Largest banks in the UK 2001-2024, by market capitalization

HSBC maintained its position as the largest bank in the United Kingdom by market capitalization from 2001 to 2024. On December 31, 2024, HSBC's market capitalization reached approximately 176.71 billion U.S. dollars, recovering to pre-pandemic levels and reinforcing its status as the largest European bank by market value.

Bank market valuations during the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted global banking market capitalizations. In early 2020, the largest European banks experienced sharp declines in market value due to economic uncertainty. The worldwide banking market saw a substantial drop in market capitalization during 2020, with most major banks experiencing similar trends. However, the market began recovering throughout 2021, with banks gradually returning to pre-pandemic valuation levels.

The banking industry in the UK

The UK banking industry is led by five major chartered banks, increasingly challenged by digital banks like Starling and Monzo. Despite losing some customers domestically, HSBC remains significant - the largest bank in the United Kingdom and one of the world's largest financial institutions.