’s list.

New additions to this year’s list comprise Switerland’s Banque Pictet & Cie, at 13th, and Kiwibank of New Zealand, in 20th place, LGT Bank of Liechtenstein (29th) and EFG Bank of Switzerland (38th).

The biggest jump up the list this year was made by Norway’s DNB—rising from 48th last year to come in 23rd in 2015.

In addition to the World’s 50 Safest Commercial Banks, the full report also includes the following rankings: World’s 50 Safest Banks, Safest Banks by Country, 50 Safest Banks in Emerging Markets, Safest Islamic Financial Institutions in the GCC, Safest Banks by Region (Asia, Australasia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East/Africa, North America and Western Europe) and Safest Emerging Markets Banks by Region (Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa).

Banks were selected through an evaluation of long-term foreign currency ratings—from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch—and total assets of the 500 largest banks worldwide. For commercial banks to qualify for this ranking, they must not be majority owned by government or regional authorities.

“The institutions that make this list are not backed by government guarantees, but nonetheless are among the strongest and most secure banks in the
world, providing safety and security to corporates and investors,” says Joseph Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance.