Norwegian banks dominate several best-performing categories, while two Swedish banks have different stories to tell in this year’s top Nordic bank rankings.

The past year saw a wave of consolidation in the US banking sector, with many regional players expanding their footprint through acquisitions and leaping up the ranking as a result. 

The world’s biggest banking brands have increased their value for the second year running, despite a contraction in the longstanding engine of growth — China. 

The largest banks operating in the CIS republics experienced a substantial uplift in 2021, with the vast majority increasing their Tier 1 capital, total assets and pre-tax profits.

The ranking shows the recovery of a majority of lenders after a bleak 2021.

While both Tier 1 capital and assets declined, the aggregate profits of the largest 250 western European banks doubled.

The continent’s largest banks returned to profitability in 2021, even as growth slowed in Egypt and Morocco, writes John Everington. 

The new ranking, produced with Corporate Knights, analyses the share of banking revenues derived from sustainable activities.

Almost three-quarters of the central and eastern European region’s top 100 banks saw a fall in their Tier 1 capital during 2021.

SNB claims the Arab world’s top spot as post-Covid regional profitability rebounds.