Top Banks in Austria, Germany, Switzerland

With all the financial turmoil in recent months and years, it has become increasingly difficult to keep up with the rankings of the world’s banks. Big European and German banks have not been immune to the world credit crisis precipitated by the 2007 U.S. mortgage disaster. Some once highly ranked German banks no longer exist! And everyone has been discovering how closely intertwined the US, European, Asian, and other world financial institutions really are.

NOTE: The recent financial turmoil throughout the world did not spare Germany. Our German bank rankings were delayed in expectation of more calm conditions. As of 2010 (fiscal year 2009), we have resumed our annual rankings. Many banks, including several in Germany, did not survive the crisis that began in 2007. The German government was forced to bail out Hypo Real Estate. Dresdner Bank, once Germany’s second largest, was absorbed by Commerzbank in 2009.