With the new financial regulations, entering into force in Europe over the last few years, the local banking sector continued the restructuration and adaptation road in 2018. As a result, many of the European financial institutions have improved their risk profiles, as well as became more stable and wealthy; their balance sheet total being a good indicator of that. And the banks’ well-being is, in its turn, a barometer of the region’s economy.
However, in the pre-Brexit 2018, the list of the most prominent banks of the continent by total assets hasn’t suffered significant changes in comparison to the previous years. French banks are still dominating this list, followed by Swiss financial institutions. Check below the top 10 largest banks in Europe by total assets in 2018, prepared by Global Database, to get a detailed view of the continent’s financial system.
DISCLAIMER: This top 10 article does not include a series of largest banks by assets which are currently involved in major lawsuits or scandals
1. Crédit Agricole Group (France) - $1,961.8B
2. Banco Santander SA (Spain) - $1,609.1B
3. Société Générale SA (France) - $1,418.8B
4. Groupe BPCE (France) - $1,401.3B
5. Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (UK) - $1,035.6B
6. ING Groep NV (Netherlands) - $941.5B
7. Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Italy) - $891.2B
8. Crédit Mutuel Group (France) - $882.9B
9. UBS Group AG (Switzerland) - $870,6B
10. Credit Suisse Group AG (Switzerland) - $756,4B
**All figures are in USD. M: Millions of USD, B: Billions of USD
**EUR was converted to USD using an average exchange rate of 0.90 EUR to 1 USD
1. Crédit Agricole Group (France) - $1,961.8B
Crédit Agricole Group (further Crédit Agricole) is one of the biggest cooperative financial institutions in the world, representing a network of local and regional banks with their headquarters in Montrouge. Historically tied to farming, currently, Crédit Agricole is a full-service banking group, that managed to reach $1,961.8B in total assets in 2018. The bank operates around 7,200 branches and 12,000 ATMs.
2. Banco Santander SA (Spain) - $1,609.1B
Banco Santander SA (further Santander Group) is unarguably a noble commercial bank and financial services institution from Spain. It was the 16th biggest in the world, the 2nd largest in Europe and the leading bank in Spain by total assets in 2018 - $1,609.1B. Santander Group operates around 14,500 branches across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Over 15,000 employees of the company manage to serve 102+ million customers.
3. Société Générale SA (France) - $1,418.8B
Société Générale SA (further Société Générale) ranked the 17th biggest bank by market cap and made it 3rd in our top of largest banks by total assets in Europe in 2018, which amounted to $1,418.8B by the end of last year. Société Générale is operating across three main business sectors, such as retail banking in the home country, and international banking and financial services, as well as corporate and investment banking.
4. Groupe BPCE (France) - $1,401.3B
Groupe BPCE is one of the largest French banking groups, serving over 40M customers (from individuals and SMEs to large companies) across the world and operating over 8,200 branches across the country. It reported a total assets of $1,401.3B in 2018, thus becoming the 4th largest bank in Europe by this indicator according to Global Database.
5. Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (UK) - $1,035.6B
Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (further RBS Group) is yet another prominent Scotland-based financial institution, which made it in our Top biggest banks in Europe by assets. Its total assets as of 2018 were $1,035.6B. RBS Group provides banking and insurance services to its clients across Europe, Asia and North America with the help of over 67,000 employees.
6. ING Groep NV (Netherlands) - $941.5B
ING Groep NV (further ING Group) is an international banking and financial service holding from the Netherlands, operating across the world, with the most significant presence in Europe, Australia and Asia Pacific. As one of the most important European banks, ING Group is a member of Inter-Alpha Group of Banks. Its total assets equaled $941.5B in 2018.
7. Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Italy) - $891.2B
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (further Intesa Sanpaolo) is a banking group from Italy, operating internationally and focused on such markets, as Central-Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Intesa Sanpaolo has 12 subsidiaries and serves over 8.3M clients in its 1,600 branches globally. The company reported an impressive total assets in 2018 - $891.2B.
8. Crédit Mutuel Group (France) - $882.9B
Crédit Mutuel Group (further Crédit Mutuel) is a cooperative bank from France, headquartered in Strasbourg, serving over 32M customers internationally with the help of 82,000 employees. Its membership in the International Raiffeisen Union makes it one of the most prominent European banks. Crédit Mutuel was one of the 15 largest banks by assets on the continent in 2018 with a total assets of $882.9B.
9. UBS Group AG (Switzerland) - $870,6B
UBS Group AG (further UBS) is the biggest Swiss bank by total assets as of 2018, reporting an amount of $870,6B at the end of last year. This international financial services company and investment bank is headquartered in Basel and Zurich and has a strong presence in EMEA, Asia Pacific and the Americas. As most of the Swiss banks, UBS is highly appreciated for its culture of banking secrecy and strict bank-client confidentiality.
10. Credit Suisse Group AG (Switzerland) - $756,4B
Credit Suisse Group AG (further Credit Suisse) is an international financial organisation from Switzerland, operating in the investment and private banking field, as well as providing asset management services. It’s the second Swiss bank which managed to enter the top 10 biggest European banks by total assets, created by Global Database, recording a total assets of $756,4B as of 2018.
