The Asian Banker Friday, 13 December 2024

The Strongest Banks Rankings

2021
2020
2019 2018

In this year’s The Asian Banker Strongest Banks By Balance Sheet evaluation, the top 10 strongest banks in Africa comprise four Nigerian banks, three Egyptian banks, two South African banks and one bank from Mauritius. With average strength score of 3.46 and 3.23, out of five, respectively, banks in Egypt and South African continued to outperform.Banque Misr, Egypt's second-largest bank, is the strongest bank in Africa. This year, financial information in the first half of financial year 2020 (1H FY2020) was collated and incorporated into the assessment of how commercial banks and financial holding companies (banks) performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banks in Africa enjoyed strong liquidity, with an average of liquid assets to total deposits and borrowings ratio of around 40%. Liquidity improved further in this year’s evaluation. The average loan to deposit ratio dropped to 70% at the end of 1H FY2020 from 74% in the prior year. Overall profitability weakened, average ROA fell from 1.7% in 1H FY2019 to 1.15% in 1F FY2020 and cost to income ratio rose from 51.9% to 52.3%.

Banking sectors in the region continued to deliver mixed financial performances. Egyptian banks maintained the strongest asset quality and their average cost to income ratio remained the lowest. Ghanaian banks enjoyed the highest average ROA at 3.2% and also maintained robust capital levels, but the high level of NPLs is the main challenge they face. South African banks recorded the largest drop in average ROA from 1.75% to 0.7%. Kenyan banks achieved lower strength score than their regional peers. In addition to weak asset quality, they are also among the smallest banks in the region.

For a full explanation of the evaluation criteria please click here.

