Bank of China (Hong Kong), Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank lead with a strong retail deposit franchises and targeted digital investment China Construction Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Standard Chartered (Hong Kong), DBS, China Merchants Bank, NatWest and Kuwait Finance House also rank among the top 10 global retail banks Top 100 retail banks report digital capabilities and diversify revenue streams as institutions strengthen deposit franchises and invest in artificial intelligence and digital platforms Shanghai, 12 March 2026 - Bank of China (Hong Kong), Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) have secured the top three positions in the 2026 TABInsights World’s Best Retail Banks Ranking, reflecting how leading institutions are converting strong retail deposit franchises into diversified fee income through targeted digital investment. This year’s ranking has been expanded to include the top 100 retail banks globally based primarily on publicly reported results for the first half (1H) of 2025, with comparative data from 1H24. The results highlight how global retail banks are adapting to a complex operating environment marked by slowing interest rate cycles, rising operating costs and intensifying digital competition. Leading institutions are strengthening retail deposit bases, investing in digital platforms and deploying artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, customer engagement and cross-selling. BOCHK, Emirates NBD and FAB lead global rankings Bank of China (Hong Kong) leads the 2026 ranking, supported by strong financial performance and continued investment in digital banking. The bank reported 16.6% revenue growth in 1H25, alongside a 2.6% return on assets and a 36.8% cost-to-income ratio. Digital channels now account for 65% of retail sales, reflecting the growing role of its digital platforms in customer engagement and product distribution. The bank has also expanded its digital payments ecosystem, with growth in users of its BoC Pay+ mobile wallet, supporting everyday payments, transfers and cross-border transactions. Emirates NBD ranks second, supported by strong growth in its retail banking franchise and an increasingly digital customer base. Retail deposits grew 19.3% in 1H25, while the bank maintained a 57% current account savings account (CASA) ratio, providing a stable and low-cost funding base. Its digital strategy continues to expand rapidly, with the majority of new customers now onboarded through digital channels. FAB takes third place, supported by its strong retail banking franchise and continued investment in artificial intelligence. The bank has expanded the use of AI across lending, operations and customer service, helping streamline credit decision-making and improve operational efficiency across its retail business. China Construction Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) rank among top global performers The top 10 banks in this year’s ranking also include China Construction Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Standard Chartered (Hong Kong), DBS, China Merchants Bank, NatWest and Kuwait Finance House. China Construction Bank stands out for its operational efficiency, recording the lowest cost-to-income ratio among the top 10 banks at 29.9% in 1H25, reflecting strong cost discipline and scale in its retail banking operations. China Merchants Bank also demonstrates strong retail momentum, reporting the highest retail deposit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) among the top 10 banks at 20.79%, highlighting the strength of its retail franchise and customer deposit base. JPMorgan Chase continues to demonstrate scale in retail banking, serving more than 66 million households through its digital platforms. Data-driven personalisation supports customer engagement while strengthening cross-selling and sales management. DBS maintains a strong digital banking model, with fee income contributing 30% of total revenue in 1H25, up from 26% in 2024. The bank continues to leverage artificial intelligence and data analytics to enhance efficiency and expand digital distribution. NatWest reported 16.5% revenue growth in 1H25 while reducing its cost-to-income ratio from 54.6% to 45.4%, supported by investments in automation, cloud infrastructure and process simplification. Kuwait Finance House also ranks among the top 10, supported by its RiskGPT platform, which reduces credit evaluation time from days to under an hour. Its digital-only Tam Bank has strengthened customer onboarding and personal finance growth. Top 100 retail banks reflect growing digital investment and shifting revenue mix The 2026 TABInsights World’s Best Retail Banks Ranking evaluates the top 100 retail banks globally, highlighting how institutions are strengthening their retail franchises while investing heavily in digital transformation. Across the top 100 banks, many are expanding digital capabilities to deepen customer relationships and generate more diversified revenue streams through payments, cards, lending and wealth management. Banks with strong retail deposit franchises are increasingly using digital platforms and artificial intelligence to enhance customer engagement, improve operational efficiency and support cross-selling opportunities. Institutions with a high share of retail revenue continue to demonstrate strong growth potential. Itaú Unibanco leads globally in retail focus, with 70.9% of total revenue derived from retail banking and 11.1% year-on-year growth in 1H25, supported by a digital “super-app” ecosystem integrating loans, payments and investment products. Other banks with strong retail franchises include Banco Bradesco, as well as UnionBank and BPI in the Philippines, and HDFC Bank in India, which are leveraging mobile-first populations and digital payments platforms to expand retail services and strengthen customer engagement. Overall, the ranking highlights how retail banks are entering a new phase of transformation, where strong deposit franchises, digital engagement and diversified fee income are becoming key drivers of long-term competitiveness. View the full World’s Best Retail Banks Ranking here About the World’s Best Retail Banks Ranking TABInsights, the research arm of TAB Global, evaluates leading retail banks and ranks them based on their performance across seven critical areas: retail financial performance, retail focus, digital capability, brand strength, sales management, customer experience and risk management. This thorough assessment provides a detailed analysis of each institution’s strengths and performance across these dimensions. About TABInsights TABInsights is the global research arm of TAB Global, interacting with a wide spectrum of financial institutions across the Asia Pacific, the Middle East and African regions. TABInsights provides a range of custom and bespoke research for financial institutions in emerging and established markets to facilitate management decision-making process and guide business strategy. TABInsights provides strategic analysis and recommendations to institutions across all verticals including retail, transaction, risk and technology functions. Visit https://tabinsights.com/ for details. About TAB Global TAB Global owns and manages a number of world class digital content platforms namely, The Asian Banker, Wealth and Society, BankQuality.com as well as learning platforms like The Banking Academy and The Skill Store. Incorporated in Singapore, it has offices in Beijing, Dubai and support offices in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, with plans to expand to Johannesburg, London, Zurich and New York. Visit https://www.tab.global/ for details. For media enquiries, please contact: Nanda Lakhwani Editor TAB Global Email: nlakwani@tab.global
