The “big four banks” in the United States are JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank. These banks are not only the largest in the United States, but also rank among the top banks worldwide by market capitalization, with JPMorgan Chase being the most valuable bank in the world. Total assets of banks As the largest bank in the United States, JPMorgan Chase had total assets worth close to 3.5 trillion U.S. dollars as of December 2024. Despite being the bank with the highest market capitalization in the world, the bank ranked only fifth in terms of total assets worldwide, while the top four positions were all held by Chinese banks. Stability in the banking sector in the United States In the third quarter of 2024, all the "big four" banks in the United States maintained a common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio significantly above the required minimum of 4.5 percent. JPMorgan Chase reported a CET1 ratio of 15.31 percent. Meanwhile, the highest CET1 ratio among U.S. banks during this period was 16.74 percent, achieved by TD Bank, the tenth-largest bank in the country in 2024.

In 2024, JPMorgan Chase was the commercial bank with the highest revenue in the United States, with a total revenue of over 177 billion U.S. dollars. Bank of America and Wells Fargo followed, with 101.9 and 82.3 billion U.S. dollars, respectively. These three banks were also the largest banks in terms of total assets in the United States that year. Commercial banking A commercial bank is a bank that offers financial services to private customers and companies, such as accepting deposits, checking services or loans. Commercial banks earn money through interest rates on the loans that they offer. Such rates are significantly higher than the interest rates paid to the bank customers for depositing their assets in a bank. This difference in rates is called net interest income, which is one of the leading indicators of bank performance. Commercial vs investment banks Some banks specialize only in commercial or investment banking, while some banks combine both divisions in their operations. Investment banks specialize in managing assets of their clients, underwriting securities or supervising merger and acquisition transactions.

JPMorgan Chase dominated the U.S. banking landscape in 2023, reporting a net income of 47.5 billion U.S. dollars, almost 20 billion more than Bank of America, which ranked second. Wells Fargo ranked third, with a net income of roughly 22 billion U.S. dollars. These three banks were also the largest banks based on total assets. The substantial lead held by JPMorgan Chase underscores its position as the financial powerhouse among American banks, reflecting its robust performance across various banking sectors. Market capitalization and global standing JPMorgan Chase's financial prowess extends beyond net income. With a market capitalization of 491.76 billion U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2023, it stood as the most valuable bank in the United States. Its massive market capitalization also made it the largest bank globally, with Bank of America following from a distance. This impressive valuation, coupled with its substantial net income, cements JPMorgan Chase's status as a financial titan. Asset base of JPMorgan Chase JPMorgan Chase's leadership is also evident in its asset base. The bank held 8.56 percent of total banking assets in the United States as of December 2023, surpassing Bank of America and Wells Fargo. This substantial market share translated to over 3.9 trillion U.S. dollars in total assets.

In 2024, JPMorgan Chase was the largest U.S. employer in the banking sector, with a workforce exceeding ******* by year-end. Wells Fargo followed, employing over ******* people. JPMorgan Chase also held the top spot for the most bank branches in the country, a factor that likely contributed to its substantial headcount. Employment in the U.S. banking sector The number of employees of FDIC-insured banks in the United States fluctuated during the last decade, from around **** million in 2012, down to **** million in 2014, and up to around **** million in 2024. There is no clear downward trend in bank employment in the United States, despite the decreasing number of bank branches in the last several years. The largest banks The big four in the U.S. banking industry are JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. The largest, JPMorgan Chase, is not only the leading bank in the United States in terms of market capitalization, but also the leading bank in the world. The bank had a market capitalization of around *** billion U.S. dollars in 2024.

JPMorgan Chase was the leading bank in the United States as of December 2024, with its market share of total assets amounting to 14.31 percent. This means that the value of assets of JPMorgan Chase was equivalent to 14.31 percent of the total value of assets of all FDIC-insured institutions in the United States. Bank of America and Wells Fargo followed, with 10.71 and 7.06 percent of the total banking assets, respectively. The value of JPMorgan Chase's total assets exceeded 3.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. JPMorgan Chase: an industry leader in U.S. banking JPMorgan Chase is undoubtedly one of the leading financial services companies in the United States. It does not only rank first in terms of market share of total assets, but it also has the largest market capitalization and value of total and domestic deposits. The New York-based banking giant is also among the largest banks globally. In terms of assets, JPMorgan Chased ranked fifth in 2023, with only four Chinese banks having had higher amounts of assets. Bank failures in the U.S. The failures of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank in March 2023 marked the first bank failures in the U.S. since 2021. The total assets lost in the failure of these two banks amounted to 319.4 billion U.S. dollars. In comparison, the total assets of the 371 U.S. bank failures between 2010 and 2022 amounted to 168 billion U.S. dollars. Both SVB and Signature Bank had a disproportionately low share of deposits of less than 250,000 U.S. dollars in the fourth quarter of 2022 (2.7 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively), which meant that the majority of deposits held at these banks were not secured by the FDIC.

