Regulatory constraints on bank balance sheets may result in reduced market liquidity, but regulators are willing to pay that price to build more resilient financial institutions.

Worries over China's economy would abate if market authorities communicated better and avoided overzealous interventions. And, for their part, investors should keep their cool when faced with less-than-stellar growth figures.

Technology and markets may change, but the model for sound banking is still based on the same tenets as when our magazine was founded.

Strengthening EU equity and venture capital markets is a valuable idea, but its success will still depend on a change in investor attitudes and a reduction of sovereign risks.

Western Europe's slow growth, low-interest rate environment is not the most lucrative landscape for the region's banks, but this year's western European Bank of the Year winners have shown impressive levels of expertise and innovation to negotiate these difficult times. 

Slow growth across Europe and Western sanctions on Russia coupled to make 2015 a difficult year for many central and eastern European banks but those featured in this year's Bank of the Year awards remained nimble allowing them to produce impressive results.

Home to some of the world's largest and fastest-growing banks, competition among lenders in Asia-Pacific was tough, with only the most innovative and profitable players picking up honours in this year's Bank of the Year Awards.