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Strength Rank 2020 MEA 200 Rank 2020 Bank Country Assets YoY Growth in Loans YoY Growth in Deposits Loan to Deposit Ratio Capital Adequacy Ratio YoY Growth in Operating Profit Return on Asset Cost to Income Ratio Non-interest Income/Total Operating Income Loan Loss Reserves / Gross NPLs Gross Non-Performing Loan Ratio Liquid Assets / Total Deposits and Borrowings Aggregate Strength Score 2020
Score (17.5%) Score (2.5%) Score (2.5%) Score (7.5%) Score (12.5%) Score (5.0%) Score (7.5%) Score (7.5%) Score (7.5%) Score (12.5%) Score (12.5%) Score (5.0%)
118Banque Misr Egypt4.51.02.05.0 2.0 5.0 4.5 5.0 3.0 5.0*3.5*5.0 3.99
29National Bank of Egypt #Egypt4.53.53.05.0 2.0 5.0 4.0 4.5 1.0 5.0 3.5 5.0 3.85
36FirstRand South Africa5.01.52.03.5 4.0 0.0 5.0 3.0 4.5 3.5 2.5 4.5**3.64
450Zenith Bank Nigeria2.05.04.55.0 2.5 1.5 5.0 3.5 4.5 5.0 2.5 5.0 3.51
564Mauritius Commercial Bank Mauritius1.51.03.04.0 4.5 2.0 5.0 5.0 3.5 5.0**2.5**4.5 3.50
643Commercial International Bank Egypt2.52.51.55.0 2.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 0.5 5.0 2.5 5.0 3.33
74Standard Bank Group South Africa5.02.53.53.5 4.0 0.0 1.0 1.5 5.0 3.5 2.0 5.0 3.29
848Access Bank Nigeria2.53.02.54.5 2.5 1.0 5.0 1.0 5.0 5.0 2.5 4.5 3.26
982Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria1.04.01.53.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 3.5 4.5 4.5 2.5 5.0 3.24
1054United Bank for Africa Nigeria2.04.55.05.0 2.5 0.0 4.5 1.5 4.0 5.0 2.5 5.0 3.21
1178Capitec Bank Holdings South Africa1.03.54.55.0 5.0 1.5 2.0 4.5 5.0 5.0 0.0 5.0 3.19
11174Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Ghana0.05.04.55.0 5.0 1.5 5.0 5.0 5.0 1.0*3.0 5.0 3.19
13159Citibank Kenya Kenya0.04.52.05.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 4.5 4.0 5.0 3.5 5.0*3.18
14135Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait - Egypt Egypt0.03.03.04.0 2.3 5.0 5.0 4.5 2.0 5.0 3.5 5.0 3.16
1598SBM Bank (Mauritius) Mauritius1.02.03.55.0 4.5 4.0 2.5 4.5 4.0 3.5*1.5*5.0*3.15
1653QNB ALAHLI Egypt2.03.02.03.5 2.5 2.0 5.0 5.0 1.5 5.0 3.0 2.0 3.11
17101NCBA Group Kenya0.55.05.04.5 2.5 5.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 4.0*1.5*4.5 3.05
17108AfrAsia Bank Mauritius0.51.04.05.0 4.0 1.5 4.0 5.0 4.5 4.0**1.0**5.0**3.05
1919Attijariwafa BankMorocco4.51.51.01.0 4.0 0.0 1.5 3.0 4.0 4.5 1.5 4.5 3.04
19185First National Bank Ghana Ghana0.05.05.04.0 2.5 3.0 3.0 0.0 4.0 5.0*5.0 5.0 3.04
2197Union Bank of Nigeria Nigeria1.03.02.55.0 2.5 5.0 3.0 1.0 4.5 5.0 2.0 5.0*3.01
21133Ecobank Ghana Ghana0.01.05.05.0 2.5*3.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 5.0*2.0*5.0*3.01
2311Absa Group South Africa4.52.03.00.5 4.0 1.0 0.5 2.5 4.5 3.5 2.0 5.0 3.00
2369Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria1.54.04.05.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 5.0 3.00
2516Nedbank Group South Africa4.52.03.01.5 4.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.0 2.5 2.5 4.0 2.99
2690Bank of AlexandriaEgypt1.03.51.55.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 4.5 1.5 5.0 2.5 4.5 2.98
26123Credit Agricole - Egypt Bank Egypt0.53.00.54.5 2.5 0.0 5.0 4.5 2.5 5.0 3.0 5.0 2.98
28113National Bank of Kuwait - EgyptEgypt0.51.50.54.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 5.0 2.0 5.0 3.5 5.0 2.96
2932Investec South Africa3.51.51.53.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 4.0 2.5 3.5 5.0 2.94
29122Housing and Development Bank - EgyptEgypt0.54.51.55.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 4.5 3.5 5.0 1.5 4.5 2.94
31178ABC Banking Corporation Mauritius0.04.50.55.0 4.5 1.5 5.0 3.5 3.0 3.5**2.0**4.5**2.91
32142Stanbic Bank Ghana Ghana0.04.05.05.0 5.0 0.5 5.0 3.0 4.0 2.5*1.5 5.0*2.90
33100FCMB Group Nigeria1.04.54.53.5 2.0*3.5 3.0 1.0 3.0 5.0*3.0 5.0*2.86
33120Stanbic Holdings Kenya0.51.04.04.5 4.5 0.0 4.5 3.5 4.5 3.5*1.0 5.0 2.86
