Transformation in the global banking sector

We are witnessing a rapid transformation in the global banking sector: in Top-20 of global commercial banks by assets, first four places are held by Chinese banks (table 1). Until recently, it was difficult to imagine as the palm historically belonged exclusively to credit institutions in Western Europe, USA and partly Japan.

According to 2017 results, the total assets of the world's commercial banks amounted to 116,4 trillion USD, 33% or 3 7,9 trillion USD of total assets correspond to Top-20 banks.

As of today, the leader of banking sector is Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (The) – ICBC with assets of 3.8 trillion USD. It is almost 1.8 times ahead of the largest US Bank in terms of assets - JPMorgan Chase Bank (5th place).

The largest bank in Eastern Europe is Sberbank of Russia, it takes the 54th place.

Almost 27% of total global bank assets correspond to Chinese banks - 30,9 trillion USD (picture 1). The USA share was reduced to 14% or 16,8 trillion USD. Another 15% are accumulated by banks in France (6,8 trillion USD), United Kingdom (6 trillion USD), Germany (2,9 trillion USD) and Spain (2,3 trillion USD).

Picture  1. Distribution of commercial banks total assets by countries, bln USD, 2017

Despite the fact that the assets are constantly increasing, the Russian banking sector takes the 17th place in the world. This is 1,2 trillion USD in absolute terms and it does not correspond to the size and development needs of the domestic economy and leads to a large dependence of domestic companies on international loans.