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Global Finance’s World’s Best IFI winners outperformed the sector in 2025, emphasizing innovation and AI adoption. But new Mideast conflicts pose new challenges.

Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) modestly improved their performance in 2025, recording an average Return on Average Assets of 2% and a 12% increase in total assets. This compares to 1.9% and 9%, respectively, in the prior year. The winners of Global Finance’s World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions Awards all achieved above-average profitability and growth.

Digitalization and AI remain strong areas of focus and investment as IFIs seek to drive customer growth, increase financing assets and deposits, and strengthen their competitiveness against conventional banks. Retail banking remains the main pillar of most Islamic banks, but IFIs are strengthening their commercial banking delivery as well. Corporate finance, capital markets, and wealth management activities are also becoming increasingly important to the sector.

A relatively low cost of funds contributes to Islamic banks’ positive margins. The biggest of the group, which dominate their domestic markets, continue to outperform their rivals, reflecting funding advantages and cost efficiencies. 

The winners of Global Finance’s 2026 World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions Awards have also distinguished themselves as innovative by introducing new Islamic banking products, consolidating their market share, improving service quality, and achieving good financial results. Collectively, they have shown themselves to be well managed with clear strategies. Like all Middle Eastern banks, however, they face a more challenging road ahead due to the new conflicts in the region, particularly the Iran war that’s disrupted the Persian Gulf.

This year’s top winner, Kuwait Finance House (KFH), enjoyed asset growth of 17% last year, to $139 billion, helping the bank maintain its position as the second-largest Islamic institution globally. KFH has the most diverse geographical reach of any IFI, with operations throughout the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. It has advanced its digital transformation by shifting from basic digitization to value-driven technology adoption.

Meanwhile, Boubyan Bank claimed Global Finance’s inaugural award as Most Innovative Islamic Bank. The bank stands apart for its innovation, technology-driven strategy, and strong commitment to offering financial solutions that enhance the customer experience. Boubyan made significant progress last year in embedding AI into services offered through its app.

Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB) took home the  Best Islamic Financial Institution in The Middle East. The bank notched 19% growth in net profit last year, to $910 million, driven by robust balance-sheet growth. Lending grew 26% over both retail and corporate banking. Supported by a sophisticated digital offering, EIB has seen its franchise strengthen through a wide range of Shariah-compliant pro-duct offerings.

Meet the Winners

In 2026, Islamic financial institutions continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and regional impact.

Across the Middle East, Asia, and beyond, leaders are balancing robust growth with Shariah-compliant practices, setting new standards in both domestic and cross-border markets.

Institutions are harnessing digital transformation to deliver more efficient, accessible, and customer-focused banking, from mobile apps and AI-powered services to fully digitized payment and investment platforms. Their portfolios span retail, corporate, and wealth banking, while many are pioneering new products in sukuk, digital savings, and Shariah-compliant investment solutions.

Regional leaders are also championing financial inclusion, SME support, and sustainable initiatives, reflecting a commitment to both community development and responsible growth. Across markets, the combination of innovative technology, solid performance, and ethical finance is positioning these institutions as benchmarks of excellence in the global Islamic finance landscape.

Regional Winners

Asia-Pacific

Standard Chartered Saadiq (SCS)

SCS is a leading Islamic financial institution throughout Asia and particularly in Malaysia, Pakistan, Brunei, Singapore, and Indonesia, providing innovative solutions for Shariah-compliant financial needs. With the support of parent Standard Chartered Bank, it also provides access to the global banking and financial markets. SCS is active across corporate and investment banking, trade finance, wealth management, and retail and private banking as well as the sukuk market.

Middle East

Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB)

EIB had a banner year in 2025, reporting net profit up 19% at 3.3 billion UAE dirhams ($899 billion), driven by robust balance-sheet growth and higher recoveries. Financing growth was 26% over the retail and corporate banking segments. Total income in retail banking and wealth management increased 14%, driven by increased customer liabilities and Islamic financing growth. Total income from corporate and institutional banking increased 15%. Supported by a sophisticated digital offering, EIB’s franchise has strengthened across a broad menu of Shariah-compliant products.

Country and Territory Winners

Bahrain

KFH Bahrain

Part of the KFH Group, KFH Bahrain continued to develop its domestic franchise last year; to focus more closely on the local Islamic market, it sold its stake in Oman’s Ahlibank. A signal achievement in 2025 was the successful, $400 billion Additional Tier 1 Sukuk offering, the largest of its kind ever in Kuwait. Also last year, KFH Bahrain launched the KFH Gold Account, Bahrain’s first digital gold investment and savings account. KFH’s MyHassad Savings Scheme is now the island kingdom’s largest prize-based savings product, with a record-breaking deposit portfolio of $675 million following 17% growth last year. The bank also completed its fully digitized Liquidity Management Solution in 2025.

Brunei Darussalam

Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam

Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam is the dominant bank in Islamic finance in Brunei Darussalam, with assets of $8.3 billion covering a range of Islamic SME and consumer financing products.

Egypt

ADIB Egypt

A leading performer in Egypt’s Islamic banking sector, ADIB Egypt reported assets of $7.3 billion last year, up by 42% in US dollar terms, thanks to growing market share as net profit grew 25% to $256 million. ADIB Egypt offers retail and corporate banking services together with investment banking, leasing, asset management, and microfinance.

Indonesia

Bank Muamalat

Indonesia’s first Islamic bank, founded in 1991, Bank Muamalat today holds total assets of $4 billion. It provides a comprehensive range of Shariah-compliant financial services and has pioneered many Islamic banking products in Indonesia.

Jordan

Islamic International Arab Bank (IIAB)

IIAB takes the title as 2026 Best IFI for Jordan thanks to a strong performance in 2025, significant digital progress, and a widening business reach. Growth was in double figures and assets now total some $6 billion. IIAB holds a 22% market share of Islamic assets in the kingdom. IIAB serves individuals, SMEs and large corporates, in addition to financing large projects. It has been an initiator of multiple domestic SME enablers, including the Kafalah Scheme, Jordan’s first Shariah-compliant finance guarantee scheme, and jointly organized the first Islamic funds mobilization with the Central Bank of Jordan, the Arab Fund, the World Bank, and other regional players.

IIAB’s digital banking services include a high-end mobile app that includes digital onboarding, seamless access to most of IIAB’s banking services, personal finance management, and third-party services via the bank’s ecosystem. IIAB is also an active AI adopter, embedding it at the core of its digital transformation to enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and Shariah-complaint innovation.

Kuwait

Kuwait Finance House (KFH)  

Kuwait’s second-largest bank, KFH now controls over 60% of domestic Islamic banking assets and is by far the kingdom’s largest Islamic institution. It holds a 30% share of conventional and Islamic banking assets. Domestically, KFH dominates the Islamic financing and deposit market—and, in turn, has a strong presence in the overall banking sector for both deposits and financing/loans—as well as a strong positions in retail, private, and corporate banking.

