A growing number of central and eastern European economies are struggling with high non-performing loan ratios. But bad loans do not always equate to poor profits.

With a cost-to-income ratio of 40.73%, Asia-Pacific was the most improved region for efficiency in The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking.

Western investment bankers live up to their reputation for having the highest pay in the banking sector, but do they justify the expense with the profits they generate?

A look at the methodology used to compile The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking.

It is typically the same couple of names that come out on top of international finance centre rankings, however, an analysis of IFCs by operating costs gives less archetypal results, with Copenhagen topping the table.

Slow but steady growth seems to be the order of the day for banks in the Middle East, with most countries in the region having something to cheer.

Asset quality in Greece deteriorated sharply, while remaining weak in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia. By contrast, non-performing loans are falling steadily in the US.

CHINESE BANK TOPS GLOBAL RANKING WHILE UK BANKS FALL

LONDON: 1 July 2013:A Chinese bank has come top in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking for the first time ever. ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) has moved from third to first place on the back of a 15% increase in capital. Last year’s winner Bank of America fell back to third while JP Morgan stayed second. 

The Banker’s Top 1000 World Bank rankings for 2013 shows that Asia-Pacific is the most profitable region globally.

CHINESE BANK TOPS WORLD BANKS RANKING FOR FIRST TIME

LONDON: 1 July 2013: A Chinese bank has come top in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking for the first time ever. ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) has moved from third to first place on the back of a 15% increase in capital. Last year’s winner Bank of America fell back to third while JP Morgan stayed second.