Global banking profits jumped in this year's Top 1000 World Banks ranking to exceed their pre-crisis peak. So is the sector back in good health? Not universally so, reports Philip Alexander.
Top 1000 World Banks 2014 Contents
The Top 1000: how we did it
June 30, 2014A look at the methodology used to compile The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking.
Top 1000 World Banks – Brazilian and Russian banks top soundness rankings
June 30, 2014The banks represented in The Banker's Top 1000 soundness rankings come from a diverse range of countries, but it is two BRIC lenders that take the top spots.
Top 1000 World Banks – Recapitalisations put Europe’s banks back in Top 1000
June 30, 2014Europe's healthier banking landscape sees some of its banks return to the Top 1000 but it is Chinese banks that dominate the new arrivals table.
Top 1000 World Banks – European lenders soar in highest movers table
June 30, 2014Bank of Cyprus's astonishing 1888.23% increase in Tier 1 capital sees it top this year's highest movers table, with other European banks filling the top four spaces.
Top 1000 World Banks – Venezuela gains, but Brazil still reigns
June 30, 2014Brazilian banks remain way out in front in the Central and South America region, but it is Venezuelan banks that are putting in the most eye-catching performances.
Top 1000 World Banks – US banks shrug off penalties to bolster positions
June 30, 2014Despite being hit by a series of fines, the leading US banks have strengthened their Tier 1 capital. Meanwhile, the Canadian banks put in yet another impressive performance.
Top 1000 World Banks – China's banks go from strength to strength
June 30, 2014The growth story of Chinese banks continues unabated, with the country's big four strengthening their positions and its second-tier lenders also performing strongly.
Top 1000 World Banks – Western European banks mount a comeback
June 30, 2014Profits are up in the 2014 Top 1000 World Banks ranking, with much of the good news coming from the direction of western Europe. On a regional basis, however, Asia-Pacific still dominates.
Top 1000 World Banks – Emerging market banks perform strongly once again
June 30, 2014As was the case in 2013 Top 1000 World Banks ranking, when it comes to returns on assets, African banks are the stellar performers.
Top 1000 World Banks – CEE grows LTD ratio against global trend
June 30, 2014Loan-to-deposit ratios among the global regions have generally fallen, though central and eastern Europe has risen from 107.61% to 112.79% in the 2014 Top 1000 World Bank rankings.
Top 1000 World Banks – Western Europe shows capital and recapitalisation trend
June 30, 2014HSBC holds on to the top position in western Europe, while the aftermath of the eurozone crisis shapes much of the rest of the list.
Top 1000 World Banks – Japanese lenders endure a challenging year
June 30, 2014Despite increasing profits, the performance of Japan's banks continues to suffer across most metrics.
Top 1000 World Banks – Gulf banks lead the Middle East's charge
June 30, 2014Gulf lenders continue to drive the performance of Middle Eastern banks, recording impressive growth in this year's rankings. Elsewhere, Iranian banks are making sizeable gains.
Top 1000 World Banks – Asian banks show strength in numbers
June 30, 2014The Asia-Pacific (excluding China and Japan) region is once again led by Australian institutions, although this year's rankings underscore the strength of the region as a whole, with a high number of new entrants in each category.
Top 1000 World Banks – Sales bring changes in CEE but Russia still rules
June 30, 2014Little has changed at the top of the central and eastern European ranking, where Russian lenders still dominate, but sales and takeovers have caused a reshuffle further down the ranking.