Malaysia

Maybank Islamic   

Maybank Islamic, Malaysia’s flagship Islamic institution, is innovative, well managed, and over the long term, has recorded impressive performance. It is often first in introducing innovative Shariah-compliant financial products. In its home country, the bank controls around 30% of Islamic assets, but its activities extend across other Asian markets as well, making it the largest Islamic bank outside the Middle East and fifth-largest globally with $90 billion in assets. It also holds a prominent position in the global sukuk market. Maybank’s financial metrics are solid, with a strong capital base and good returns.

Morocco

Umnia Bank

Umnia Bank was Morocco’s first Islamic bank, established in 2017.  Shareholders include Qatar International Islamic Bank, CIH Bank (Credit Immobilier et Hotelier), and Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG). Unmia operates the country’s largest Islamic banking network and is its largest by total assets, with around 50% market share in financings and 40% in deposits. Its main areas of financing are automobiles, real estate, and equipment finance.

Oman

Bank Nizwa

With $5.2 billion in assets at the end of last year, Bank Nizwa is Oman’s seventh-largest bank, with a focus on innovation that has helped broaden its reach in its home market. Oman’s first digital Islamic bank, it remains focused on digital expansion.

Reinforcing its commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships, Bank Nizwa launched the Tranna app last year in collaboration with Zappit, a financial technology company. The app is designed for expatriates living and working in Oman, enabling instant transfers to six countries: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. Also last year, Bank Nizwa launched its Electronic Mandate (E-Mandate) for Direct Debit service that streamlines recurring transactions and enhances the overall banking experience for corporate and retail customers.

Pakistan

Meezan PAKISTAN

Meezan Pakistan had a strong 2025, launching several new products. Totall deposits increase by 28% to $17.2 billion, aided by a large branch and ATM network and solid digital infrastructure.

Meezan continued to strengthen its digital offerings via WhatsApp Banking, a simple, secure, and accessible transactions channel, and its highly rated mobile app, which is recognized for its simplicity, speed, and reliability. The app expanded its user base 40% to over 4.3 million while financial transactions increased 40% to 553 million.

The bank offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of debit cards, supported by advanced payment technologies including NFC-enabled payments, chip and PIN security, mobile-based contactless transactions, and 3D secure e-commerce payments.

Qatar

Qatar Islamic Bank

The emirate’s largest Islamic bank and its second-largest bank overall, QIB enjoys a strong franchise and market position, when ranked by total banking assets. QIB reported 2025 net profit of $1.3 billion as total assets reached $61 billion, as total assets rose to 10% to $61 billion, QIB is also active in the Islamic capital markets, including sukuk-related activities, structured financing, and transaction execution. QIB has significant government backing, with the Qatar Investment Authority its largest shareholder.

Saudi Arabia

Al Rajhi Bank

Al Rajhi Bank is the world’s largest Islamic financial institution and Saudi Arabia’s flagship Islamic bank with $278 billion in total assets and $6.6 billion in net profit at the end of last year. It operates a strong retail banking network in its home market, particularly measured by deposits and income. It ranks first in banking transactions with 1 billion per month and first in remittances for the Middle East by payment value. Al Rajhi has 20.6 million customers in Saudi Arabia and the leading market share in deposits at 22.6%.  Financial metrics are good, particularly capital ratios with total CAR at 21.9% at the end of 2025 and ROAA of 2.4%.

Sri Lanka

Commercial Bank of Ceylon

Al-Adalah, Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s Islamic banking window, offers a diverse portfolio of innovative Shariah-compliant products. Assets grew 67% last year as the financing portfolio doubled. The bank also made a strategic pivot in 2025 toward SME financing and sustainable energy projects.

Turkey

Kuveyt Türk Katilim Bankasi (KTKB)

KTKB is KFH’s Turkish subsidiary. The largest Islamic bank in Turkey and one of the country’s top 10 banks, its business model has proved resilient amid a challenging operating environment. Commanding a 34% market share in Turkish Islamic banking, it also operates an Islamic bank in Germany under the name KT Bank AG as well as a Bahrain office that serves as a bridge between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

United Arab Emirates

Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB)

EIB’s market position grew significantly in 2025 as assets increased 30% to $39.7 billion and deposits grew 33%, bolstered by a strong balance sheet and strong capital and liquidity position. The third-largest Islamic bank in the UAE, EIB has been improving its digital infrastructure and increasing its AI utilization. It has expanded its wealth management services and products, becoming the first Islamic bank in the UAE to launch a Shariah-compliant digital wealth offering and equity trading via mobile banking app.

Tighter financial conditions and currencies relatively firmer against the dollar defined the Latin American macroeconomic backdrop.

Household cash flows proved mostly resilient across the region, supported by solid labor markets. On the other hand, corporate activity became more cautious, shaped by higher funding costs and a more uncertain global environment.

In the banking sector, selectivity was the year’s defining theme, as global banks largely maintained their multiyear retrenchment from noncore markets while regional players focused more on consolidating scale where it could be translated into tangible returns. As a result, growth became more targeted, with institutions prioritizing efficiency by focusing on the core geographies and segments where they held clear competitive advantages.

Fintech further consolidated its role as a foundational layer of the region’s financial system, prompting banks to deepen partnerships and use digital platforms to close product gaps, accelerate distribution, and oftentimes expand inorganically.

The result was a banking model that became more focused, increasingly defined by the ability to operate effectively within tighter strategic boundaries.

Caribbean economies entered 2025 supported by resilient tourism flows and solid remittance activity. Even so, growth across the region remained moderate, constrained by global uncertainty, tight public finances, and a still-cautious policy environment.

Against this backdrop, the region’s banks focused on strengthening core operations. Investment in digital infrastructure continued alongside efforts to streamline onboarding, reduce friction, and broaden access. Growth was still underpinned by an expanding customer base; but institutions pursued growth more selectively, placing greater emphasis on credit quality and risk-adjusted returns.

In Central America, banks relied on strengthening their funding bases, aiming to take advantage of the resilience of household cash flows across the region. While client and portfolio expansion was mostly moderate, a pickup in remittances during the first half of the year helped support overall profitability. Credit growth remained relatively strong even as corporate lending slightly moderated.

This translated into a year defined by efficiency for the industry, as institutions kept pushing digital adoption and electronic transactions higher and focused more closely on asset quality and operating discipline.

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Latin America

Itau Unibanco

Our Best Bank in Latin America, Itaú Unibanco, stood out for translating those conditions into superior profitability without sacrificing balance-sheet quality.

Even in a more selective credit environment, the Brazilian giant’s recurring net income rose 13.1% year over year (YoY) to 46.8 billion Brazilian reais ($8.5 billion). Return on equity (ROE) reached 23.4%, among the strongest in the region. Deposits grew 9.3% to 1.7 trillion reais, and loans expanded 6% to nearly 1.5 trillion reais, reflecting continued commercial momentum even as credit conditions became more selective.

Digital execution remained another differentiator for the bank. Through the continued rollout of its One Itaú super app, the bank reached a solid benchmark in digital channels: 97% of interactions with individual clients and 98% with corporate customers, helping to improve the consolidated efficiency ratio to 38.8%.

Caribbean

Scotiabank

Across the Caribbean, Scotiabank maintained strong capital positions and disciplined cost management while investing in digital capabilities and client experience, which improved profitability, digital adoption, and credit quality underpinning performance.

