Latin America 100: The region’s biggest banks

Brazilian banks continue to dominate our annual ranking of Latin America's biggest banks. But some smaller institutions top the ranking by capital, assets and profit growth, while Banespa has by far the highest return on equity. Data for the Latin 100 is supplied by Fitch IBCA.

Latin America 100: Capital growth year-on-year

Latin America 100: Asset growth year-on-year

Latin America 100: Profit growth year-on-year

Latin America 100: ROE growth

Latin America 100: Definitions and methodology

98 97 Bank Country Fiscal period Shareholder equity ($m) Equity growth (%) Total assets ($m) Asset growth (%) Net income ($m) Income growth (%) ROAE (%) $ rate differential
1 1 Banco Bradesco Brazil 1997 5,479 9.32 55,286 59.22 783 3.12 14.92 7.41
2 2 Banco do Brasil Brazil 1997 5,377 7.35 97,560 31.81 514 -107.62 9.90 7.41
3 4 Banco Itaú Brazil 1997 3,971 10.27 41,553 44.66 641 18.80 16.92 7.41
4 Banco do Estado de São Paulo (Banespa) Brazil 1997 3,521 60.99 52,310 -7.00 1,825 59.93 63.96 7.41
5 6 Banco Nacional de Mexico (Banamex) Mexico 1997 2,896 35,602 254 0.00
6 5 Banco Hipotecario Nacional Argentina 1996 2,767 5.27 4,394 3.85 281 -13.47 10.43 -0.05
7 7 Unibanco (União de Bancos Brasileiros) Brazil 1997 2,758 42.08 25,205 7.12 387 51.03 16.48 7.41
8 10 Bancomer Mexico 1997 2,276 27,228 294 0.00
9 8 Banco de la Nación Argentina Argentina 1996 1,934 3.29 13,468 -5.92 71 -408.52 3.72 -0.05
10 9 Banco Real Group Brazil 1997 1,581 10.07 16,824 20.71 195 -35.41 12.94 7.41
11 11 Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Argentina 1996 1,360 12.

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