Brand value of world’s largest banks contracts first time since financial crisis

• For the first time since 2009, the total brand value of the world’s 500 largest banks has declined year on year – from US$1.36 trillion in 2019 to US$1.33 trillion this year
• China’s ICBC retains its top spot as the world’s most valuable banking brand, breaking the US$80 billion mark. Chinese banks continue to occupy the top four of the Brand Finance Banking 500 2020 ranking
• Five US banks are in the top 10, although overall, the US sector declined by 5%. Wells Fargo is the top bank and JP Morgan has grown by 15% to enter the top 10
• Qatar National Bank dominates in the Middle East with 20% growth
• Europe declines by 7%, more than any other region, with several major banks seeing significant drops in brand value
• BCA of Indonesia is the world’s strongest banking brand, alongside Russia’s Sberbank, both with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 91.6 out of 100 and an elite AAA+ rating

View the full Brand Finance Banking 500 2020 report here

London, 3rd February 2020 #BFBanking500 - Against a backdrop of uncertain economic conditions, characterised by geopolitical challenges, interest rate movements, and the disruption of Brexit, brand value among the world’s 500 largest banks has fallen for the first time since the financial crisis, according to the latest report by leading independent brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance, published by The Banker magazine today.

The total brand value in the annual Brand Finance Banking 500 ranking saw its first year-on-year contraction since 2009 – from US$1.36 trillion in 2019 to US$1.33 trillion this year. Nevertheless, while brand values of banks from established markets, such as the US, Europe, China, and Japan, are lower or remain stagnant, many banking brands in emerging markets, especially Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America, are demonstrating robust performance.