Global Finance Magazine has released its updated rankings of the world's safest banks, expanding the list from 50 to 100 in 2025 as the banking sector faces increasing volatility and economic challenges due to U.S. tariff policies and competition.

November 5, 2025 - Global Finance has unveiled its latest rankings of the World’s Safest Banks, expanding the list to include the top 100 as the global banking sector confronts challenges arising from U.S. tariff policies and fierce competition. The revised rankings provide deeper insights into the banking sector's resilience amid ongoing economic volatility.

Amid disruptions to global trade and supply chains caused by changing tariff policies, inflationary pressures and a slowdown in global growth have become prominent concerns. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has adjusted its forecast for global trade volume growth in 2025 to 2.4%, a rise from earlier predictions of 0.9% in August. However, the outlook for 2026 is less optimistic, with anticipated growth falling to 0.5%.

Economic forecasts from the OECD indicate a slight decline in global GDP growth, from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and further down to 2.9% in 2026. The U.S. economy is projected to experience a drop from 2.8% to 1.8% growth in 2025, while growth in the Euro area is forecasted to decrease to 1.2%.

In this environment, banks that have embraced technology and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to adapt their business models have emerged as leaders. Institutions such as the Saudi National Bank and Al Rajhi Bank have benefitted from upgrades in credit ratings, allowing them to join the top 100 list.

Moody’s recent downgrades of banks in France and China reflect the ongoing impact of sovereign ratings on bank rankings, demonstrating the interconnected nature of fiscal challenges and banking stability.

The rating is taken from the 500 largest banks that are rated by at least two of the three major ratings agencies (Fitch, S&P, Moodys):

The top four worldwide are, in some way, all part-owned or affiliated with state institutions and all received top scores with all three agencies:

1. KfW Bank (Germany)
2. Zuercher Kantonalbank (Switzerland)
3. BNG Bank (Netherlands)
4. Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank (Germany)

All of the top ten are in based in Europe, with four in Germany, two each in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and one each in Norway and Sweden. The highest rank non-European bank is the Bank of Canada, in 11th spot, which was also rated as the safest commercial bank.

Several banks from Singapore and South Korea appear in the top twenty, with banks from Australia, Taiwan, Luxembourg, UAE and France appearing in the top thirty. The highest rank US bank is Agribank, in 45th spot. Eight further US banks made the top 100. The only UK bank to be ranked in the top 100 was Nationwide Building Society, in 77th position.

The full rankings will be available in the December issue of Global Finance Magazine, and are available online.

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