Central America

Davivienda

By combining scale expansion with disciplined execution and continued digital investments, Davivienda consolidated its position as one of the region’s leading institutions, in terms of reach and breadth of offerings in 2025.

Building on the integration of Scotiabank’s operations in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama, completed in December 2025, the bank ended the year with an expanded footprint. Total assets reached $64.3 billion, while its customer base exceeded 27 million across six countries.

Argentina

Banco Galicia

In Argentina, Banco Galicia excelled by betting on network expansion and service growth during a year defined by a gradual normalization of financial conditions and dwindling inflation. While the country’s broader economy expanded 4.6% in 2025 after contracting in 2024, the recovery was arguably uneven and sector focused, as household consumption contracted amid a more challenging labor market.

Against this evolving backdrop, the bank focused on integrating recently acquired HSBC Argentina’s franchise and on continuing to expand its best-in-country service network to capture renewed banking activity. By mid-2025, total assets had risen to 30.2 trillion Argentine pesos ($25.4 billion), up 33% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the loan portfolio reached 14.4 trillion pesos, an increase of roughly 95% YoY.

On the digital front, Galicia continued to expand the reach of its ecosystem through Naranja X, which by mid-2025 had grown to 9.8 million credit cards and 7.9 million deposit accounts, with 81% of clients using digital channels. The group also joined Argentina’s first real-time interbank fraud-intelligence network, reflecting the increasing scale and sophistication of digital banking activity across the system.

Bahamas

Scotiabank Bahamas

Scotiabank Bahamas reached record profitability with a pretax income of $78.3 million in 2025—the highest in 16 years. The bank also reinforced its lead in digital banking, with virtually all transactions now executed through electronic channels, supporting cost optimization and improved client experience.

Barbados

Scotiabank Barbados

Scotiabank Barbados’ net profits rose to 87.4 million Barbadian dollars ($43.7 million) while return on equity reached 23%, reflecting improved efficiency and cost control.

Belize

Belize Bank

With a market share of over 40%, Belize Bank benefited from continued expansion of the domestic banking system in 2025. Its total assets reached record levels, to post significant improvements in presence and product offering.

Bermuda

Butterfield Bank

In Bermuda, Butterfield Bank delivered stable performance, supported by a strong balance sheet with total assets of $14.1 billion in 2025.

Bolivia

Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz

Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz continued to consolidate its position as Bolivia’s leading private-sector bank in 2025, extending its leadership in both lending and deposits while maintaining solid profitability growth. Total assets reached almost $6.6 billion, up 4.4% YoY. Deposits rose to nearly $5.2 billion. Net profit totaled $60.2 million, with ROE of 16.3%, one of the best in its category.

Brazil

BTG Pactual

BTG Pactual continued to place margins and client growth at the forefront of its operation in the region’s largest market, Brazil. The bank focused on its capital-light, platform-driven model to expand client activity across wealth, investment banking, and digital distribution.

As a result, the bank posted record numbers across the board. Adjusted return on average equity reached 26.9%, total revenue rose to 33 billion reais, and market capitalization climbed to 205 billion reais, underscoring investor confidence in one of the region’s most consistently high-performing financial institutions. BTG ended the year with 2.5 trillion reais in assets under custody and management.

Eying the region’s growing sustainability transition, BTG also partnered with the International Finance Corporation to mobilize up to $1 billion in sustainability and development financing across Latin America through 2028.

Cayman Islands

Butterfield Bank

In the Cayman Islands, Butterfield Bank focused on strengthening client experience and accessibility. In 2025, the bank upgraded its online and mobile platforms for retail and corporate clients. It also launched initiatives such as an enhanced Young Savers account and financial education partnerships.

Chile

Banco de Chile

Banco de Chile delivered another year of consistent outperformance in an economy marked by lower inflation, falling interest rates, and still-muted real credit growth, all of which reduced the sector’s earnings tailwinds.

In the face of this challenging environment, Banco de Chile continued to strengthen its position through efficiency gains and digital expansion, including a 24.5% growth in the bank’s FAN digital accounts as well as the launch of Banchile Pagos, a move that helped deepen the bank’s leadership in both scale and customer experience in the country.

Colombia

Banco de Bogotá

In Colombia, Banco de Bogotá operated in a still-restrictive environment, with inflation at 5.1%, policy rates at over 9.2%, and a stronger Colombian peso (up by more than 17% to the US dollar), all of which continued to weigh on margins and credit demand. Against that backdrop, the bank delivered steady balance-sheet growth: Total assets rose 6% to 155.8 trillion pesos ($41.4 billion); loans were up 4.8% to 109.4 trillion pesos; and deposits increased 7.7%. Asset quality improved, with nonperforming loans declining to 3.6%.

The bank also continued to accelerate its digital-expansion plan, processing 1.6 billion transactions in 2025—a massive 59% YoY increase—positioning Banco de Bogotá at the forefront of one of the world’s most digitally integrated banking systems.

Costa Rica

BAC Credomatic

In Costa Rica, BAC Credomatic delivered a solid performance in 2025, supported by sustained consumer-lending demand and strong activity in the bank’s payments and card businesses. BAC maintained a diverse revenue base, balancing lending growth with fee-based income from transactional services.

During the year, BAC advanced its strategic focus on small and midsize enterprises and sustainable financing. It continued to expand digital channels and payments across its Costa Rican franchise. As a result, for the first nine months of 2025, BAC International Bank reported net income of $586 million, up from $538 million a year earlier.

Dominican Republic

Banreservas

The Dominican Republic’s largest financial institution, Banreservas, continued to expand its role in key segments, capturing over 60% of remittance flows within the financial system in 2025. During the year, it completed implementing the Finastra Essence core banking platform, which improved processing efficiency and enabled real-time, digital-first services.

Ecuador

Produbanco

In Ecuador, Produbanco benefited from a more supportive macro backdrop in 2025, as bank profits in the country jumped a massive 43% YoY from a difficult 2024. In that environment, the bank continued to grow above the market: Net income for 2025 reached $85.2 million, roughly double from the year prior; and the loan portfolio was up 13.7% YoY by September 2025, supported by stronger commercial activity and improving credit dynamics. Profitability also strengthened.

At the same time, the bank continued to deepen its strategic positioning through sustainable and digital finance. Produbanco’s sustainable portfolio surpassed $1 billion, including $373 million in green financing, up 80% from 2023.

El Salvador

Banco Cuscatlán

A focus on digital expansion and credit resilience was the secret behind Banco Cuscatlán’s above-average performance in El Salvador. The bank outperformed the competition, with total assets increasing 13.5% YoY to over $4.8 billion.

Last year, Banco Cuscatlán continued to advance its digital and operational capabilities, including the expansion of its YA ecosystem and fully digital lending offerings. The bank also strengthened its regional footprint by migrating a $41.8 million mortgage portfolio.

Guatemala

Banco Industrial

Banco Industrial continued to benefit from structural growth opportunities in Guatemala, leveraging the bank’s market-leading position to further growth. As a result, the bank’s total assets reached 184.7 billion Guatemalan quetzales ($24.1 billion), up 14.8% YoY. Growth was supported by a combination of corporate lending strength and expanding retail reach, alongside continued investment in digital infrastructure.

