Although France's banking sector has been dealt a few blows during the past two years, its retail sector remains strong compared with its European peers. Writer Wendy Atkins

Carlos Heller, president, Creditcoop
As Argentina slides towards recession, the country's private banks are reining in their lending activity, meaning that publicly owned banks will have to take a more advanced role in safeguarding the country's economic wellbeing. Writer Jason Mitchell in Buenos Aires

Senator Richard Lugar: queried the ADB's loans to India and China because of their relative wealth
It may have been delayed, but the aftershock of the crisis in Western banks is having huge consequences in Asia. As a result, the Asian Development Bank has seen a revival in its importance as people look to it to prevent the damage festering. Writer Nick Parsons

The role of the Development Bank of Japan in seeing the country through its export crisis is mired in confusion as it is caught between its public past and private future. However, the state-owned Japan Bank for International Co-operation is having no such problems in bailing out the overseas operations of Japanese exporters. Writer Charles Smith in Tokyo

The importance of small regional development banks in emerging Europe has surged as credit ratings decline and global commercial banks cut back project and trade finance. Writer Philip Alexander

Some of the multilateral development banks in the Latin Americas region are proving stellar sources of funding at this time of crisis, although others are lagging behind with depleted reserves. Writer Jane Monahan

National development banks in Latin America such as Brazil's BNDES and Mexico's Nafinsa are playing an important role in keeping funds flowing in the region, but there is a danger of them being over-stretched. Writer Jane Monahan

Kuwaiti banks are generally performing well, but their long-term prospects are largely dependent on the May elections bringing political stability to the country. Writer Stephen Timewell

The governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait discusses the impact political instability is having on the country and the effect he hopes the new Financial Stability Law will have. Writer Stephen Timewell