2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BANKS IN THE UK
It’s an ongoing debate whether the banking industry in the UK is competitive enough. Either way, there are a few to choose from and different criteria you can use for your selection process of the top UK banks. This article presents a detailed review of UK banks that fall into two different categories:
- The biggest UK banks based on asset size
- The top UK banks based on how much interest their accounts pay
Consumers prioritize different things when searching for UK banks where they can park their money. For some, name recognition and size are important because they imply security. Others may seek out smaller UK banks that prioritize customer satisfaction and attractive perks in the form of higher interest rates.
Whichever selection criteria you prefer, we have rounded up the top UK banks that fall into one or both of these categories.
Award Emblem: Top UK Banks
AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top & Biggest British Banks
This list is sorted by asset size in descending order (click any of the below names to go directly to the review section for that UK bank)
For a detailed review of the above top UK banks, including information on their most recent financial situation, growth, complaints, benefits, and history, click here: Detailed Review of The Largest British Banks.
Best UK Banks with Top Interest Paying Accounts
This list is sorted by alphabetically (click any of the below names to go directly to the review section for that bank)
- Lloyds Bank (up to 2% AER yield)
- Nationwide (up to 5% AER yield)
- Santander (up to 3% AER yield)
- TSB Bank (up to 3% AER yield)
For a detailed review of the above best banks in the UK, including information on their high yielding accounts, click here: Best UK Banks with Highest AER Yields.
Click here for 2016’s Top UK Banks
Source: Free Images
Biggest UK Banks – Breakdown by Asset Size | Brief Comparison
Biggest UK Banks | Total Assets in Trillions* |
| HSBC Holdings | £1.94 |
| Barclays PLC | £1.35 |
| Royal Bank of Scotland Group | £0.9 |
| Lloyds Banking Group | £0.85 |
| Standard Chartered PLC | £0.49 |
* Asset size as of last year (see detailed sessions below for balance sheet information)
The statistics table below shows a trending bar chart of the total assets of the top 5 biggest UK banks. The chart shows each British bank’s total assets during the first half of the last couple of years.
*Figures are in trillions of British pounds
Source: Statista
AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top rated lists?
Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review – Top Ranking UK Banks
Below, please find the detailed review of each firm on our list of the top UK banks. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these banks in the UK to score so high in our selection ranking.
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Detailed Overview of the Top 5 Biggest British Banks
HSBC – Largest Bank in the UK
HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services firms in the world. It is also one of the top 5 UK banks.
HSBC was founded in the 1860s primarily to finance trading transactions between Asia (China and India) and the West (Europe).
The inspiration behind HSBC, one of the biggest UK banks, started with a man named Thomas Sutherland, a Scot who was working on a temporary contract in Hong Kong for the British Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Thomas discovered that there was pent-up demand for local banking firms in Hong Kong and on the China coast – banks that could provide similar banking facilities as could be found in London and other European cities.
In March of 1865, he worked with other parties to launch HSBC in both Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Soon after its formation, this UK bank’s operations expanded to surrounding regions and then to Europe and the Americas. In the later years of the 20th century and into the 21st century, HSBC moved from a regional-based UK bank to becoming one of the world’s leading financial services institutions.
Today, HSBC is headquartered in London. This UK bank is the number one biggest bank in the UK, with an estimated £1.94 trillion in total assets. It has a customer base of over 50 million people across every major economy in Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.
HSBC operates through long-established subsidiaries, affiliates, businesses, and an international network of around 4,000 offices in 70 countries and territories.
HSBC has four major business lines:
- Commercial banking
- Private banking
- Global banking and markets
- Retail banking and wealth management
HSBC’s latest Annual Report can be downloaded via their website.
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Barclays – 2nd Biggest UK Bank
Founded over 320 years ago, Barclays has expanded over the years. This UK bank now has an extensive global presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
During this UK bank’s over 320 years history, Barclays has only had two head offices. One of which is located at 54 Lombard Street in London and the other at 1 Churchill Place in Canary Wharf. Each are located in one of the UK’s two main financial districts.
Barclays was the first bank in the world to launch through-the-wall ATM machines, at a time when ATMs were a rare novelty. The first of six ATM prototypes was opened at Barclays’ Enfield branch in 1967, and many more followed.
Barclays is the second largest bank in the UK, with an estimated total asset size of £1.35 trillion. This top British bank offers four core lines of business:
- Retail banking
- Private/personal banking
- Corporate banking
- Wealth and investment banking
Unfortunately, Barclays is also considered one of the worst UK banks, based on the extremely high level of UK customer complaints it has received over the years. It has consistently been ranked as one of the worst current account providers.
