Running a lean business is crucial for all banks – whether experiencing macro-economic or regulatory pressures, or operating in developed or emerging markets – and our analysis of cost-to-income ratios shows developing market banks are proving the more efficient. Out of the top 20 banks in our ranking, 13 are from emerging economies, almost all occupy the top part of the list and almost all are Chinese.
The ranking is based on financial data of the largest 50 companies in our global Top 1000 ranking, so this should not be entirely surprising given the overwhelming size of China’s lenders. More surprising, perhaps, is the absence of leading North American lenders.