Latin American banks have enjoyed an exceptional year. The region's banks entered 2010 in stronger shape than ever and are profiting from the growth in trade flows between the region's countries and buoyant economic prospects across Latin America.
The top five positions in Latin America are occupied by Brazilian lenders that have been consolidating their domestic positions and expanding abroad. Grupo Santander Banespa climbed from last year's sixth place to third thanks to the $8bn initial public offering of its Brazilian operations and its previous merger with ABN Amro's Banco Real as part of the Dutch bank's break-up in 2007.