35128BLOM Bank EgyptEgypt0.01.51.55.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 5.0 1.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 2.84
36109Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank - Egypt Egypt0.54.53.54.0 1.8 0.0 5.0 4.5*1.5*5.0 3.0 4.0 2.83
37103Bank Audi EgyptEgypt0.50.52.05.0 2.5 1.5 5.0 5.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 5.0 2.81
38104Al Baraka Bank Egypt Egypt0.52.52.55.0 2.5 0.5 4.5 5.0 1.5 5.0 2.0 3.5 2.80
38180Jaiz Bank Nigeria0.05.04.55.0 4.5*5.0 4.0 1.5 4.0 2.5 1.0 4.5 2.80
40152Zenith Bank (Ghana) Ghana0.00.54.55.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 4.5 3.5 1.0*1.5 4.5 2.79
4184Equity Group Holdings Kenya1.04.03.53.5 2.5 1.5 5.0 3.5 4.0 3.5 1.0 5.0 2.76
4285KCB Bank Kenya Kenya1.02.03.53.0 2.3 1.5 5.0 4.5 3.5 3.5*2.0*4.0 2.76
4394Fidelity Bank Nigeria1.04.04.52.0 2.5 5.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 4.5 2.5 5.0 2.75
44132GCB Bank Ghana0.03.04.55.0 2.5 3.0 5.0 2.0 3.0 5.0*1.5 3.0*2.74
4552FBN Holdings Nigeria2.03.54.05.0 2.3 2.0 4.5 1.5 4.0 2.0 1.5 5.0 2.73
46148Bank One Mauritius0.02.55.05.0 4.5 1.0 0.0 3.5 3.0 4.5*2.0*5.0 2.73
4724Banque Centrale PopulaireMorocco4.02.03.03.0 0.0 1.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 4.5 1.5 4.5 2.70
47141Consolidated Bank (Ghana) Ghana0.05.00.55.0 5.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 2.0 5.0*5.0 2.5 2.70
49115Absa Bank (Mauritius) Mauritius0.52.53.04.5 5.0*0.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0*3.0*5.0 2.69
5031Bank of AfricaMorocco4.02.51.51.0 3.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 4.0 1.5 4.0 2.65
51121Sterling Bank Nigeria0.51.02.54.0 2.0 5.0 2.0 1.0 2.5 4.5*3.5 5.0 2.64
52161Societe Generale Ghana Ghana0.04.04.52.5 2.3 1.5 5.0 2.5 3.0 4.5*2.0 5.0 2.61
53124Standard Chartered Bank KenyaKenya0.53.03.05.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 3.0 3.5 3.0*1.5*5.0*2.60
54158Access Bank (Ghana) Ghana0.04.04.55.0 2.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 4.0 2.0*0.0 5.0*2.58
55149Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ghana0.04.03.55.0 2.5 2.0 5.0 4.5 4.0 2.5*0.0 5.0 2.55
56139Absa Bank Ghana Ghana0.03.52.03.0 2.5 1.5 5.0 4.5 3.5 2.5*2.0 5.0 2.54
56160SBI (Mauritius) Mauritius0.01.54.03.0 5.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 3.0*2.0*5.0*2.54
58194Guardian Bank Kenya0.01.01.04.0 2.5 1.0 5.0 2.0 3.5 5.0*2.0*3.0*2.53
59143Fidelity Bank Ghana Ghana0.04.53.55.0 2.5 4.0 5.0 3.5 3.0 1.0*1.5*5.0*2.51
6086Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt Egypt1.00.52.55.0 2.5 0.0 4.5 3.5 0.5 3.5*2.0*4.5 2.49
60165MauBank Mauritius0.02.53.54.5 3.5 5.0 0.5 0.0 4.5 3.0**2.5**5.0**2.49
62138Wema Bank Nigeria0.04.05.05.0 1.8*0.0 1.0 0.0 4.5 5.0*3.0*5.0 2.48
63145Investec Bank (Mauritius) Mauritius0.00.50.51.0 5.0 0.0 4.5 5.0 2.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 2.46
64125Suez Canal BankEgypt0.53.50.55.0 2.0 3.5 2.0 4.0 3.5 4.0 0.0 5.0 2.45
65116Absa Bank Kenya Kenya0.52.52.02.5 2.3 1.0 1.0 3.5 3.5 5.0*2.0*5.0 2.44
66183Guaranty Trust Bank (Kenya) Kenya0.01.01.04.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 2.5 3.0 2.5*1.0*5.0*2.43
67190FBNBank Ghana Ghana0.05.05.05.0 2.5 4.5 5.0 3.5 1.5 2.0*0.0 5.0 2.41
68195Banco Sabadell Succursale Casablanca Morocco0.03.00.50.0 0.0 2.0 4.5 3.0 4.0 4.5 4.0 5.0 2.36
69102Co-operative Bank of Kenya Kenya0.52.03.53.5 2.3 0.0 5.0 3.0 3.5 3.0*1.0 4.5 2.36
70153Unity BankNigeria0.05.04.05.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 3.0 5.0*4.5*4.5 2.35
71129I&M BankKenya0.02.01.53.5 2.5 0.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 2.5*1.0*4.5*2.30
72150Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Kenya0.02.52.55.0 2.5 1.0 5.0 5.0 0.5 2.0 1.0 5.0 2.28
73184Bank of Africa Ghana Ghana0.04.53.53.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 3.5 3.5 3.0*0.0 5.0*2.26
