So by the crude measure of share price performance, 2019 goes down as a strong year for the banking sector, and in particular, an outstanding year for shareholders in the largest US banks.

Citigroup leads the way among major US lenders with its share price ahead by 41.8% for the year to date. But the world’s largest two banks by value, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, also enjoyed a stellar 2019. Both Chase and Bank of America share prices are ahead by more than 33%.

Moreover, shareholders at US super-regional banks including US Bank (+28.6%), PNC (+28.9%) and BB&T (+44.7%) have enjoyed outstanding years.

Canada’s big six: all post share price gains

Elsewhere in North America, the major Canadian lenders are again in positive territory.

RBC (+11.8%) and Bank of Montreal (11.6%) enjoyed double digit increases with Scotiabank ahead by 9.2%.

Arguably, National Bank of Canada, the smallest of the big six Canadian lenders merits a special mention. For the first time, NBC ranks in the world’s largest 100 banks by value, with its share price +29.4%.

The top 100: new entrants

The world’s largest 100 banks by value contains a number of notable new names.

For example, exactly one year ago, Emirates NBD ranked as the 117th largest bank by market cap. Today, it ranks 91st with its share price ahead by +40% for the year to date.

US regional lender Keycorp also features in the top 100, up 22.3% YTD while Synchrony tops all of its regional peers, up 56.4%.

The top 100: notable names missing

One year ago, Deutsche Bank limped into the top 100 in 99th place. Deutsche shareholders have endured another frustrating year, its share price down by 9.4% for a market cap of $14.9bn.

Deutsche now languishes as the 120th largest bank by value.

Elsewhere in Europe, notably in Scandinavia, there is much red ink. Swedbank (-37.6% for a market cap of $14.8bn) and Danske (-27.1% for a market cap of $12.2bn) have endured years to forget.

By contrast, European banks to note outside the top 100 include Hungary’s OTP. Its share price is up by 27.9% for a market cap of $14.1bn.