Only 3 banks consistently profitable over the part 4 years

British Arab Commercial Bank Plc tops the latest Pre-Pax Profit Growth Table due to a leap back to the sort of figure that we would expect (£13,555,000 for 2012) against a relatively low base of £209,000 for 2011. Both Adam & Co Plc and United National Bank Ltd record growth of over 1000% for much the same reason.

It is therefore useful to look at the average for the last four years.

Although, once again, the growth for British Arab Commercial Bank Plc of 6385% for 2012 compared to 2011 has put it at the top of the 4 year average table, for two of the comparative years there has been a fall in profit.

There are only three banks that have shown an increase in profit each year over the past four years. they are
Vanquis Bank Ltd, ABC International Bank Plc and Standard Chartered Bank.

Two banks come, four banks go and three change names

Following the publication of the 2013 / 14 edition of Bank League Tables the following banks have been added:
Itau BBA International Plc
Axis Bank UK Ltd

The following have been removed:
AMC Bank Ltd
Broadcastle Bank Ltd
Canada Square Operations Plc
MBNA Europe Bank Ltd

The following have changed names:
BIRA Finance Ltd to BIRA Bank Ltd
Intercontinental Bank (UK) Plc to Diamond Bank (UK) Plc
Smith & Williamson Investment Management Ltd to Smith & Williamson Investment Services Ltd

For the 2013 / 14 we have 154 banks included.

Brown Shipley & Co Ltd and the missing £1,000

It may just be a rounding-up error but you would have thought that someone would have spotted that when you add up the liabilities on Brown Shipley's consolidated statement of financial position as at 31st December 2012 in their 2012 accounts they total £335,954,000 and not £335,953,000.

Bank of Beirut (UK) Ltd

The latest batch of annual reports seem to have more errors than normal.

The 2012 annual report for Bank of Beirut shows total liabilities as at 31st December 2012 of £298,534,323 and total equity of £70,759,895. Add them together and the final digit should be an "8". In the accounts it's a "9". Only one £ we know, but can't these guys add up? What's more, when you go to the notes there are no sections 16, 17, 18 and 19. We wonder what they're hiding?!

On a lighter note, Bank of Beriut is one of a select number of banks that have made a pre-tax profit in all of at least the last 5 years.

Credit Suisse International's remuneration of its highest paid director a little bit surprising

For the 2012 year, as just reported, Credit Suisse International's remuneration of its highest paid director was US$ 6,652,000 comprising pay, defined cash awards and pensions contributions. Not bad for a bank that made a pre-tax loss for that year of US$359 million and which has only made a profit once in the past 5 years.

Bank League Tables nearly ready

Bank League Tables 2013/14 are nearly ready. Contact us for more details.