By total assets, the four largest banks in the world are all Chinese — led by ICBC, with about $7.6 trillion in assets. American and European banks such as JPMorgan Chase follow. Measured by market value, however, JPMorgan is the world’s biggest bank.
The largest banks in the world by assets (2026)
Ranked by total assets, China’s state-owned banks dominate. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is the largest, followed by three more Chinese giants before the first Western bank appears. These lenders serve the world’s second-largest economy and a vast base of household deposits.
| Rank | Bank | Country | Total assets (USD trn) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ICBC | China | 7.65 |
| 2 | Agricultural Bank of China | China | 6.98 |
| 3 | China Construction Bank | China | 6.52 |
| 4 | Bank of China | China | 5.48 |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase | USA | 4.43 |
| 6 | Bank of America | USA | 3.41 |
| 7 | BNP Paribas | France | 3.28 |
| 8 | HSBC | UK | 3.21 |
| 9 | Crédit Agricole | France | 3.15 |
| 10 | Postal Savings Bank of China | China | 2.67 |
Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence (2026), total assets. Japan’s MUFG is just outside the top ten.
By assets or by market value?
The answer to “largest bank” depends on the yardstick. By total assets, Chinese state banks lead because they lend enormous sums within a huge, high-savings economy. By market capitalisation — what investors will pay for the shares — the picture flips: JPMorgan Chase is the world’s most valuable bank, worth around $893 billion (CompaniesMarketCap), and Forbes ranks it the largest bank overall on its blend of assets, sales, profit and market value (Forbes). Chinese banks are bigger; American banks are more profitable and more valued.
Key takeaways
- ICBC is the world’s largest bank by assets, with about $7.65 trillion.
- The four biggest banks by assets are all Chinese and state-owned.
- By market value, JPMorgan Chase is the world’s largest bank (~$893 billion).
- Chinese banks are bigger by assets; US banks lead on profit and valuation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest bank in the world?
By total assets, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), with about $7.65 trillion. By market value, JPMorgan Chase of the United States is the largest. The answer depends on which measure you use.
Is JPMorgan bigger than ICBC?
It depends. ICBC holds far more assets ($7.65 trillion vs $4.43 trillion), but JPMorgan is worth much more to investors and earns higher profits, making it the largest bank by market value.
Why are Chinese banks the largest?
China’s big banks are state-owned and serve the world’s second-largest economy, with an enormous base of household savings and deposits. That lets them build vast balance sheets, giving them the highest total assets in the world.
Sources
- S&P Global Market Intelligence, World’s largest banks by assets 2026 — retrieved 2026-07-05 — spglobal.com
- Forbes, World’s largest banks (Global 2000) — retrieved 2026-07-05 — forbes.com
- CompaniesMarketCap, Largest banks by market cap — retrieved 2026-07-05 — companiesmarketcap.com
Last updated: July 4, 2026
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