Banks are the backbone of the American economy, ensuring money is available to individuals and capital to companies. Present throughout the country and abroad, US banks are involved in retail banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth management, and an array of financial services.
The top American banks are leading the financial sector and spearheading the economy, but they compete against each other for market share in the US and abroad. They also face competition from foreign banks looking to expand their foothold in their domestic market and other financial companies, such as financial services and insurance companies, challenging them in their operations on financial markets.
Though they have to mitigate systemic risks and potential financial crashes, the most important threat to banks comes from the disruption of their traditional business by financial tech startups. These new “FinTech” companies create new ways for people and companies to obtain, manage and use their money and capital which can impede the activities of traditional banks.
Nevertheless, banks are still a pillar of the US economy and they will remain in this position for the foreseeable future. The US is such a great business arena for banks to prosper that they can actually use their national foothold to expand abroad and conquer new markets. Whether they are regional or national banks, retail or investment banks, or even diversified into all segments, banks are in the US to stay, and potentially, also to conquer the rest of the world.
List of the top 20 largest American banks by market capitalization
To give you more perspective on the actors of the American financial sector and banking industry, details about the twenty largest banks from the US in the S&P 500 index have been listed hereafter. Each bank is detailed with presentations of its sub-industry, activities, market capitalization, a direct link to its website, logo and stock symbol.
For more information on other leading American companies, check our other posts:
- Largest US companies
- Top US companies in the Dow
- Top tech & innovative US companies
- Top US insurance companies
The banks listed hereafter are ranked by market capitalization in United States Dollars, as of effective close on Friday, September 27, 2019. They are defined as belonging to the sub-industries of regional banks, investment banks and brokerage, consumer finance, asset management and custody banks, or as diversified banks for corporations engaged in operations both in retail and investment banking.
For the complete list of the top 500 US companies that constitute the S&P 500 index, and much more information on each company, check our Top 500 US Companies Spreadsheet.
Quick links to the top 20 banks from the United States
To facilitate your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the top 20 American banks.
20. Citizens Financial Group
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is a regional bank engaged in retail and commercial banking services through its brand, Citizens Bank. It is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and is operating more than 1,200 branches and approximately 3,200 ATMs in the American Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It was previously owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, one of the largest banks and largest companies from the United Kingdom.
Website: citizensbank.com – Market Cap.: $ 15.818 Billion – Stock symbol: CFG
19. Regions Financial
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
Regions Financial Corporation is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Through its banking subsidiary, Regions Bank, it provides retail and commercial banking services, operating more than 1,400 branches and 1,900 ATMs in Southern and Midwestern United States. Regions Financial also offers trust, stock brokerage, and mortgage services.
Website: regions.com – Market Cap.: $ 15.924 Billion – Stock symbol: RF
18. First Republic Bank
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
First Republic Bank is a regional bank and wealth management company. Operating primarily in the West and East coasts, First Republic Bank offers services of personal and business banking and provides wealth management services dedicated to high net-worth individuals via its subsidiaries First Republic Wealth Advisors and First Republic Investment Management. Besides, it is also involved in brokerage services through First Republic Securities Company LLC and trust services through First Republic Trust Company.
Website: firstrepublic.com – Market Cap.: $ 16.413 Billion – Stock symbol: FRC
17. KeyBank
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
KeyBank, the main subsidiary of KeyCorp, a regional bank headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and involved in retail, small business, corporate, and investment banking. It is operating more than 1,100 branches and 1,500 ATMs throughout 39 states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Washington.
Website: key.com – Market Cap.: $ 17.918 Billion – Stock symbol: KEY
16. Fifth Third Bancorp
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
Fifth Third Bank, the principal subsidiary of the Fifth Third Bancorp holding, is a regional bank headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is operating more than 1,100 branches and 2,400 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. Its name is derived from the bank’s two predecessor companies, Third National Bank and Fifth National Bank, which merged in 1908.
Website: 53.com – Market Cap.: $ 19.752 Billion – Stock symbol: FITB
15. M&T Bank
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
M&T Bank Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. It operates more than 700 branches in Northeastern states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut. Through its subsidiary Wilmington Trust, M&T Bank Corporation also provides global corporate and institutional services, private banking, investment management, and fiduciary services.
Website: mtb.com – Market Cap.: $ 21.145 Billion – Stock symbol: MTB
14. State Street Corporation
Sub-Industry: Asset Management & Custody Banks
State Street Corporation is a financial services and bank holding company headquartered in Boston. With origins dating back to 1792, State Street is especially involved in asset management and custodian banking (safeguarding a firm’s or individual’s financial assets). It provides services in investment services, fund accounting and management, investment management and other advisory services to corporations, mutual funds, insurance companies, and other institutional investors.
Website: statestreet.com – Market Cap.: $ 22.280 Billion – Stock symbol: STT
13. SunTrust Banks
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
SunTrust Banks, Inc. is a bank holding company, especially active through its main subsidiary, SunTrust Bank. It operates more than 1,400 branches and 2,100 ATMs across 11 southeastern states and Washington, D.C, and is primarily involved in deposits, lending, credit cards, and trust and investment services. Through other subsidiaries, SunTrust Banks is also engaged in corporate and investment banking, capital market services, mortgage banking, and wealth management. In 2019, BB&T and SunTrust Announced that they will merge to form a single company that will become the sixth-largest bank in the US.
Website: suntrust.com – Market Cap.: $ 30.565 Billion – Stock symbol: STI
12. BB&T
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
BB&T Corporation, which stands for Branch Banking and Trust Company, is a regional bank holding headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Operating more than 2,000 branches across 15 states and Washington, D.C., BB&T provides consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage, and insurance products and services, notably through its subsidiary, BB&T Insurance Services. In 2019, BB&T and SunTrust Announced that they will merge to form a single company that will become the sixth-largest bank in the US.