That said, there has been some talk from the bank about improving its image. Unfortunately, most of the conversation has revolved around improving their PR and not about improving their relationship with customers.
Barclays latest Annual Report can be downloaded via their website.
Related: Best Banks in London | Ranking | Comparison of the Top London Banks
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group – 3rd Top British Bank
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group is the third largest British financial institution. This UK bank is made up of a number of subsidiaries including Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, and Ulster Bank. Royal Bank of Scotland is its retail banking subsidiary.
RBS is committed to becoming a leaner, less volatile business that is based around its core franchises of Personal & Business Banking (PBB) and Commercial & Private Banking (CPB).
RBS provides serves about 18.4 million customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This UK bank boasts 1,425 branches and 4,646 ATMs.
As one of the biggest UK banks, RBS has an estimated £0.85 trillion in total assets and aims to be the best UK bank when it comes to service, trust, and advocacy.
At the height of the financial crisis, the UK government stepped in to bail out RBS, putting UK taxpayers in a position where they owned 81.14% of the bank. Over the last couple of years, RBS has made efforts to pay down enough of their public debt so that this UK bank can return to the private sector.
RBS’s latest Annual Report can be downloaded via their website.
Lloyds Bank – 4th Largest UK Bank
Based on total asset size, Lloyds is ranked as this year’s fourth top UK banks. Lloyds Bank is part of the Lloyds Banking Group, which was formed in 2009 following the acquisition of HBOS by Lloyds TSB Group. This UK bank has £0.85 trillion in assets.
Unfortunately, the acquisition brought over billions of bounds worth of highly toxic assets to the balance sheet of the combined conglomerates.
At the height of the financial crisis, the high amount of toxic assets led to Lloyds Banking Group’s state of insolvency, causing it to be nationalized by the UK government and leaving UK taxpayers in ownership of an over 43.4% stake in the bank.
In January 2017, it was reported that Lloyds Bank is expected to return to private ownership a few months into the new year.
Lloyds Bank’s most recent Annual Report can be downloaded via their website.
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Standard Chartered – 5th Top British Bank
Standard Chartered, this year’s fifth top UK bank, is a global banking firm headquartered in London, UK. They have a global workforce of 80,000 people and £0.49 trillion in assets.
Standard Chartered was formed through a union of two major banks: Standard Bank of British South Africa and Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China. This top UK bank has played a prominent role in facilitating and profiting from trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Standard Chartered provides personal banking, preferred banking, priority and international banking, private banking, online banking, SME banking, wholesale banking, and Islamic banking services.
Standard Chartered’s most recent Annual Report can be downloaded via their website.
The Best Banks in the UK – Based on Current Accounts with the Highest AER Yields
For many people, institutional grandeur and global name recognition may be vital for choosing a bank. But for others it comes down to great customer service, attractive rates, and low fees. Now that we have covered the top 5 largest banks in the UK, below is a high-level overview of the best banks in the UK based on the percentage yields that you can earn from depositing money in these banks.
1. Lloyds Bank – High Yield UK Bank Account
Lloyds Bank is number 3 on our list of best UK banks based on its Club Lloyds current account, which offers 2% AER yield.
There is no monthly fee so long as you deposit £1,500 a month into the account. Even if you can’t maintain that balance, the monthly fee is only £3.
2. Nationwide FlexDirect Current Account – Top Ranking List of Best UK Banks
Nationwide is another bank on our list of best UK banks based on the high AER yield that it pays on its FlexDirect current account.
Similar to the AER yield offered by TSB’s current account, Nationwide’s FlexDirect current account gives you 5% AER (4.89% gross p.a.) for the first 12 months on balances up to £2,500.
Source: Nationwide
Read More: Top Credit Unions in London and Other UK Cities | Ranking | Review of the Credit Unions in the UK
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3. Santander – 123 Current Account
Santander is number 4 on our list of the best banks in the UK based on the yield that it pays on its 123 current accounts.
The bank, which was established in January of 2010, has its head office in the London Borough of Camden. Santander was formed when Abbey National was combined with the banking divisions of Bradford & Bingley and renamed as Santander UK.
Santander’s 123 Student Current Account pays 3% AER on balances between £300 and £20,000.
Source: Santander
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4. TSB Bank – High Yield Account
TSB is rated as one of this year’s best UK banks based on the many high yielding accounts that it provides.
TSB’s Current Plus Account is one of the best current account rates available in the UK.
You receive an a great interest yield of 3% AER variable interest on balances up to £1,500. To be eligible for this account, you must be 18 or over and be a UK resident. Also, you are restricted to only opening one account in your sole name but can open another Plus account in joint names.
Click here (Ranking of the UK’s Best Current Account Interest Rates) to get additional information on this year’s top current accounts.
AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:
Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures.
