Panama’s dominance of the Top 100 has grown and the country is proving attractive for group headquarters.

South African banks head our league table again, with the top five slots and a hefty chunk of Tier 1 capital.

Efforts to overcome the turbulence of 2004 have resulted in a growing economy and a positive outlook.

Runaway profits at Arab financial institutions show no signs of slowing down, as this year’s Top 100 proves.

China usurps Australia for first time as the continent’s principal contributor to aggregate banking profits.

Hungary’s OTP tops the list as central European banks enjoy good times and foreign players join the party.

The global giant clambers back up to number one and a different picture emerges as M&As filter through.

Brazilian banks continue to dominate the region, but Mexico is putting up a fight for places in the top 10.

Which banks are likely to be seen in the Top 1000 ranking in 2006?

The 2005 listing, which reflects fiscal 2004 figures, represents a mirror image of the changes in last year’s listing, which reflected fiscal 2003 figures. As with Tier 1, the aggregate total assets in the 2005 listing grew by 15.5% to a huge $60,501.5bn and this also follows a 19.3% increase the previous year.