74177Universal Merchant Bank Ghana0.01.54.55.0 2.5 5.0 3.5 0.5 4.0 2.5*0.0 5.0*2.25
75156Prime Bank Kenya0.01.52.05.0 2.5 0.5 5.0 3.0 3.5 1.5*1.5*4.0*2.24
75176United Bank for Africa (Ghana) Ghana0.04.51.05.0 2.5 0.5 5.0 5.0 2.5 2.0*0.0 4.0*2.24
77170SBM Bank (Kenya) Kenya0.05.02.55.0 4.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 5.0 3.5*0.0*5.0 2.23
78119Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Kenya0.52.01.03.5 2.5*0.0 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5*2.0*2.5 2.21
79192UBA Kenya Bank Kenya0.03.55.05.0 2.5 5.0 5.0 3.5 3.5 0.0 0.0 3.0 2.20
80173Prudential Bank Ghana0.04.54.02.5 2.5 5.0 4.5 1.5 3.0 1.0*1.5 4.5 2.18
80179First Atlantic Bank Ghana0.00.53.05.0 5.0 4.5 5.0 2.5 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.18
82187Victoria Commercial Bank Kenya0.01.01.02.0 2.5 0.0 3.5 3.0 1.5 4.0*2.5*4.5 2.15
8363Arab African International BankEgypt1.50.51.05.0 2.5*0.0 3.0 4.5 2.0 0.0 1.5*5.0 2.14
83167Family Bank Kenya0.03.54.02.5 2.5 5.0 4.5 1.5 3.5 2.0*0.5*3.5 2.14
85169Bidvest Bank South Africa0.03.04.05.0 5.0 0.0 5.0*1.0*1.5*0.0*1.0*5.0 2.11
86157Sasfin Holdings South Africa0.01.52.50.0 4.5 0.0 3.5 1.0 4.5 2.5 1.5 4.5 2.06
87163Agricultural Development Bank Ghana0.04.54.05.0 1.8 3.0 4.0 0.0 2.5 3.0*0.0 4.5 2.04
88166CFG BankMorocco0.05.04.00.0 0.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 4.0 4.0 4.5 2.04
89151CalBank Ghana0.03.00.53.0 2.5 0.0 5.0 3.5 1.5 3.0*1.0 2.5*2.00
90175BCP Bank (Mauritius)Mauritius0.02.03.00.5 3.5*0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 4.5*2.5*5.0 1.95
9195Credit du MarocMorocco1.01.51.51.0 2.0 0.0 0.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 1.5 3.5 1.91
9283Banque Marocaine pour le Commerce et l'IndustrieMorocco1.01.50.50.0 4.0 0.0 0.5 2.5 2.5 4.0 0.5 2.5 1.83
92111Emirates NBD EgyptEgypt0.54.02.03.5 2.5*0.0 5.0 3.5 2.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 1.83
94182Albaraka Bank South Africa0.02.52.53.0 4.0 0.0 1.5 0.5 1.5 0.5 2.5 4.5*1.71
95199Middle East Bank Kenya Kenya0.05.05.03.0 2.5 0.0 2.0 1.0 5.0 1.0*0.5*2.0*1.68
96146African Bank HoldingsSouth Africa0.01.00.00.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 3.5 2.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 1.63
97181BANK OF AFRICA - KENYA Kenya0.00.52.05.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 4.5*0.0*4.5 1.62
9879Credit Immobilier et Hotelier Morocco1.03.53.50.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 4.0 2.5 1.5 0.0 1.60
99191Credit Bank Kenya0.02.03.02.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 4.5 1.5*1.5*3.0*1.50
10068Societe Generale Marocaine de BanquesMorocco1.52.51.50.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 0.5 0.0 1.49
101186Sidian Bank Kenya0.03.52.52.5 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 2.5*0.0*4.5*1.46
102196M Oriental Bank Kenya0.00.51.53.5 2.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 5.0 1.5*0.0*4.5*1.45
103198Access Bank (Kenya)Kenya0.00.51.04.5 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 2.0*0.0*3.5 1.34
104164Ecobank Kenya Kenya0.03.55.05.0 2.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.0 5.0 1.31
105188Gulf African BankKenya0.01.01.02.5 2.3 5.0 1.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 1.29
106193First Community BankKenya0.03.01.04.5 0.5 4.5 0.5 0.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 1.29
107155National Bank of KenyaKenya0.02.02.05.0 1.3 5.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.0 3.5 1.24
108168Grindrod Bank South Africa0.00.00.04.5*1.5 0.0 1.5*1.0*3.5*0.0*0.0*4.5*1.20
108189African Banking Corporation Kenya0.04.02.52.5 2.0 2.5 0.5 0.0 3.5 0.0 0.0 3.5 1.20
110197Consolidated Bank of KenyaKenya0.00.51.03.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 1.0*0.0*2.5 1.04

Notes: (1) 5 = Highest score, 0 = Lowest score. (2) * FY2019 data. (3) ** FY2020 data. (4) # 2H FY2019 data.
Source: Asian Banker Research