Website: bbt.com – Market Cap.: $ 40.959 Billion – Stock symbol: BBT
11. The Bank of New York Mellon
Sub-Industry: Asset Management & Custody Banks
Tracing its roots to 1784, the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, operating as BNY Mellon, is a multinational banking and financial services holding company headquartered in New York City. The world’s largest custodian bank and asset servicing company, BNY Mellon is primarily involved in corporate and investment banking, global wealth management, financial analysis, and private equity.
Website: bnymellon.com – Market Cap.: $ 41.977 Billion – Stock symbol: BK
10. Capital One
Sub-Industry: Consumer Finance
Capital One Financial Corporation is a financial service and banking holding headquartered in McLean, Virginia. With more than 700 branches and 2,000 ATMs, Capital One consumer and commercial bank is especially present in Northeastern and Southern United States, and also operates in Canada and the United Kingdom. Especially involved in the issuance of credit cards, Capital One is also a key provider of auto loans, and savings accounts.
Website: capitalone.com – Market Cap.: $ 42.960 Billion – Stock symbol: COF
9. Charles Schwab
Sub-Industry: Investment Banking & Brokerage
The Charles Schwab Corporation is a bank and stock brokerage company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Focused on investing, wealth management, banking, and trading, Charles Schwab provides an electronic trading platform for stocks and other financial assets, margin lending, cash management services, and registered investment advisers services. It operates more than 300 branches in 46 states, Puerto Rico and London.
Website: schwab.com – Market Cap.: $ 54.13 Billion – Stock symbol: SCHW
8. PNC Financial Services
Sub-Industry: Regional Banks
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., abbreviated as PNC, is a bank holding and financial services company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its regional bank subsidiary, PNC Bank, operates more than 2,400 branches and 9,000 ATMs across 19 states and the District of Columbia. PNC Financial Services also asset management, wealth management, estate planning, loan servicing, and information processing services.
Website: pnc.com – Market Cap.: $ 62.51 Billion – Stock symbol: PNC
7. Morgan Stanley
Sub-Industry: Investment Banking & Brokerage
Morgan Stanley is an investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1935, Morgan Stanley has grown to become a multinational company with offices in more than 42 countries and more than 60,000 employees. With customers including corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals, Morgan Stanley operates in three main business lines: institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management.
Website: morganstanley.com – Market Cap.: $ 70.805 Billion – Stock symbol: MS
6. Goldman Sachs
Sub-Industry: Investment Banking & Brokerage
Founded in 1869, the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., is one of the world’s largest multinational investment bank headquartered in New York City. It is also engaged in financial services including investment management, securities, asset management, prime brokerage, and securities underwriting. Goldman Sachs is a primary dealer in the United States Treasury security market and more generally, a prominent market maker.
Website: goldmansachs.com – Market Cap.: $ 75.138 Billion – Stock symbol: GS
5. U.S. Bancorp
Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
Tracing its origins to 1863, U.S. Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and incorporated in Delaware, with more than 72,000 employees. It is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, more simply referred to as U.S. Bank, which provides banking, investment, mortgage, trust, and payment services through more than 3,000 branches and 4,800 ATMs primarily located in the Midwestern United States. U.S. Bancorp also owns Elavon, a processor of credit card transactions.
Website: usbank.com – Market Cap.: $ 87.348 Billion – Stock symbol: USB
4. Citigroup
Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
Citigroup Inc., also known as Citi, is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. Tracing its origins to 1812, Citigroup operates through multiple subsidiaries in more than 160 countries with more than 210,000 employees. It operates in global markets with capital origination, corporate and investment banking, markets and securities services, private bank, and treasury and trade solutions, as well as in retail banking through Citibank, branded cards, retail services, commercial banking, and mortgages.
Website: citigroup.com – Market Cap.: $ 156.914 Billion – Stock symbol: C
3. Wells Fargo
Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
Tracing its origins to 1852, Wells Fargo & Company is a multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California and incorporated in Delaware, and present in more than 35 countries. The company is engaged in three main lines of business: community banking, wholesale banking, and wealth, brokerage and retirement. Wells Fargo’s main subsidiary, Wells Fargo Bank operates more than 8,000 branches and 13,000 ATMs.
Website: wellsfargo.com – Market Cap.: $ 223.434 Billion – Stock symbol: WFC
2. Bank of America
Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
The Bank of America Corporation, abbreviated as BofA, is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with more than 200,000 employees. Tracing its origins to 1784, Bank of America has become an American leader in consumer banking with more than 4,600 branches and 15,900 ATMs. Bank of America also operates in corporate and investment banking, wealth management and investment management.
Website: bankofamerica.com – Market Cap.: $ 273.199 Billion – Stock symbol: BAC
1. JPMorgan Chase
Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. With origins dating back to 1799, JPMorgan Chase has become one of the world’s largest universal bank operating worldwide. It is involved in retail and commercial as well as in investment banking, asset management, private banking, private wealth management, and treasury services.
Website: jpmorganchase.com – Market Cap.: $ 376.409 Billion – Stock symbol: JPM
Top foreign banks in the US
Note that besides these originally American banks, some other foreign banks have established a strong foothold in the United States. Within these banks, three banks can be particularly highlighted for the importance of their activities in the US:
- TD Bank N.A., a subsidiary of Toronto-Dominion Bank, one of the largest banks and largest companies of Canada
- HSBC Bank USA, a subsidiary of HSBC, one of the largest banks and largest companies of the United Kingdom
- MUFG Union Bank, an American bank that was acquired by the Japanese Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Here are the 20 largest American banks. Do you think they are worth their market capitalization? Do they provide a valuable and convenient service? Do they have too much economic power… and maybe political power too?
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