Foreign exchange swings have masked regional lenders’ success in shrinking their balance sheets.

China’s economic prowess is beyond question, but other Asian countries are performing just as well, if not better. Danielle Myles reports.  

Some of the region's biggest banks posted among 2017's biggest recoveries    

After sliding over the two years prior, global pre-tax profits jumped 15.6% to reach $1112bn in 2017. 

Dogged by non-performing loans and the lingering effects of the eurozone crisis, Italy, Greece and Portugal have long-been Europe’s underperformers. But in the 2018 rankings their fortunes improved, resolutely led by their biggest banks.

Profitability is resurgent among western European landers, and there are strong showings from Asia-Pacific and North America. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

Western European institutions have seen a distinct improvement on their poor 2017 figures, with most top banks increasing their capitalisation. HSBC remains local leader but has ceded a place on the global ranking. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

Russian banks dominate the central and eastern Europe rankings, taking the top places for Tier 1 capital, profitability and highest mover. However others experienced bailouts and nationalisations that pushed them down or out of the list, as Stefanie Linhardt reports.

Nearly 70% of personal banking products in North America, Europe and Australia can be applied for online. The US was a slow starter, but as Danielle Myles discovers, it is making up for lost time.