Guyana

Scotiabank Guyana

Rapid economic expansion continued to shape results at Scotiabank Guyana, where assets grew 37% in 2025, driven by rising deposits linked to the country’s oil and gas sector.

Honduras

Banco Ficohsa

As Honduran banking assets expanded by 7.8% YoY in 2025, Banco Ficohsa found itself well positioned to capitalize on its nearly 19% market share in assets and 18% in loans, translating systemwide growth into continued balance-sheet expansion and lending activity.

Jamaica

National Commercial Bank Jamaica

National Commercial Bank Jamaica delivered a strong rebound in 2025. Net profit more than doubled to 13.2 billion Jamaican dollars ($82.9 million), supported by a 19% increase in total operating income.

Mexico

Banorte

In the region’s second-largest economy, Mexico, Banorte was well positioned to take advantage of a more resilient domestic macro backdrop in 2025, leveraging rebounding household demand and easing macroeconomic pressures to deliver another year of strong, broad-based performance. Net income rose to 58.8 billion Mexican pesos ($3.3 billion), while ROE reached 22.8%, and the cost-to-income ratio remained low at 35.8%, reflecting continued strength in both profitability and operating discipline.

That performance was reinforced by the bank’s growing breadth in commercial and strategic execution. Consumer lending expanded 12% YoY by mid-2025, supported by particularly strong growth in auto loans (30%), credit cards (18%), payroll lending (9%), and mortgages (8%).

Banorte also deepened its reach through the addition of retail giant Oxxo to its correspondent network. The bank also expanded its digital capabilities through a renewed partnership with Google Cloud, aimed at scaling AI, analytics, and personalization across the franchise.

Nicaragua

Banco LAFISE Bancentro

During 2025, Banco LAFISE Bancentro in Nicaragua reached record profitability and a highly resilient balance sheet. Net income rose 24% YoY to $69.4 million, accounting for 31.1% of total system profits. Return on equity (RoE) increased to 17.2%, making LAFISE the only major bank in the country to improve profitability during the year.

Panama

Banco General

In Panama, Banco General continued to act as the banking system’s anchor institution in 2025, leveraging the bank’s scale and deeply embedded client base to sustain growth. The bank retained its leading position with a 26.9% share of deposits and 18.1% of loans, reflecting its central role in channeling liquidity and credit across the economy.

Net income rose 5.7% YoY to $829.3 million. RoE remained strong at 24.1% and the efficiency ratio low at 28.3%, supported by steady activity across core segments.

Paraguay

Banco Continental

Amid another year of solid economic growth in Paraguay, Banco Continental continued to leverage its scale to deliver standout profitability. Total assets reached approximately $5.5 billion, up nearly 10% YoY, supported by a loan portfolio of nearly $4.1 billion and deposits of nearly $3.4 billion. Just as important, asset quality remained exceptionally strong, with nonperforming loans below 1%, reinforcing the bank’s ability to grow without compromising underwriting discipline.

Peru

Banco de Crédito del Perú

Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP) benefited from one of the more supportive banking environments in the region in 2025, as economic growth recovered, inflation stayed near target, and easing rates helped revive financial activity. BCP continued to anchor its parent Credicorp’s universal banking performance, helping drive group net income to over 6.9 billion Peruvian soles ($2.1 billion) and ROE to 18.6%, while preserving the bank’s leadership in Peru’s loans and deposits markets.

Puerto Rico

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico delivered a strong performance in 2025. Net income rose 36% year-on-year (YoY) to $833 million, supported by solid revenue growth and stable credit quality. Total assets reached approximately $75 billion, with deposits of $66.2 billion and loan balances around $39 billion.

Trinidad & Tobago

Republic Bank

With total assets reaching approximately 127 billion Trinidadian dollars ($18.7 billion) in 2025, Republic Bank continued to strengthen its position in Trinidad and Tobago, supported by steady balance sheet growth of over 6% YoY.

Turks & Caicos

Scotiabank Turks & Caicos

For Scotiabank Turks & Caicos, the focus was on steady growth and client accessibility. Total assets increased by 5.2% to $708 million in 2025.

Uruguay

Banco Itaú Uruguay

Banco Itaú Uruguay also takes our Best Bank award, in its country, for posting significant growth without sacrificing capital efficiency. At the end of 2024, the bank expanded its digital-payments capabilities through the acquisition of local fintech Plexo while continuing to build on the scale of the bank’s card and consumer-finance franchise.

US Virgin Islands

FirstBank

FirstBankmaintained stable credit performance and low levels of nonperforming assets to post consistent growth in the US Virgin Islands. During the year, the bank advanced its digital transformation through continued migration to cloud-based infrastructure.

Venezuela

Mercantil Banco Universal

In its centennial year, Mercantil Banco Universal outperformed by remaining one of Venezuela’s fastest-growing banks. It added more than 62,000 new customers and installed over 10,000 new card-payment terminals. The historic institution also continued to invest heavily in technology, migrating 650,000 debit cards to contactless technology and more than doubling YoY usage of its MIA (Mercantil Inteligencia Artificial) AI assistant to more than 1.5 million users.

North American banks accelerated growth by implementing AI and enhancing their client experience.

Across North America, the winners of our Best Banks awards continue to accelerate growth by embedding advanced technology and solutions driven by artificial intelligence throughout their organizations. With the rollout of new platforms and applications, these banks are enhancing the client experience, resulting in increasing levels of digital engagement. Also, partnerships with fintechs and targeted acquisitions are enabling more rapid innovation and expanded service offerings. These efforts are complemented by significant resources allocated to workforce development through enterprise-wide AI implementation, ensuring employees can leverage new technologies to increase innovation and efficiency.

Among the US regional bank winners, large-scale technology initiatives are driving enterprise-wide transformation toward the creation of financial-ecosystem models in which financial services are seamlessly connected across banking platforms. Institutions continue to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation to streamline operations and deliver more-personalized client experiences.

Open banking and connectivity enabled by application programming interfaces (APIs) are allowing integration with fintech partners and third-party platforms to expand banking services. With embedded finance, banks are integrating treasury services, payments, and cash management tools directly into client workflows, while partnerships with fintech firms are accelerating innovation.

North America

Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal (BMO), with its leading Canadian franchise and its expanding US operations, is a powerful North American universal bank with robust service offerings across its Canadian personal and commercial banking, US banking, wealth management, and capital markets business lines. Part of BMO’s growth strategy involves new behavioral-engagement tools in personal banking, with the introduction of the “My Financial Progress” platform, a digital planning tool to set financial goals with personalized guidance. Complementary services include apps to help build financial literacy, increase savings, manage spending, and monitor cash flow.

For commercial clients, the bank has launched new embedded finance offerings that are integrated into clients’ enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to operate seamlessly. The bank launched application programming interfaces (APIs) for payments, enabling businesses to integrate secure, real-time payment capabilities into their ERP systems, treasury platforms, and customer-facing applications.

Fintech partnerships have contributed to new products such as BMO Sync that integrates BMO’s business-banking services directly into client ERP systems. BMO also has introduced programs to empower its workforce, launching its “AI for All” initiative,which will train an all employees to have a working knowledge of AI. The bank also offers specialized learning paths in AI, cloud technology, and cybersecurity.