In 2024, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) was the world's largest bank by total assets, reaching nearly 6.7 trillion U.S. dollars. The next three largest banks were also based in China: the Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of China. The largest non-Chinese bank that year was JPMorgan Chase, with total assets exceeding four trillion U.S. dollars. Largest bank by market capitalization The value of total assets is a common measure of a bank's prosperity, and is defined as all assets owned by the bank. Another common indicator is the bank's market capitalization, which is used to determine the size of the bank. The market capitalization is the market price of one share multiplied by the number of shares outstanding. Ranked by market capitalization instead of total assets, JPMorgan Chase was the largest bank in the world in 2024, while ICBC ranked third. How do digital banks compare? Digital banks have surged in popularity over the past decade, attracting millions of customers with their convenient mobile interfaces, lower fees, and innovative financial products. Despite this impressive user growth, their financial footprint remains dwarfed by traditional banking institutions. A prime example is WeBank, which despite boasting approximately 400 million users - making it the world's largest digital bank by customer count - managed total assets of only about 74 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

In 2023, 13 of the 15 largest U.S. banks had a Tier 1 leverage ratio exceeding five percent. Capital One led with the highest ratio at 11.2 percent, followed by Citizens Bank and First Republic, both at 9.3 percent. The only exceptions among the largest banks were TD Bank and BMO Harris Bank, which reported Tier 1 leverage ratios below five percent.

As of June 2024, JPMorgan Chase led the U.S. banking sector with approximately 11.5 percent of total domestic deposits, closely followed by Bank of America at nearly 11 percent. This distribution reflects the concentrated nature of the U.S. banking industry, where, despite thousands of commercial banks operating nationwide, the market is dominated by the top four institutions. The total value of deposits held at FDIC-insured commercial banks has decreased in recent years, amounting to 17.83 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. The U.S. banking industry The banking industry in the United States accounts for tens of trillions of U.S. dollars in assets under management. While there are thousands of commercial banks in the country, the market is dominated by the largest four of these. This is particularly true when considering functions such as private and investment banking. Other measures This ranking presents the market share of domestic assets, but other measures give a slightly different picture. For example, looking at the value of total assets shows a higher market share in the hands of the top four firms. Apart from that, the revenue of leading commercial banks can also give a better idea of banks’ financial standing.

Among the four largest banks headquartered in the United States, JPMorgan Chase had the highest number of active mobile customers in 2024. Over ** million JPMorgan Chase customers were active mobile banking users. Bank of America had the second-highest number of active mobile customers, which was roughly ** million.

As of January 14, 2025, the market capitalization of JPMorgan Chase amounted to 688.68 billion U.S. dollars, making it the largest bank in the United States. By this measure, the second-largest bank was Bank of America, followed by Wells Fargo. JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America were also the two largest banks in the world by market capitalization. What is market capitalization? Market capitalization, or stock market value, is the total value of shares issued by a publicly traded company. It reflects the equity value of a company. Market cap is calculated by multiplying the market price of one share by the number of shares outstanding. For example, the market cap of Bank of America can be calculated by multiplying its share price by the number of shares it has issued. Other measures of company size Total assets also allow to determine the size of a bank. Instead of focusing on the stock price, this metric measures the size of the bank’s operations by counting the size of its balance sheet. Bank revenue and income are also common indicators used to compare banks and their performance.

The quarterly net incomes of the U.S.' five largest banks all declined substantially in 2022 when compared to 2021. U.S. Bancorp seemed to be the most able to maintain a steady growth rate, particularly between 2012 and 2019. Bank of America, on the other hand, had notable fluctuations over the years. Despite the differences, there seems to be one thing in common: After a sharp increase in four out of the five largest U.S. banks' quarterly income growth rate in the first quarter of 2021, there was a steady decline throughout the rest of 2021. As of 2022, none of the observed banks managed to produce a positive income growth rate. In 2023, however, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all performed significantly better.

In 2023, Bank of America emerged as the leading issuer of green bonds among major U.S. banks, with outstanding green bonds totaling approximately 3.1 billion U.S. dollars. This figure represents two distinct green bond issuances. Citigroup secured the second position, having issued two green bonds and 34 customer-related notes since 2020, collectively valued at slightly over three billion U.S. dollars. TD Bank claimed the third spot, bolstered by a new green bond issuance in 2023, bringing its total green bond value to approximately 2.4 billion U.S. dollars.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, TD Bank's U.S. operations distinguished itself with the highest common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio among major U.S. banks by total assets. The bank's CET1 ratio of 16.65 percent significantly surpassed the regulatory minimum of 4.5 percent. By comparison, JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. bank, recorded a CET1 ratio of 15.68 percent during the same period. What is CET1 capital ratio? The Basel III framework, established by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, sets international standards for bank capital requirements to ensure global financial stability. Developed in response to the 2007-2009 financial crisis, these regulations require banks to maintain adequate capital to withstand unexpected losses and economic downturns. The framework mandates a total capital requirement of eight percent of risk-weighted assets, with Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) - the highest quality capital - comprising at least 4.5 percent of that total. In 2024, JPMorgan Chase had the highest Tier 1 capital among all banks in the United States. Worldwide Tier 1 capital levels of banks JPMorgan Chase, while leading U.S. banks in Tier 1 capital, ranked fifth globally in 2023. Four Chinese banks outperformed it: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, and Bank of China. Among these, ICBC emerged as the world's top bank in Tier 1 capital.

