August, 4, 2026
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has once again affirmed its standing among the world’s leading financial institutions, emerging as the No 1 ranked Sri Lankan bank in the 2026 edition of the prestigious Top 1000 World Banks ranking published by The Banker magazine, UK.
The Bank’s No 1 position among local peers reflects a robust 12.1% growth in Tier I capital, the primary benchmark used by The Banker to evaluate the financial health. Significantly, this marks the 14th occasion that Commercial Bank has been included in this definitive global listing, the highest number of appearances by any Sri Lankan financial institution. The Bank was also the first in Sri Lanka to break into the Top 1000, setting a benchmark for the industry.
Commenting on this latest achievement, Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank said: “Securing No 1 spot among Sri Lankan banks in a global ranking of this calibre is an authoritative testament to the Bank’s disciplined approach to capital management, its resilience in navigating evolving market dynamics, and its ability to adapt to emerging risks while continuing to create long-term value. This recognition reinforces our commitment to maintaining strong fundamentals while building capabilities that will define the future of banking.”
“The Banker's annual Top 1000 World Banks ranking remains the industry's benchmark for assessing the world's largest banks,” he added “To be on this list for the 14th year is an invaluable independent ratification of our strength and stability. For every Commercial Bank customer, this is an excellent validation of their relationship with the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.”
Compiled from a database of more than 5,000 of the world’s largest banks, The Banker’s Top 1000 ranking is widely regarded as the industry’s most authoritative benchmark of banking strength and stability. The ranking is primarily based on Tier I capital, while also drawing on a broad range of performance indicators.
In its commentary on this year’s results, The Banker observed that the global banking industry remains in relatively sound health, supported by strong capital buffers, with the ratio of Tier I capital to assets close to a decade high. However, it noted that the sector must increasingly balance capital strength with agility and new skill sets to navigate emerging challenges such as geopolitical uncertainty and technological disruption, including the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.
The Banker evaluates banks using more than 120 performance metrics and scores them across eight key areas: Growth, Operational efficiency, Return on risk, Soundness, Profitability, Asset quality, Liquidity and Leverage. These scores determine the final rankings and identify the best-performing banks in each region and globally.
The first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn., Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, and is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, the Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded bank in Sri Lanka, is a leader in digital innovation and is the country’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.
Commercial Bank operates more than 270 strategically-located branches and an extensive network of automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 21 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully-owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC. and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.
Video Story