Canada

Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is driving growth through the development of advanced technologies, platform enhancements, and targeted acquisitions. The bank’s small- and midsize business clients benefit from RBC’s joining the Business Development Bank of Canada’s banking network for access to its 800 million Canadian dollar ($583 million) Business Accelerator Loan Program, which provides added liquidity to business owners via loan guarantees to banks in the program.

RBC is a leader in AI research and implementation across its franchise, through the RBC Borealis research lab.With the development of its NOMI digital platform, RBC provides a suite of retail banking solutions via its mobile app, designed to help retail clients more effectively manage their money through the app’s budgeting, spending analysis, and automation features. For institutional investors, the bank developed Aiden, an AI-powered electronic-trading platform that optimizes trade execution. In addition to these in-house initiatives, the bank supports the advancement of the sector via its RBC’s technology banking and innovation arm, RBCx, which provides startups and VC firms with advisory services and access to financing and capital.

United States

Bank Of America

Bank of America’s growth in recent years has been increasingly driven through its expansion of AI-enabled digital solutions. The bank has focused on continuously enhancing its core digital offerings, resulting in high levels of engagement and client satisfaction. In 2025, digital adoption by consumers and small businesses reached 81% and 86% among wealth and global-banking clients, respectively. Over 20 million clients use Erica, the bank’s AI-powered virtual financial assistant. To support greater scale, the bank upgraded the underlying infrastructure of this service, enabling the rollout of next-generation AI capabilities.

AI is also driving internal productivity and client-service improvements. More than 90% of employees now use the Erica for Employees virtual assistant, which has been enhanced with improved search capabilities and broader functionality. Additionally, AI is supporting workforce development through the Academy, the bank’s internal education and training organization, which utilizes interactive coaching tools to help employees deliver more effective and consistent client interactions.

Mid-Atlantic

Truist

Truist is accelerating its growth strategy with the launch of AI-driven solutions, a refocused branch model, and the creation of a role for a chief AI and data officer. To update its physical footprint with integrated technology and modern layouts, the bank will open 100 new insights-driven branches and renovate 300 more branches in high-growth locations across its markets in Mid-Atlantic states and the Southeast. For consumers and small businesses, a new API-based open-banking platform offers connectivity with Mastercard’s open-finance technology for secure and centralized access to the client’s financial data across a growing network of fintech apps.

The bank is introducing scalable solutions to modernize business banking and boost client engagement. In collaboration with global fintech firm Pollinate, Truist introduced Truist Merchant Engage, an integrated merchant-services platform that benefits small- and midsize-business clients through a unified platform combining core banking services with merchant solutions. The result is an improved digital payments experience that includes an intuitive dashboard and tools for data-driven insights to streamline clients’ operations. In payments services, the bank has developed multiple options for commercial and corporate clients. The bank introduced an AI-based receivables platform that uses machine learning for greater simplicity and efficiency through automated payment reconciliation. The resulting accelerated process eliminates invoice errors and improves client cash visibility and fraud protections.

Additionally, Truist partnered with fintech Koxa to introduce Truist One View Connect. Currently a pilot program with an official launch later in the year, this service is an embedded banking solution allowing seamless management of treasury workflows, payments, and cash positions through integration with a client’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) infrastructure. This new product is a new feature of Truist One View, the bank’s flagship digital platform for business clients.

Northeast

Citizens Bank

To improve client service and engagement, Citizens Bank, our winner for the Northeastern region, has launched a multiyear transformation through its “Reimagine the Bank” initiative aimed at implementing advanced technology to modernize its operating model toward a more digitally integrated bank. The program focuses on leveraging generative AI, data analytics, and automation, across the bank’s retail and commercial business lines, standardizing and streamlining internal operational processes and workflows to improve efficiency and drive growth.

As part of the bank’s progress toward open finance and embedded banking, Citizens now offers an open-banking API allowing businesses and third-party applications to connect directly into Citizens’ banking systems to access client data and initiate transactions. The bank has implemented upgrades to its core digital mobile and online banking platform with new direct deposit options. Its new features make it easier to manage and update client payment methods across a range of accounts, including subscription services and online merchant sites.

For commercial clients, accessOPTIMA is the bank’s flagship digital treasury management solution designed to provide a centralized, real-time view of liquidity, cash positions, and payments activity across the organization. New services for commercial clients include the Citizens Payee Select platform, which more efficiently and securely manages business transactions and payment disbursements by shifting payment control to the recipient. This capability was developed in partnership with Verituity, a fintech that creates leading cloud-based payment solutions, a company in which Citizens holds an equity investment

Midwest & Southwest

Fifth Third Bank

With the completed acquisition of Comerica Bank, Fifth Third Bank has solidified its leading franchise in the Midwest and expanded significantly in the Southwest. Fifth Third now ranks as the ninth-largest bank in the US, with $294 billion in assets. The merger combines Fifth Third’s leading retail and digital bank with Comerica’s strong middle-market commercial banking capabilities over a footprint that covers 17 of the 20 fastest-growing markets in the country.

Significant growth opportunities exist with the addition of Comerica’s Technology and Life Sciences business that involves deep relationships with venture-backed and startup companies providing specialized banking, treasury, advisory, and funding solutions through locations in all major technology hubs. Fifth Third Bank’s digital strategy is focused on the enhancement of its mobile platform, expansion of embedded finance capabilities, and the deeper integration of AI-based solutions in its consumer and commercial banking segments. Through Fifth Third’s Provide platform, the bank offers specialized services to health care practices and medical professionals, with valuation advisory services, acquisition loans, and equipment finance. The bank is expanding its services through a partnership with Brex, a fintech specializing in corporate cards and expense management. The solution gives commercial banking-card holders greater efficiency through automated expense management with secure, real-time payments, as well as improved visibility to company spending. The bank expects this initiative to generate upward of $5.6 billion in annual commercial card-payment volume.

Southeast

Regions

Regions, our Best Bank in the Southeast, is in the midst of a multiyear technology-transformation program that includes the expansion of embedded banking capabilities to improve the customer experience across the bank’s retail commercial and specialty-client segments. Enhancements to the bank’s mobile app incorporate client feedback and include a redesigned interface for easier navigation, with shortcuts to features like funds transfer and credit card locking to prevent fraud, as well as new financial planning and budgeting services. The bank offers new capabilities with open-banking services to allow client financial information to be shared securely with third-party service providers.

On the commercial side, Regions has ramped up its treasury management solutions through its Embedded ERP Finance platform that allows clients to access their financial data through their own ERP systems to better manage cash flow, optimize liquidity, and reduce risk. Specialty services to niche industries are a competitive advantage for Regions. Home improvement contractors can offer financing options to their homeowner clients to pay for projects. For health care clients, a new treasury management service is powered by MediStreams, a health care platform focusing on payment automation and reconciliation. Additional specialized services include a digital portal that allows real estate banking clients to more efficiently manage their construction projects. The portal is supported by Built, a real estate and construction-finance platform that streamlines project financing, development, and management, with client access through a centralized hub.

