The American magazine Global Finance was founded in 1987 and is read in 191 countries around the world. The magazine’s audience includes CEOs and CFOs who make investment and strategic decisions every day in multinational companies and financial institutions.
The Global Finance website contains analytical reviews and articles. The editorial office of the magazine is located in New York, and correspondents — around the world.
Global Finance ranks banks and ranks the best for 28 consecutive years. In 2021, the magazine took into account the role of banks in the recovery of national economies during and after the pandemic.
Banks are evaluated by both objective and subjective parameters. The editors of the magazine studied the attitude of banks to customers in difficult situations, the level of service, work in difficult markets, such as border markets, and also interviewed experts and analysts involved in banking.
The best international banks in the world in 2021
All nominations on Global Finance website
J.P. Morgan — an American multinational corporation and the largest bank in the world headquartered in New York. J.P. Morgan won in three categories of the rating: became the "best bank in the world in 2021", "best private bank" and "best investment bank".
Bank branches operate in more than 100 countries around the world. Global Finance noted J.P. Morgan for its large audience, the bank’s digital strategy and commitment to sustainability.
BBVA or Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, became the leader among consumer banks. BBVA is a Spanish bank headquartered in the old quarter of Bilbao. The bank opened for the Spaniards in 1857, and in 1902 began to provide services to foreign citizens.
Customers receive a large package of digital banking services. The bank improves online services and creates new products every year. Therefore, in 2020, three applications were launched:
Global NetCash — provides electronic access to account information and helps to do business in Europe, the USA and South America;
BBVA Empresas — allows small and medium-sized companies and the self-employed to manage their business from mobile phones;
Banco de Barrio — an application of the Mexican branch of the bank aimed at promoting services and digitalization among Latin American customers.
Royal Bank of Canada — is the largest Canadian bank and 12th in the world by market capitalization. It was founded in 1864 in Halifax. The Bank is a financial corporation: it includes private and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investment and custody services.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China or ICBC — is the largest Chinese commercial bank. It is included in the "Big Four" state-owned banks in the country. The bank was opened in 1984. ICBC provides services to corporate clients of private and public companies, as well as individuals.
Societe Generale — French financial conglomerate, one of the leaders of the banking sector in the country and the world. The bank was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in the business district of La Defense in the suburbs of Paris. Societe Generale serves both citizens of France and other EU countries, as well as foreigners. The bank provides a wide range of services: from opening a personal account to consulting and financing other banks.
BNP Paribas has won the nomination of the best bank for global transactions. The bank was founded in France and is considered the European leader in the global financial services market. Standard & Poor’s agency also names it one of the 10 strongest banks in the world.