In 2024, Itaú Unibanco was the largest bank in Brazil based on total assets, with total assets exceeding *** billion U.S. dollars. Banco do Brasil ranked second, with assets amounting to approximately ***** billion U.S. dollars. The total value of assets of Brazilian banks added up to roughly *** trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, a figure that has been consistently increasing since 2002. Brazilian banking network Brazil was the country with the highest number of bank branches in Latin America, with ***** branches in 2023. However, in terms of accessibility, the South American country lags some regional counterparts. In 2023, the density of bank branches in Brazil reached only ** per 100,000 adults; in comparison to ** bank branches per 100,000 adults in Mexico. Digital banks in Brazil With the use of financial technology increasing around the world, online banking is becoming ever more popular, and the Brazilian market is no exception. In fact, Brazil is home to one of the leading digital banks worldwide, Nubank. Nubank's active users increased sharply in 2024, exceeding ** million, and its operating revenue reached over ** billion U.S. dollars.

March 2023 was an alarming month for the U.S. banking industry, with the largest banks experiencing great losses in market capitalization between the 1st and 17th of March, following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The market capitalization of JPMorgan Chase, for instance, decreased by almost 50 billion U.S. dollars, but all of the largest U.S. banks experienced similar losses.

According to environmental reporting on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the largest banks in the United States, JPMorgan Chase reported the highest emissions in 2023. The bank reported total GHG emissions of over one million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent. It was followed by Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

Except for JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Capital One and Bank of America, the share of minority employees in the total U.S.-based workforce of the leading U.S. banks was less than 50 percent. Among the observed banks, JPMorgan Chase had the most diverse workforce, with 56 percent of the employees who self-identified were racial minorities. JPMorgan Chase was followed by Citigroup, where the share of people of color was approximately 53 percent. Capital One ranked third in terms of racial diversity. Here, the share of non-white employees in the U.S.-based workforce was 51.4 percent. The share was the lowest at PNC Financial Services, where approximately 38 percent of the workforce were non-white.

The failures of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank in March 2023 were the ***** and ****** largest bank failures in the United States since 2001 in terms of total assets lost. The only larger bank failures were those of Washington Mutual Bank in 2008 and First Republic Bank in May 2023. The loss of assets upon the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank was close to the total amount of assets lost in 2008, when ** banks collapsed.

As of December 2024, JPMorgan Chase Bank led U.S. financial institutions with the highest Tier 1 capital, a key measure of a bank's financial strength. Tier 1 capital, comprising core capital including equity and disclosed reserves, is a crucial indicator of a bank's ability to absorb potential losses. JPMorgan Chase's Tier 1 capital surpassed 275 billion U.S. dollars in the fourth quarter of 2024, cementing its position as the most well-capitalized bank in the United States. Additionally, the banking giant boasted the highest Tier 1 capital ratio among its American peers, further underscoring its robust financial health. What is the Tier 1 capital ratio? The Tier 1 capital ratio is a critical metric for assessing a bank's resilience to financial stress. It's calculated by dividing a bank's core capital by its total risk-weighted assets, with regulatory requirements mandating a minimum ratio of six percent. As of 2023, the largest U.S. banks significantly exceeded this threshold. JPMorgan Chase led with a ratio of 16.8 percent, closely followed by Citibank at 15.31 percent, while Bank of America maintained a strong position at 13.2 percent. These ratios demonstrate the robust capital positions of major American financial institutions, indicating their strong capacity to withstand potential economic downturns or financial shocks. The leading banks in the U.S. The U.S. banking sector is dominated by four major institutions, commonly known as "the big four": JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. JPMorgan Chase stands out as the leader among these financial giants. It holds the top position across several key metrics, including market capitalization, total assets, investment banking revenue, and net income. This comprehensive leadership underscores JPMorgan Chase's dominant role in the American financial landscape and its significant influence on the global banking industry.

BMO Harris Bank was the leading banks in the United States in terms of achieving its sustainable financing targets. The Bank's cumulative green financing reached 330.44 billion U.S. dollars since they started reporting in 2019, which already exceeded their target for the year 2025. Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, was the one who is closest to meeting their target for 2030 among other leading banks, already reaching 74 percent of their goal. Interestingly, despite being the leading U.S. bank in terms of total assets, JPMorgan Chase appears to be falling behind their target for 2030 by completing less than 10 percent of their goal.