West

BMO Harris Bank

BMO’s growth strategy in the United States is fueled by the bank’s “One Client” coverage model to ensure customers experience BMO as one integrated bank. This involves technology alignment and use of shared data across business units to better identify client needs and deliver more-personalized service. With new digital services and AI-led advancements, the bank is positioned to build on its significant and growing US franchise that accounted for 42% of group revenue in fiscal year 2025. The franchise is bolstered by an expanding top-15 consumer bank with over 850 banking centers in the Midwest and Western US regions, as well as a top-5 commercial business.

As part of BMO’s branch rationalization to exit low-return markets in favor of higher growth areas, the bank sold 138 branches in the central US. The bank aims to foster closer client engagement through tailored financial solutions with access to in-person financial guidance. BMO is moving to capture more clients in fast-growing markets in the Western US with a multiyear strategy involving the modernization of existing locations and expansion of its footprint through the opening of 130 new community banking hubs in California and 15 in Arizona over the next five years.

On the commercial side, new product launches include BMO Sync, an embedded solution that integrates BMO’s full range of business-banking services directly into client ERP systems to streamline workflows. Payment APIs enable commercial clients across the US to add secure, real-time payment capabilities into their ERP systems, treasury platforms, and customer-facing applications for efficiency and transparency. A key driver of the bank’s progress is its commitment to a unified corporate culture. With the launch of its “AI for All” initiative, an enterprise-wide foundational training program, BMO ensures that all employees develop a working knowledge of AI. The bank also offers specialized learning paths in AI, cloud technology, and cybersecurity as well as the opportunity to develop technical skills through Pluralsight, a digital learning platform.

Western Europe’s banks were well capitalized, digitally evolving, and strategically acquisitive—despite rate headwinds.

After the exceptional windfall years of 2022 and 2023, when aggressive rate hikes fattened net interest margins, most Western European banks had a strong 2024, particularly the larger players with extensive branch networks and franchises. Fast forward to 2025, and a more sobering reality dawned. The European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) easing cycle was well underway, and with it came the question that had been quietly forming in the minds of analysts and investors alike: Could Western Europe’s banks sustain their profitability once the rate tailwind turned to a headwind? The evidence now clearly answers that question in the affirmative—though not without adaptation, and not without some pointed lessons along the way.

The headline story is one of structural resilience, corroborated at the highest levels: In the ECB’s Annual Report on Supervisory Activities published in March 2026, the bank confirms that banks under its direct supervision “remained resilient in 2025,” with the aggregate Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio (CET1 ratio) of “significant institutions” climbing to 16.1% in the third quarter of 2025, driven by strong profitability and retained earnings. Return on equity (ROE) stabilized at around 10% across the sector—modest by the standards of the best performers in our latest Best Banks ranking.

Separately, the European Banking Authority’s (EBA’s) Autumn 2025 Risk Assessment Report affirms that European banks “remain strong in capital, liquidity, profitability and asset quality,” even as the report urges “continued vigilance” in the face of geopolitical uncertainty and rising operational risks. This picture is richly illustrated by the individual performers in this year’s awards, where CET1 ratios frequently exceed the European average by a wide margin.

Yet the year was not without its disappointments. Margin pressure was real, and pockets of weakness were visible. The EBA itself warns that declining net interest income has been a systemic challenge, offset only where banks had successfully diversified into fee and commission income.

That diversification imperative made M&A one of the defining strategic trends of the period—and it shows no sign of abating. DNB’s acquisition of Nordic asset manager Carnegie Holding and Bank of Cyprus’ purchase of Ethniki Insurance, for example, reflect a sector in active pursuit of scale, complementary revenue streams, and fintech capability.

KPMG 2025 Banking and Capital Markets CEO Outlook, published January 2026, adds important context here, however: “The vast majority of CEOs surveyed expect to be active in the deal market over the coming three years, although fewer envisage ‘high-impact’ deals (down from 48% to 41%). Instead, 46% favor ‘moderate-impact’ acquisitions, primarily targeting fintechs, digital lending platforms, and RegTech [regulatory technology] firms to accelerate innovation without overextending capital.” Overall, European banks recognize a strategic need for scale, with momentum toward both domestic consolidation and cross-border deals and are hoping that a more favorable regulatory environment may emerge to support this.

In Western Europe, technology and ESG have become structural pillars rather than peripheral initiatives. Danske Bank has leaned into generative AI (Gen AI) to support retail investment growth, while UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti highlights the role of transformational AI projects in bolstering operational resilience as the Credit Suisse integration approaches completion. Swedbank’s 99.9% digital uptime across Swedish and Baltic operations is now as commercially significant as any lending figure. On sustainability, Eurobank leads its Greek peers with over €6.9 billion ($8.1 billion) in sustainable financing; UniCredit has issued €6.5 billion in green bonds since 2021; and CaixaBank has become the first Spanish bank to receive a Sustainable Finances certification from AENOR, the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification.

But the technological evolution carries a shadow. According to the KPMG CEO Outlook, cyber risk is now the number-one factor that could slow growth—cited by 86% of banking CEOs, up from 81% in 2024—and cybersecurity ranks as the top challenge facing banks globally, ahead of every other sector in KPMG’s survey. This reflects the uniquely exposed position of banks, whose large customer bases and access to highly confidential data make them prime targets. As digital-banking platforms, open-banking APIs, and AI tools expand attack surfaces, hackers are increasingly deploying AI to pursue payment fraud and install ransomware. It is little surprise, then, that 57% of banking CEOs are “prioritizing cybersecurity above all other investments.” The EBA echoes this concern, warning that elevated geopolitical risks are amplifying operational and cyber threats, and that banks must invest continuously in resilience infrastructure.

As we publish our annual Best Banks award winners, the outlook is cautiously optimistic. Rate normalization will continue to test income generation; geopolitical friction shows no sign of resolution. But the weight of evidence—from individual bank results, from the EBA, and from the ECB itself—points consistently in the same direction: Western Europe’s leading banks have diversified their revenues, fortified their capital, and earned ratings improvements to match. Resilience, it turns out, is not merely a buzzword for these banks—it’s a strategy.

Western Europe

CaixaBank

Once again, CaixaBank has secured a dual victory as the Best Bank in Western Europe and the premier financial institution in its home country, Spain—a distinction the bank has now achieved for a remarkable eight consecutive years.

A domestic market leader, CaixaBank operates a “socially responsible universal banking model with a long-term vision, based on quality, proximity, omnichanneling, and specialization.”

The bank reports a net attributable profit of nearly €5.9 billion for 2025, net interest income of almost €10.7 billion, and an ROE of 14.9%. Revenues from services—including wealth management, protection insurance, and banking fees—were up 5.4% to nearly €5.3 billion. New loan origination to individuals grew 12.4% to almost €2.6 billion. New mortgage lending rose 6.5% to reach nearly €8.5 billion, while lending to businesses increased 7.6% to reach about €12.4 billion.

Exceeding both targets and expectations, CaixaBank has raised the growth and profitability targets set out in its 2025-2027 Strategic Plan.

CaixaBank’s commitment to the communities it serves was evident once again last year, with initiatives encompassing financial-inclusion solutions with a social impact, regional social projects, and a steadfast commitment to the environment. The bank is an Iberian and European leader in sustainable and socially responsible investment.

