Chinese banks overshadow Western counterparts in latest global bank rankings

China's 'Big Four' banks - Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China, remained as the top four banks by assets year-over-year, posting a combined $13.637 trillion in assets. This is up $1.727 trillion since last year's ranking, with half of this growth due to a strengthening yuan against the US dollar.

The U.S. had the next highest number with 11 banks holding $12.196 trillion in assets. However, Wells Fargo was pushed out of the top 10 spot by France's Crédit Agricole Group, while other U.S.-based banks also suffered ranking drops from the previous years. Goldman Sachs Group fell three spots last year to 35, Morgan Stanley dropped one spot to 38 and State Street Corp. fell ten spots to 100.

In Europe, HSBC maintained its position as the largest European bank with total assets of €2.100 trillion (US$2.522 trillion). It was the only European institution above the €2 trillion mark. Among the top 10 European banks, six posted a year-over-year decline in assets in euro terms.

"Asian banks continue to dominate the S&P Global Market Intelligence global bank rankings with Chinese institutions claiming the top four spots," said JP O'Sullivan, Managing Director of Financial Institutions at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"As bank profitability improves in terms of return on average equity, we expect banks to move away from cost-cutting and towards sustainable growth. In this low rate environment, growing the balance sheet can be an effective way to generate earnings. Moreover, as interest rates rise, we can expect a boost to bottom line earnings and this bodes well for future growth prospects within the banking sector."

S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows that Chinese banks recorded the highest growth in assets in the past ten years. Nearly a third of the 20 largest S&P Global Market Intelligence-covered banks are based in China and reported an average of 190% increase in terms of asset growth over the decade.

Regional bank rankings from the worldwide bank ranking series include:

• The world's 100 largest banks
• Top 50 largest US banks and thrifts in Q4'17
• Europe's 50 largest banks by assets
• Asia-Pacific's 50 largest banks by assets
• Top 30 banks by assets in Africa and the Middle East
• Top 50 Latin American, Caribbean banks by assets                                                                                                        

Notes to editors:

Please note that S&P Global Market Intelligence compiled the World Bank Rankings using data derived from individual bank's regional reporting standards. Banks reporting under IFRS have gross value of derivative assets reported on balance sheets, whereas reporting under U.S. GAAP, requires the net value to be disclosed.

• In the latest ranking, company total assets were adjusted for pending mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as M&A deals that closed after the end of the reporting period through March 31 on a best-efforts basis.
• Assets reported by non-U.S. dollar filers were converted to dollars using period-end exchange rates. Total assets were taken on an "as-reported" basis and no adjustments are made to account for differing accounting standards.
• The majority of banks in this release were ranked by total assets as of Dec. 31, 2017. In the previous top 100 bank ranking published April 11, 2017, most company assets were as of Dec. 31, 2016, and were adjusted for pending and completed M&A as of March 31, 2017. This is also the case this year, and will be going forward.

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SOURCE S&P Global Market Intelligence

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