In brief
- ICBC is the world’s biggest bank, with total assets of about $7.65 trillion (S&P Global, April 2026).
- Chinese state-owned banks hold the top four places in the ranking.
- JPMorgan Chase is the largest non-Chinese bank, with about $4.42 trillion in assets.
- Japan’s MUFG ranks 11th with about $2.67 trillion.
As of October 2026, the biggest bank in the world is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), with total assets of about $7.65 trillion. The figure comes from S&P Global Market Intelligence’s April 2026 ranking, where Chinese state-owned lenders hold the top four places.
Bank size is usually measured by total assets, which include loans, securities and cash. By this measure, five of the eleven largest banks are Chinese, two are American, three are European and one is Japanese.
The table below shows the latest ranking. Asset figures are rounded and stated in US dollars.
Also readJake Paul Net Worth 2026: Fight Purses, Businesses and Earnings| Rank | Bank | Country | Total assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial and Commercial Bank of China | China | $7.65 trillion |
| 2 | Agricultural Bank of China | China | $6.97 trillion |
| 3 | China Construction Bank | China | $6.52 trillion |
| 4 | Bank of China | China | $5.48 trillion |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase | United States | $4.42 trillion |
| 6 | Bank of America | United States | $3.41 trillion |
| 7 | BNP Paribas | France | $3.28 trillion |
| 8 | HSBC | United Kingdom | $3.21 trillion |
| 9 | Crédit Agricole | France | $3.15 trillion |
| 10 | Postal Savings Bank of China | China | $2.67 trillion |
| 11 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group | Japan | $2.67 trillion |
1. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China: $7.65 trillion
ICBC is the largest bank in the world by assets and has held that position for several years. It was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Beijing.
The bank is majority owned by the Chinese state. It serves individuals, companies and government bodies across China and has branches in many other countries.
2. Agricultural Bank of China: $6.97 trillion
Agricultural Bank of China was founded in 1951 and is based in Beijing. It was set up to serve rural areas and farming, and it still has one of the widest branch networks in the country.
Its 2010 listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong was the largest initial public offering in the world at the time.
3. China Construction Bank: $6.52 trillion
China Construction Bank was founded in 1954, originally to fund infrastructure and construction projects. It is headquartered in Beijing.
Bank of America bought a stake in the bank in 2005 and sold its remaining shares by 2013. Today China Construction Bank is also one of the most valuable banks in the world by stock market value.
4. Bank of China: $5.48 trillion
Bank of China was founded in 1912, which makes it the oldest of China’s big four state-owned banks. It has the largest international presence of the four.
The bank is one of the note-issuing banks in Hong Kong and Macau. It offers commercial banking, investment banking, insurance and asset management.
5. JPMorgan Chase: $4.42 trillion
JPMorgan Chase is the largest bank outside China and the largest in the United States. It is headquartered in New York and led by chief executive Jamie Dimon.
The bank bought most of the failed First Republic Bank in 2023. It is also the most valuable bank in the world by market capitalisation.
6. Bank of America: $3.41 trillion
Bank of America is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the second-largest bank in the United States by assets.
The group runs a large consumer bank along with Merrill, its wealth management arm, and a global investment banking business.
7. BNP Paribas: $3.28 trillion
BNP Paribas is the largest bank in the European Union by assets. It was formed in 2000 through the merger of Banque Nationale de Paris and Paribas, and it is headquartered in Paris.
The bank operates in retail banking across several European countries, as well as corporate and investment banking worldwide.
8. HSBC: $3.21 trillion
HSBC is the largest bank in the United Kingdom. It was founded in Hong Kong in 1865 as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and is now headquartered in London.
Most of its profits come from Asia, especially Hong Kong. In recent years it has sold several overseas units to focus on Asia and wealth management.
9. Crédit Agricole: $3.15 trillion
Crédit Agricole is a French banking group with roots in farm lending in the late 19th century. It is built around a network of regional cooperative banks.
The group also owns LCL, a large French retail bank, and Amundi, one of the biggest asset managers in Europe.
10. Postal Savings Bank of China: $2.67 trillion
Postal Savings Bank of China was set up as a bank in 2007, building on the savings business of the national postal service. It is headquartered in Beijing.
The bank uses post office branches to reach rural and small-town customers, which gives it a very large deposit base.
11. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group: $2.67 trillion
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is the largest bank in Japan. It was formed in 2005 through the merger of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group and UFJ Holdings, and it is based in Tokyo.
MUFG owns a large stake in Morgan Stanley and has big lending operations in Southeast Asia.
How we ranked these
We used the S&P Global Market Intelligence ranking of the world’s largest banks by total assets, published in April 2026. Assets reported in other currencies are converted to US dollars, so exchange rates can move banks up or down the list.
Ranking by market value gives a different order, with JPMorgan Chase first. For a wider view of national wealth, see our list of the richest countries in the world and the wealthiest cities in the world.
Sources: S&P Global Market Intelligence, 2026, S&P Global Market Intelligence, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the biggest bank in the world in 2026?
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is the biggest bank in the world, with total assets of about $7.65 trillion according to S&P Global Market Intelligence’s April 2026 ranking. It is a state-controlled bank founded in 1984 and headquartered in Beijing.
What is the largest bank in the United States?
JPMorgan Chase is the largest bank in the United States, with total assets of about $4.42 trillion in the 2026 S&P Global ranking. It ranks fifth in the world by assets and is the most valuable bank globally by market capitalisation.
Why are Chinese banks the biggest in the world?
China’s big state-owned banks fund a large share of lending in the world’s second-largest economy. They hold huge household deposits and lend heavily to companies and local governments. This gives them balance sheets larger than any bank in the United States, Europe or Japan.
What is the largest bank in Europe?
BNP Paribas of France is ranked seventh in the world with about $3.28 trillion in total assets, making it the largest bank in the European Union. HSBC, based in London, is close behind at about $3.21 trillion, followed by France’s Crédit Agricole.
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