Reflecting the strength of the bank’s performance, Fitch Ratings revised CaixaBank’s Outlook to Positive from Stable in October while affirming both its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating and its Viability Rating at A-. Fitch also upgraded the bank’s Short-Term IDR to F1 from F2.

The agency says its outlook reflects its “expectation that CaixaBank’s leading domestic position and diversified business profile will enable it to capture additional growth opportunities stemming from Spain’s economy, rising credit demand and favorable business trends,” adding that these factors will “gradually strengthen CaixaBank’s earnings resilience through the interest rate and economic cycles.”

Andorra

Creand Credit Andorra

The winner for the eighth consecutive year, Creand Credit Andorra (formerly Credit Andorra) boasts over 75 years of experience in the principality, offering a comprehensive suite of global private banking, asset management, and insurance services. The bank posted a robust 2024 profit of €70.9 million, representing a solid performance following its exceptional 60% profit surge in 2023. Business volume reached €30.7 billion, an 11.1% year-on-year (YoY) increase. Beyond the group’s financial strength, it remains a key local employer with 508 staff in Andorra, where women make up 48% of the workforce.

Austria

UniCredit Bank Austria

One of the largest retail banks and best-capitalized major financial institutions in Austria, UniCredit Bank Austria is a leader in corporate banking, wealth, and private banking. As of September 2025, the bank’s key performance indicators included a return on allocated capital of 23% and a cost-income ratio of 39%—demonstrating best-in-class cost efficiency compared to its peers. The bank’s CET1 ratio of 18.6% reflects a prudent capital base. Revenues came in at €2 billion, while gross operating profit stood at €1.2 billion. UniCredit serves around 15 million clients through its corporate, individual, and payment solutions groups in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Central and Eastern Europe. Reporting its 20th consecutive quarter of profitable growth in the fourth quarter, the group says its vision is to be “the bank for Europe’s future.”

Belgium

KBC

In the beating heart of Europe, KBC wins the laurels as our Best Bank in Belgium. Net income at the end of June 2025 was €1.6 billion, up 9% YoY. Total assets were €390.7 billion. The group reported a strong capital base with a 14.6% CET1 ratio and an ROE of 15% for the period. A FTSE4Good Index Series constituent, the bank continues its sustainability journey, receiving recognition annually in the S&P Sustainability Yearbook of top performers.

Cyprus

Bank of Cyprus

It was another year of robust performance for Bank of Cyprus, which saw total assets rise 8% to €28.6 billion in 2025. While profit after tax moderated slightly to €481 million (down 5% YoY), the bank’s 37% cost-income ratio and strengthened 21% CET1 ratio underscore its market-leading efficiency and capital discipline. The bank’s €29.3 million acquisition of Ethniki Insurance Cyprus marked a significant step in diversifying its business model and bolstering noninterest income streams.

Denmark

Danske Bank

Offering a full range of retail, corporate, and institutional services, Danske Bank returns as our Best Bank in Denmark for the third time in a row. In 2025, a resilient Danish economy contributed to a 5% growth in business lending and a surge in retail investment activity that pushed assets under management (AUM) across the group to over 1 trillion Danish kroner (more than $157.3 billion). The bank’s Danish operations served as the primary engine for a group ROE of 13.3%. Growth was also supported by new partnerships and digital rollouts, including platform enhancements and the use of Gen AI. The bank maintained a robust CET1 ratio of 17.3% and a CAR of 20.9%, reflecting highly disciplined capital management by both European and Nordic banking standards.

Finland

Nordea

Returning to the top spot as our Best Bank in Finland, Nordea reports a record €478 billion in AUM in 2025, up 13% YoY. With an ROE of 15.5% and a CET1 ratio of 15.7%, this profitable, efficient universal bank drew its 2022-2025 strategy to a successful close. That included receipt of approval from the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority for a partnership with domestic rival OP Financial Group to combine efforts in solving consumer and business payments challenges.

France

Groupe BPCE

Groupe BPCE’s net banking income was up an impressive 10% YoY to €25.7 billion in 2025; while gross operating income rose some 22% to reach some €8.4 billion. Bolstered by a CET1 ratio of 16.5%, the banking group employs 100,000 staff, serving 35 million customers worldwide, including consumers, professionals, companies, investors, and local authorities. The banking group says it plans to recruit 16,000 employees in 2026, including 10,000 in the Banques Populaires and Caisses d’Epargne networks. Nearly half of these recruitments will target young people, as part of the bank’s partnership with state-run agency France Travail.

Germany

Commerzbank

Another year, another record net income, and another win for Commerzbank—our Best Bank in Germany for the fourth year running. Net income for the first half of 2025 was up 0.9% to €1.3 billion; while total assets reached €582 billion, and total revenues rose 12.5% to €6.1 billion. Despite a dip in the bank’s CET1 ratio to 14.6% and its ROE to a low 8.1%, Commerzbank improved its cost-income ratio to 56% while absorbing €534 million in restructuring expenses. The Frankfurt-based financial institution continues to fend off a UniCredit takeover, a move the Italian giant has pursued since 2024. With almost 40,000 employees, Commerzbank’s ESG goals include net-zero operations by 2040 and portfolio neutrality by 2050.

Greece

Eurobank

Our winner continued its run in Greece; Eurobank achieved remarkable growth across loans, deposits and AUM in the first half of 2025—rising YoY by €5.3 billion, €4 billion, and 30%, respectively. Domestic assets reached €62.8 billion, supported by €37.3 billion in gross loans and €45.2 billion in deposits. Beyond the balance sheet, the group leveraged its performance to drive social impact, strengthening its startup incubator and funding significant public-school renovations. Notably, Eurobank leads its peers with over €6.9 billion in sustainable financing and an upward trend in Article 8 AUM, now exceeding €230 million. Article 8 funds are predominantly ESG compliant. The bank’s market-leading position was further solidified in 2025 through its acquisition of Eurolife’s life insurance business.

Iceland

Arion Bank

Arion Bank may be on the smaller side of the three major Icelandic banks, but what it lacks in size it made up for in efficiency and performance in 2025. The bank reports group AUM of 2 trillion Icelandic kronur ($15.9 billion), net earnings of 30.6 billion kronur, an ROE of 14.9%, a cost-income ratio of 42.3% and a CET1 ratio of 18.4%. Arion Bank’s service offering creates a broad revenue base, with a loan portfolio that is well diversified between retail and corporate customers. The bank is in merger discussions with Kvika Bank, currently the country’s fourth-largest bank, under which terms Arion Bank’s existing shareholders would hold 74% of the combined entity. The merger, which is expected to complete in late 2026, would be one of Iceland’s largest.

Ireland

AIB

AIB returns for a third year running as our Best Bank in Ireland. Serving a customer base of over 3.3 million, the Emerald Isle’s biggest bank posted a solid first half, with a €927 million profit after tax and a 21.4% return on tangible equity (ROTE), bolstered by a robust 16.4% CET1 ratio. 2025 saw the bank return to full private ownership, as well as the launch of its new slogan, “For the life you’re after,” encapsulating its commitments to customers, community, and sustainability.

