Global Finance names the World's 50 Safest Banks 2010

With bank stability still high on corporate and investor agendas; Global Finance publishes its 19th annual list of the world's safest banks.

The sovereign debt crisis in Europe and renewed concerns about the global economic outlook are once again putting the spotlight on bank safety. It should be somewhat reassuring that 45 of the top-50 safest banks is this year's listing maintained their standing among the top echelon in this year's ranking.

Banks that cleaned up their balance sheets and strengthened their capital positions were the biggest gainers. In many instances, non-performing loans have been reduced significantly. Several major British banks have rejoined the top 50, although many of the big name banks that lost their safest bank ranking during the credit crunch are still absent from the list.

The "World's 50 Safest Banks" 2010 were selected through a comparison of the long-term credit ratings and total assets of the 500 largest banks around the world. Ratings from Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch were used.

The list is dominated by banks from such countries as Germany (6), France (6) and Canada (6). The top ten in the list has almost not changed compared with the last year's data.

As previously the list is head by the German KfW followed by French Caisse des Depots et Consignations-? (CDC) and Dutch Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten.

HSBC the owner of the 70 per cent of the shares of HSBC Armenia is the 18th in the list.

The French Credit Agricole, which owns 28 per cent of Acba Credit Agricole shares, is the 20th in the list.