As transaction banking expands globally, so does our directory. In this 2023-2024 edition of the Global Leaders in Financial Institutions and Transaction Banking Directory, we are pleased to offer an updated, comprehensive guide to leading institutions and practitioners in the industry worldwide. TAB Global acknowledges individuals shaping transaction finance on regional and global levels through its List of Leading Practitioners programme.

The global directory includes trends, best practice features, commentaries, and analyses that encapsulate the most pressing issues confronting the industry and key stakeholders today.

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This is the inaugural TAB Global 1000 World’s Largest and Strongest Banks Ranking 2023. This comprehensive assessment represents a significant milestone as it encompasses a diverse range of 1000 banks and financial holding companies from across the globe. Institutions from 98 countries and territories have been evaluated based on financial performance for the fiscal year 2022.

Canada’s Bank of Montreal takes the top spot with an exceptional risk profile and asset quality, solidifying its position as the world’s strongest bank in 2023.

The 2023-2024 Global Leaders in Financial Technology Directory and Handbook reaffirms our commitment to providing comprehensive insights into the financial technology industry. Since 2015, our List of Leading Practitioners (LLP) programme has recognised individuals shaping technological advancements regionally and globally.

Beyond a prominent practitioner list, this directory offers thought-provoking articles, insightful commentary, and in-depth analyses addressing industry challenges. It fosters connections across institutions and geographies, facilitating dialogue among participants, and enhancing industry data, research, and benchmarks.

This evolving resource is available at listofleadingpractitioners.theasianbanker.com

We value your insight and feedback on this directory and the LLP programme—reach out, let’s talk.

This edition spotlights influential leaders shaping the global financial landscape—the annual Leadership Achievement Awards pay tribute to titans of the industry who dare to breach conventions. The publication also covers the Future of Finance Summit 2023, including events like the Financial Technology Innovation Conference and CEO Leadership Dialogue. Keynotes by illustrious industry pundits Howard Davies and Barney Frank offer critical takeaways.

The feature story explores how banks guide sustainable financial supply chain management for corporate clients, emphasising collaborative solutions for enduring profitability and societal benefits.

The 22nd Heads of Retail Finance Dialogue held in conjunction with The Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services programme in Hanoi, Vietnam, provided a platform for industry experts to exchange insights, share best practices and inspire innovation. The discussions centred on identifying strategies to navigate the evolving landscape, enhance customer experiences, and foster long-term profitability in a digital environment.

This year, we introduced the Global Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards to recognise the leading retail banks, digital banks, and platforms around the world.

As Asia explores emerging technologies like blockchain and digital currencies, careful evaluation of their feasibility and efficiency in cross-border transactions is essential. Implementing robust security measures and fraud prevention mechanisms is crucial to building trust and safeguarding transactions.

The ongoing efforts towards payment integration and connectivity in Asia unlock significant potential for incumbent commercial banks and fintech payment service providers.

Since its inception 22 years ago, The Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services programme remains the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent in the world.

This year, we elevated the programme into the Excellence in Retail Financial Services Global Awards.

We do this to fill a void. A global ranking of retail finance institutions based on objective criteria, transparent scorecard and rigorous research—one that truly determines the best—does not exist.

Many have—and more will try—to emulate The Asian Banker Excellence award programmes, but none can replicate our rigor and transparency, nor support our selection criteria with the same level of research, content and community or industry engagement.

Most parts of the world and advanced economies such as the United States and European Union are expected to experience a significant slowdown in growth from 2.7% in 2022 to just 1.2% in 2023.

However, growth in the emerging and developing economies are forecasted to continue to rise moderately from 3.9% in 2022 to 4% in 2023.

In particular, growth in Asia is expected to increase to 5.3% in 2023 and 5.2% in 2024, led by China’s strong recovery of 5.2% after a worse-than-expected 4.3% in 2022.

Growth in the Middle East is projected to fall from 5.3% in 2022 to 3.2% in 2023; lower oil production in Saudi Arabia will reflect slower-than-expected growth. Meanwhile, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to moderate to 3.8% in 2023 due to COVID-19 and increase to 4.1% in 2024.

Also in this issue, UnionBank president and CEO describes how technology, data, culture and people play important roles in its digital transformation.