- Asia United Bank (AUB) has secured the top spot among the world’s top-performing small banks in Forbes’ 2026 ranking, placing the Philippine lender ahead of nine other banks in the publication’s Tier 6 category.
- The ranking, produced with market research firm Statista, assessed 500 banks across 89 countries using financial performance indicators rather than relying primarily on customer surveys.
- Forbes grouped banks into six tiers according to their total assets to compare institutions of similar sizes. Tier 6 covers banks with US$3 billion to US$10 billion in assets.
Asia United Bank (AUB) has secured the top spot among the world’s top-performing small banks in Forbes’ 2026 ranking, placing the Philippine lender ahead of nine other banks in the publication’s Tier 6 category.
The ranking, produced with market research firm Statista, assessed 500 banks across 89 countries using financial performance indicators rather than relying primarily on customer surveys.
What makes a bank one of the world’s top performers?
Forbes grouped banks into six tiers according to their total assets to compare institutions of similar sizes. Tier 6 covers banks with US$3 billion to US$10 billion in assets.
Banks were evaluated across four areas. Profitability accounted for 30% of the overall score, while growth and earnings quality made up 20%. Capital and funding resilience accounted for 25%, with the remaining 25% assigned to asset quality and efficiency.
These measures look beyond a bank's size or revenue alone. They assess how effectively it generates profits, grows its business, maintains financial resources, and manages the quality and efficiency of its assets.
The ranking offers a way to compare banks based on financial performance within their respective size categories. It does not necessarily mean that the highest-ranked bank has the cheapest loans, best deposit rates, or most convenient services for every customer.
The 10 top-performing banks in Forbes’ Tier 6 category
The following banks make up the top 10 in the small-bank category, with AUB taking first place.
Asia United Bank (AUB) — Philippines
maib — Moldova
Sparbanken Nord — Sweden
City Holding — United States
NBQ — United Arab Emirates
Austin Bancorp — United States
SpareBank 1 Ringerike Hadeland — Norway
Northeast Bank — United States
NMB Bank — Nepal
United Arab Bank — United Arab Emirates
AUB’s first-place finish also makes it one of eight Philippine banks included in Forbes’ 2026 World’s Top Performing Banks ranking. Other Philippine lenders appeared in different size categories.
What the ranking means for bank customers
A strong performance ranking can provide useful context when evaluating a bank’s financial standing, but it should not be the only factor in choosing where to keep money or apply for credit.
Customers should also compare deposit interest rates, account fees, loan costs, digital banking features, customer service, and the protections applicable to their deposits. A bank’s position in a financial ranking does not automatically make every product it offers the best fit for an individual’s needs.