Global Finance has named the 50 Safest Banks in Emerging Markets for 2026 as part of its 35th annual World’s Safest Banks rankings. The full list is included here and will be published in the November print and digital editions, as well as online at GFMag.com.
South Korean banks make a strong showing once again this year, taking the top three spots, seven of the top 11, and nine total, as Asian banks dominate the list, earning half of the 50 rankings. China and Taiwan each land eight banks on the list, and Saudi Arabia and the UAE each make it with six.
The full report also includes the following: 100 Safest Banks in the World; World’s 50 Safest Commercial Banks; Safest Banks by Country, Territory, and District; Safest Islamic Financial Institutions in the GCC; and Safest Banks by Region (Africa, Asia, Australasia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Western Europe).
Global Finance’s annual rankings of the World’s Safest Banks have been the recognized and trusted standard of financial counterparty safety for more than three decades. Global Finance evaluates the ratings and total assets of the main players in developing economies to create the rankings, providing an overview of the key banks in each region and which financial institutions offer the greatest security. Winners were selected through an evaluation of long-term foreign currency ratings of the 500 largest banks worldwide from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch.
“In a period of continued economic uncertainty, geopolitical tension and rapid change across the financial sector, strength, stability and disciplined risk management remain critical measures of banking excellence. Global Finance’s World’s Safest Banks 2026 recognizes the institutions that have demonstrated the financial strength and long-term resilience needed to navigate emerging risks and provide confidence to customers and markets,” said Joseph Giarraputo, founder and editorial director of Global Finance.
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For editorial information please contact: Denise Bedell – dbedell@gfmag.com
Ratings current as of: August 27, 2026 / Press Release Date: October 6, 2026
About Global Finance
Global Finance, founded in 1987, has a circulation of 50,000 readers in 196 countries, territories, and districts. Global Finance’s audience includes senior corporate and financial officers responsible for making investment and strategic decisions at multinational companies and financial institutions. Its website — GFMag.com — offers analysis and articles that are the legacy of 39 years of experience in international financial markets. Global Finance is headquartered in New York, with offices around the world. Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other providers of financial services. These awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.
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