Ghanaian banks are worried that rising interest rates and a depreciating currency could lead to a lot of volatility in the next few months. Nonetheless, they remain in good health and are likely to benefit in the coming years from the country’s rapid economic growth.

Much of the good work that has gone on in Mexico's banking sector in recent years has its foundations in the regulations brought in in the aftermath of the 'Tequila crisis' in the mid-1990s. But as its financial intermediation levels lag those of Latin American rivals Brazil and Chile, there is still work to be done.

African banks are increasingly looking outside of their domestic markets, and many of the continent's biggest lenders are now active in multiple countries, buoyed by greater access to vast unbanked populations and a more stable political environment.

As Asia's population grows richer, the continent's wealth management industry is struggling to keep pace and meet the needs of the ever-expanding number of high-net-worth individuals. Gone are the days of simply poaching such staff, and many banks are now focusing on producing home-grown talent.

With significant potential for growth in the country's real estate, retail and capital markets, Saudi Arabia's banks, which are already highly liquid and rapidly increasing their profitability, are making bold projections for their future successes.

The Lebanese banking sector witnessed slow growth in the first half of 2011, as political paralysis gripped the entire economy. The re-election of Riad Salameh as central bank governor helped boost activity in the latter half of the year, but with the country's political situation and the global economic climate still threatening to trouble Lebanese banks, how does he intend to stimulate growth throughout 2012?

Turkish banks are following the lead of the country’s vibrant export sector and expanding into new regional markets, but their strategies vary widely.

Hit hard by regulation and declining revenues, banks have been forced into scaling back their operations, leaving a gap that their non-bank counterparts have been quick to fill.