This year’s survey reveals the world’s top banks are enjoying record profits as consolidation strengthens the markets. Research by Terry Baker-Self, Beata Ghavimi & Matthew Dickie.

The low representation of banks from central Europe in the Top 50 fastest growing banks is perhaps a reflection of the relative maturity of the financial and economic systems in the majority of the region and the increasing competition for market share.

Despite turbulence in the banking system this summer, the overall forecast is good for the financial sector.

The Banker’s Top 100 ranking of African banks shows an upward trend in Tier 1 capital and assets and profits for the region.

Political troubles have had little impact on the region’s banking sector, judging by this year’s Top 100 ranking.

The region’s top 200 banks have made a remarkable recovery, boosting aggregate Tier 1 capital by 16%.

Tim Clissold argues that the Chinese economy of a decade ago has been completely transformed and is now quite capable of rising to the challenge of excessive growth.

The Banker’s Top 300 European Banks listing sees HSBC trumped and a new leader emerge.

While Brazil’s Banco Bradesco knocked Mexico’s Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer off the top of the pile, Mexico has boosted its tally in the top 10. The battle between Mexican and Brazilian banks to occupy the top spots in the Top 100 Latin American bank listings continued in earnest this year. While Mexico’s Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer lost the number one position to Brazil’s largest private bank, Banco Bradesco, Mexico as a country increased its number of slots in the top 10 from three to four.

This year’s Banks of the Future survey shows that the lesser players in the global banking league, in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, are gaining ground in profitability on the banks of the US and Europe.