How Big Is Big?

After the merger of Chase and Chemical, it was pointed out that Chase became the largest bank in the United States, but not in the world. As a matter of fact, Chase, with assets of $297 billion after the merger, comes in (depending on the day and the fluctuating markets) somewhere between 18th and 21st largest in the world.

Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank in Japan, at $814 billion, is the largest. Between them and Chase are eleven Japanese banks, two French banks, one German, one British, and one Chinese.

The ten largest in the United States are (1) Chase, (2) Citicorp, (3) BankAmerica Corp, (4) NationsBank, (5) J.P. Morgan & Co, (6) First Chicago Corp-NBD Bancorp. Inc., (7) First Union Corp-First Fidelity Bancorp, (8) Bankers Trust New York Corp, (9) Fleet Financial Group-Shawmut National Corp, (10) Banc One Corp.

Asset size runs from Chase's $297 billion to Banc One's $86 billion.

Copyright © 1995 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 6, No. 1, 9/95