Forbes has released its 2026 ranking of the world's top-performing banks, and lenders based in Singapore hold the first two positions, according to The Indian Express. India's HDFC Bank placed third on the list.
The Indian Express reported the standings on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The same Forbes list drew coverage elsewhere for its treatment of East African lenders. The EastAfrican reported that banks from the region had broken into the ranks of the world's elite lenders, while Kenyan outlets focused on which of their country's institutions made the cut.
Standard Media reported that Co-op Bank led the Kenyan lenders included in the Forbes World top 500. The Star reported that KCB also joined the ranking.
The results point to a broad geographic spread among the institutions Forbes assessed, with banks from Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Africa all appearing in the same global table.
What to watch next: whether the named banks hold their positions in the next edition of the ranking, and how the full Forbes list, beyond the top 10, is received by the lenders named in it.