Singapore lender OCBC secured third place globally and top ranking in Asia-Pacific in The Asian Banker’s latest global bank assessment, marking a historic high for the institution since the index debuted in 2023.
Financial business intelligence provider The Asian Banker placed the Singaporean bank third in its World’s 1,000 Strongest Banks ranking.
The ranking was released on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The milestone represents the first time any Singapore-incorporated lender has broken into the global top three since the evaluation framework was established in 2023.
The evaluation placed OCBC ahead of its regional competitors. It leapfrogged seven Asia-Pacific lenders that held higher positions in the previous year, including domestic rival DBS and China Merchants Bank.
Among global institutions, only JPMorgan Chase of the United States and Saudi National Bank claimed higher spots.
Evaluation Metrics for the Global Top Tier
The annual scorecard assesses the financial and business performance of the world’s 1,000 largest banks by examining seven core balance-sheet dimensions.
The assessment incorporates 15 distinct financial and sovereign metrics to grade institutions on sovereign risk, scale, balance-sheet growth, risk profile, profitability, asset quality, and liquidity.
Christian Kapfer, research director at TABInsights, the research and consultancy arm of the intelligence provider, detailed the specific strengths driving the bank’s ascent up the global leaderboard.
OCBC’s diversified earnings, sound asset quality and strong capital position distinguish it from many of its regional peers. Its ability to combine profitability with prudent balance-sheet management has been an important factor in its financial strength.
Christian Kapfer, research director of TABInsights
In the 2023 assessment, the bank placed 36th. It advanced to 10th place in 2024 and 11th in 2025.
Rankings for Singapore Other Major Banks
DBS Bank, the nation’s largest lender by assets, landed in 23rd place globally.
United Overseas Bank (UOB) secured the 187th position in the comprehensive evaluation.
In the regional standings compiled for Asia-Pacific’s strongest institution, OCBC stood at the summit.
JPMorgan Chase and Saudi National Bank remained the sole international peers ahead of it worldwide.
Record Earnings and Market Performance Fueling the Ascent
On August 7, OCBC reported a record second-quarter net profit of S$2.22 billion.
The figure marked a 22 per cent increase from the previous year. It outpaced the S$1.91 billion consensus forecast compiled in a Bloomberg survey of five analysts.
Growth across wealth management, insurance, and trading sectors during 2025 lifted operating income to a record $14.6 billion, according to industry disclosures published alongside the rankings.
On the Singapore Exchange, the bank’s share price has climbed roughly 72 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The bank ranks as the top performer on the Straits Times Index this year, boasting a share-to-date surge of 48.6 per cent.
Leadership Response to Global Accolades
OCBC captured the top spot among global banks in the inaugural World’s Top Performing Banks ranking compiled by Forbes and Statista in September.
Being named one of the world’s strongest banks, soon after being recognised as the ‘top performing bank’, reflects the resilience of the OCBC franchise.
Tan Teck Long, Group CEO, OCBC
Group chief executive Tan Teck Long noted that operational strength stems from multi-generational customer trust. We will continue to build on this strong foundation
, he added, emphasizing a commitment to delivering lasting value for shareholders, communities, and customers alike.