4 July 2022: Chinese banks in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking have come through the Covid-19 pandemic stronger and more resilient, increasing their Tier 1 capital and assets base at a faster pace than their US counterparts.
Underpinned by a strong domestic economy, which grew by 8.1% in 2021, China expanded its aggregate Tier 1 capital by 14.4% (versus 4.7% for the US) and total assets by 10.9% (versus 8.8% for the US).
With 140 banks in the ranking, four fewer than in 2021, China now has more than double the Tier 1 capital ($3.38 trillion) and almost double the assets ($41.53 trillion) compared to the US, with 186 banks. Overall, China holds 32.5% of the world’s Tier 1 capital, 26.9% of its assets and 28.7% of its pre-tax profits.
Joy Macknight, editor of The Banker, said: “It has been another exceptional year for China’s banking sector. In particular, lenders at the top of the ranking are growing faster than their counterparts in other countries, with nine of the 10 Chinese banks in the top 20 reporting double-digit growth in Tier 1 capital.”
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China held onto the top four spots in the ranking for the fifth year in a row. With Bank of Communications edging into 10th position, Chinese banks now make up half of the top 10 for the first time.
ICBC has now spent a decade at the top of the ranking and is the first bank to record Tier 1 capital of over $500 billion ($508.85 billion). It increased Tier 1 by 15.7% in 2021, total assets by 8.1% and pre-tax profits by 11.1%. It now has more than double the Tier 1 capital of the largest US bank, JPMorgan ($246.16 billion).
Global results
Overall, the global banking system is better capitalised than ever before. The 1000 largest banks’ aggregate Tier 1 capital has surpassed $10 trillion for the first time in the history of The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking.
The total Tier 1 capital, which is a key measure of banking strength, has reached $10.38 trillion, an increase of 4.7% year on year. In addition, aggregate total assets have broken the $150 trillion barrier for the first time – at $154.21 trillion.
Global profits saw a healthy rebound, with aggregate pre-tax profits reaching a record-breaking $1.44 trillion. This is a 53.7% year-on-year increase, compared to a decrease of 19.2% in the 2021 ranking. However, much of this boost in profits can be attributed to a reduction or reversal in last year’s credit impairment charges for expected loan losses that didn’t materialise.
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Notes:
Tier 1 capital is the core measure of a bank’s financial strength under the Basel regulatory framework.
Contact:
Danielle McGuigan, senior manager communications | danielle.mcguigan@ft.com
About The Banker
The Banker is the world’s premier banking and finance resource, providing global financial intelligence since 1926.
The Banker is the key source of data and analysis for the industry. The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking has been setting the industry benchmark since 1970, providing comprehensive intelligence about the health and wealth of the banking sector. To find out more visit www.thebanker.com/top1000.
Joy Macknight is the editor of The Banker. She joined the publication in 2015 as transaction banking and technology editor and was promoted to editor in March 2021. She has been a financial and technology journalist for more than 15 years.
About the Financial Times
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