Banks around the World

Banks in Africa

World's Safest Banks 2018

Global Finance, a reputable financial journal, has published its annual ranking of the safest banks in the world (2018). The banks were selected through a comparison of the long-term credit ratings and total assets of the 500 largest banks worldwide. KfW, a German government-owned development bank, is the safest bank in the world. It is one of the leading promotional banks with about 80 offices worldwide and over 6,113 employees. The top 50 safest banks include 8 banks from Germany, 6 banks from Canada, 4 banks from France,3 banks from the Netherlands, 3 banks from Switzerland, 3 banks from Singapore and 1 bank from Luxembourg. The top 50 world’s safest banks are listed below.

Rank Bank (Group) Country Fitch * Moody’s * S&P * Total Score Assets ($ Mil.) Statement Date
1 KfW Germany AAA Aaa AAA 30 566 486 31-Dec-2017
2 Zuercher Kantonalbank Switzerland AAA Aaa AAA 30 167 945 31-Dec-2017
3 Landwirtschaftliche Retenbank Germany AAA Aaa AAA 30 108 711 31-Dec-2017
4 L-Bank Germany AAA Aaa AAA 30 84 640 31-Dec-2017
5 BNG Bank N.V. Netherlands AA+ Aaa AAA 29 167 932 31-Dec-2017
6 Nederlandse Waterschapsbank Netherlands NR Aaa AAA 29 101 924 30-Jun-2017
7 Kommunalbanken Norway NR Aaa AAA 29 47 738 31-Dec-2017
8 NRW.BANK Germany AAA Aa1 AA— 26 175 242 31-Dec-2017
9 Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de L'Etat Luxembourg NR Aa2 AA+ 24,5 54 305 31-Dec-2017
10 Caisse des Depots et Consignations France AA Aa2 AA 24 207 623 31-Dec-2017
11 The Toronto-Dominion Bank Canada AA— Aa1 AA— 23 1 012 760 30-Apr-2018
12 Royal Bank of Canada Canada AA Aa2 AA— 23 940 707 31-Oct-2017
13 DZ BANK Germany AA— Aa1 AA— 23 606 359 31-Dec-2017
14 DBS Bank Singapore AA— Aa1 AA— 23 387 337 31-Dec-2017
15 Ocersea-Chinese Banking Corporation Singapore AA— Aa1 AA— 23 340 370 31-Dec-2017
16 Svenska Handelsbanken Sweden AA Aa2 AA— 23 336 116 31-Dec-2017
17 United Overseas Bank Singapore AA— Aa1 AA— 23 268 287 31-Dec-2017
18 Korea Development Bank South Korea AA— Aa2 AA 23 246 231 31-Dec-2017
19 The Export-Import Bank of Korea South Korea AA— Aa2 AA 23 78 826 31-Dec-2017
20 Deutsche Apotheker- und Aerztebank Germany AA— Aa1 AA— 23 49 583 31-Dec-2017
21 Banque Cantonale Vaudoise Switzerland NR Aa2 AA 23 46 602 31-Dec-2017
22 Swedbank Sweden AA— Aa2 AA— 22 268 778 31-Dec-2017
23 Industrial Bank of Korea South Korea AA— Aa2 AA— 22 255 805 31-Dec-2017
24 SFIL France AA— Aa3 AA 22 71 010 31-Dec-2017
25 Banque Pictet & Cie France AA— Aa2 NR 21,5 29 711 31-Dec-2017
26 Commonwealth Bank of Australia Australia AA— Aa3 AA— 21 734 723 31-Dec-2017
27 The Bank of Nova Scotia Canada AA— Aa2 A+ 21 709 899 31-Oct-2017
28 ANZ Group Australia AA— Aa3 AA— 21 703 415 30-Sep-2017
29 Nordea Bank Sweden AA— Aa3 AA— 21 697 527 31-Dec-2017
30 Westpac Banking Corporation Australia AA— Aa3 AA— 21 667 786 30-Sep-2017
31 National Australia Bank Australia AA— Aa3 AA— 21 617 969 30-Sept-2017
32 Bank of Montreal Canada AA— Aa2 A+ 21 550 361 31-Oct-2017
33 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Canada AA— Aa2 A+ 21 438427 31-Oct-2017
34 SEB Sweden AA— Aa2 A+ 21 310 925 31-Dec-2017
35 HSBC France France AA— Aa3 AA— 21 200 935 31-Dec-2017
36 First Abu Dhabi Bank UAE AA— Aa3 AA— 21 182 156 31-Dec-2017
37 Federation des Caisses Desjardins Canada AA— Aa2 A+ 21 115 943 31-Dec-2017
38 AgriBank United States AA— Aa3 AA— 21 104 500 31-Dec-2017
39 Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (Sparkassen) Germany A+ Aa2 NR 20 1 235 669 31-Dec-2017
40 UBS Switzerland AA— Aa3 A+ 20 939 089 31-Dec-2017
41 Rabobank Netherlands AA— Aa3 A+ 20 723 167 31-Dec-2017
42 DNB Bank Norway NR Aa2 A+ 20 326 832 31-Dec-2017
43 Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong A+ Aa3 AA— 20 189 201 31-Dec-2017
44 CoBank United States AA— NR AA— 20 129 211 31-Dec-2017
45 National Bank of Kuwait Kuwait AA— Aa3 A+ 20 86 279 31-Dec-2017
46 OG Corporate Bank Finland NR Aa3 AA— 20 165 621 31-Dec-2017
47 AgFirst United States AA— Aa3 NR 20 37 811 31-Dec-2017
48 Farm Credit Bank of Texas United States AA— Aa3 NR 20 22 837 31-Dec-2017
49 U.S. Bancorp United States AA— A1 A+ 19 462 040 31-Dec-2017
50 Bank of Taiwan Taiwan NR Aa3 A+ 18,5 165 621 31-Dec-2017

* Big Three (credit rating agencies)
The Big Three credit rating agencies are Standard & Poor's (S&P), Moody's, and Fitch Group. S&P and Moody's are based in the US, while Fitch is dual-headquartered in New York City and London, and is controlled by Hearst. As of 2013 they hold a collective global market share of "roughly 95 percent" with Moody's and Standard & Poor's having approximately 40% each, and Fitch around 15%. (Wikipedia)

All ratings in the table were valid as of August 17, 2018.

Last Updated: October 24, 2019
Source: Stock Market Data