Italy

UniCredit

Our Best Bank in Italy for the third consecutive year is UniCredit. While gross revenue moderated 3.1% to €11 billion, Italy remains the undisputed earnings powerhouse of the UniCredit group, contributing 41% of the total €10.6 billion net profit. With a unique Pan-European footprint and group assets reaching €870 billion at year-end 2025, UniCredit leverages its stability and low risk exposure to lead the continent’s green transition. The bank is making significant strides toward its 2050 net-zero target, notably through its €11.3 billion in environmental lending and the issuance of €6.5 billion in green bonds since 2021. In 2025, UniCredit deepened its domestic ESG impact through initiatives like Salotti Energia to build ESG awareness among Italian corporates and the One4Planet, Water Management loan. Furthermore, its Banking Academy Italy continues to drive social value, launching the Conta per Me primary school program and advanced fraud prevention training to protect the domestic retail base.

Lichtenstein

LGT

Liechtenstein’s largest player, LGT, continues its six-year unbroken winning streak. Total operating income increased 10% YoY to over 1.4 billion Swiss francs (more than $1.7 billion) in the first half of the year, group profits surged 38% to 240.6 million francs, and AUM reached 359.6 billion francs. While the bank trimmed its cost-income ratio to 75.7%, the figure remains high. Offsetting this is an impressive 18.5% CET1 ratio, reflecting the superior capital strength of this bank owned by the country’s royal family.

Luxembourg

BGL BNP Paribas

Our winner in Luxembourg, BGL BNP Paribas, reported first-half 2025 revenues of €315 million, up from €300 million for the same period in the previous year. With almost 2,100 employees in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the bank provides universal services with a strategic emphasis on corporate and institutional clients. With deep regional roots dating back over a century, BGL BNP Paribas remains a cornerstone of Luxembourg’s economic landscape. Looking ahead, the bank is set to be a key driver of the group’s transition strategy, targeting 90% low-carbon energy financing by 2030.

Malta

Bank of Valletta

Malta’s banking sector remains highly concentrated; and with a 41% market share and total assets of €15.6 billion as of first-half 2025, Bank of Valletta is the most dominant domestic and commercial player in the sector—as well as our 2026 Best Bank in Malta. While the group registered a first-half profit before tax of €135.1 million (slightly down from €148.2 million in first-half 2024), return on average equity stood at 18.9% and CET1 ratio at 21.3%—a breakwater typical of the Mediterranean island.

Monaco

CFM Indosuez Wealth Management

Although its net income for 2024 fell slightly to €59.4 million, a 2.4% decrease from 2023, CFM Indosuez Wealth Management remains the leading player in Monaco. Despite lower interest rates and an unstable geopolitical context, wealth under custody grew 8.4%. “Customer business grew significantly, underpinned by strong new business momentum, a satisfactory performance in market activities and continued robust loan production.” Revenue increased 1.1% to €199.4 million driven by dynamic transactional business, though performance was impacted by a 2.1% rise in operating expenses due to inflation.

Netherlands

ING Group

Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the CEO of ING Group, Steven van Rijswijk hailed 2025 as a year in which the major global bank consistently executed its “strategy of accelerating growth, increasing impact and further diversifying income by doing more business with more customers and clients.” And so, returning for a third consecutive year, ING is once again our winner in the Netherlands, delivering strong commercial growth in its European base while achieving €23 billion in total income across the group. This was supported by an uptick in the bank’s customer base and a 15% rise in fee income to €4.6 billion. Commercial net interest income meanwhile came in at €15.3 billion. Achieving €56.9 billion in lending growth—more than double that of the previous year—ING’s net result for the year was broadly stable at €6.3 billion. The bank reports a 13.2% ROE and a 13.1% CET1 ratio. Of all its major markets, the Netherlands was a key driver and contributor to the bank’s growth in 2025.

Norway

DNB

Keeping its crown as the Best Bank in Norway for the fourth year in a row, DNB remains the dominant player in its home market, balancing massive scale with high profitability. Offering a full suite of retail, corporate, and investment banking, DNB maintained a strong reputation over the year, reporting an annualized ROE of 15.6%. Profits rose by 1.5% in the first half of 2025 to 21.3 billion Norwegian kroner ($2.1 billion), driven by solid performance across the group, and supported by a Norwegian economy that held up well in an unpredictable global environment. In 2025, the bank completed its 12 billion Swedish kronor ($1.2 billion) acquisition of Carnegie, a Nordic asset manager with 850 employees, strengthening DNB’s position in investment banking and wealth management.

Portugal

Banco Santander Totta

In Portugal, it is another consecutive win for Banco Santander Totta, which continued its growth strategy in 2025 via rigorous commercial and operational optimization. In a year defined by falling interest rates, it remained the most profitable bank and a benchmark for efficiency, posting a 31.8% ROTE and a 28% efficiency ratio while achieving a net profit of €963.8 million.

During this time, the bank continued to grow its customer base, particularly in high-value segments. Active customers increased by 40,000 to more than 1.9 million; while digital customers rose 5.1% to over 1.3 million, now representing 68% of the total base. This growth translated into a growth in commercial activity, with over 100,000 new accounts opened, 1.3 million daily transactions (up by 9.7%), and more than 327,000 new cardholders added.

Sweden

Swedbank

Swedbank had another successful year, with an ROE higher than the bank’s target of 15%—and according to president and CEO Jens Henriksson, “proof that our business model works.” The bank’s Swedish operations account for 71% of the group’s customer base; overall it serves a total of 7.3 million private customers and 545,000 corporate customers across Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—offering loans, savings, payments, insurance, and daily banking services. In 2025, digital investments contributed to uptime of 99.9% for Swedbank’s app and internet bank for Sweden and the Baltic countries. This is a key focus for the bank as it sets out to improve its customer experience, with the aim “to make it easy to manage everyday matters digitally.”

Switzerland

UBS

For the sixth consecutive year, UBS has earned our Best Bank in Switzerland distinction. Throughout 2025, the bank remained laser focused on the Credit Suisse integration, which is slated for substantial completion by the end of 2026. A disciplined approach yielded a $7.8 billion net profit, supported by a solid 14.4% CET1 ratio, despite an 81.1% cost-income ratio.

CEO Sergio Ermotti attributed this performance to a “global, diversified franchise” that helped clients navigate market volatility. He further highlighted the bank’s digital evolution, noting that transformational AI projects are successfully bolstering operational resilience and improving client experience. As the Credit Suisse integration enters its final stages, industry attention is shifting toward the leadership transition following Ermotti’s planned 2027 departure.

United Kingdom

HSBC

HSBC is our Best Bank in the UK for the second consecutive year. HSBC UK employs 18,000 full-time staff across the country, serving over 15.3 million customers. For the year ending December 31, 2025, it posted a profit before tax of £5.6 billion ($7.5 billion). Revenue increased by £489 million, or 5%, to £10.5 billion, driven by higher net interest income. The bank’s ROTE of 19.2% was one percentage point lower than 2024, driven by growth in commercial lending. Supported by a 13.2% CET1 ratio and an 175% liquidity-coverage ratio, the its balance sheet remained resilient against a challenging economic backdrop.