HNB tops TAB Global ranking as Sri Lanka’s Strongest Bank

CEO/Managing Director Damith Pallewatte

HNB PLC has been awarded the title of Strongest Bank in Sri Lanka for 2025 by TAB Global. The recognition was confirmed following the release of the TAB Global World’s 1000 Largest and Strongest Banks Rankings, with the announcement made recently in Frankfurt during SWIFT’s annual Sibos conference.

HNB CEO/Managing Director Damith Pallewatte said the accolade underscores the bank’s unwavering commitment to sustained financial strength and strategic resilience, “This honour shows the resilience and clarity of purpose that guide our institution. Our teams advanced through demanding cycles with discipline and accountability. The recognition confirms the trust placed in us by customers, investors and partners and it reinforces the duty we carry as a leading private bank. We remain fully committed to safeguarding long-term strength while contributing to Sri Lanka’s economic advancement with integrity and resolve.”

HNB achieved a landmark distinction in the 2025 rankings, establishing itself as Sri Lanka’s strongest bank. The assessment highlights HNB’s balance sheet quality, prudent risk discipline and the bank’s consistent ability to maintain stability through varied economic conditions. The ranking places HNB alongside leading global financial institutions acknowledged for sustained strength, institutional reliability and capacity to absorb external shocks.

TAB Global President/Managing Editor Foo Boon Ping said: “HNB demonstrated strong fundamentals and consistent delivery across multiple stress indicators. The bank’s performance placed it ahead of its domestic peers and aligned it with institutions recognised for structural strength. The ranking reflects measurable outcomes drawn from transparent criteria.”

The TAB Global Strongest Banks ranking is regarded as a rigorous benchmark followed by regulators, analysts and the international financial community. The evaluation covers key indicators that examine the stability and performance of banks and financial holding companies. 

The 2025 assessment reviewed scale, balance sheet growth, risk profile, profitability, asset quality and liquidity, supported by 14 quantitative measures. The research cycle runs from March to August in alignment with global reporting timelines.

HNB’s inclusion in the upper tier of the global list underscores a strategy that prioritises capital strength, asset discipline and sustainable earnings. The bank’s performance in the core metrics of the ranking reflects improved portfolio quality, operating resilience and diversified revenue generation.

HNB’s leadership affirmed that the recognition marks a pivotal moment in the bank’s journey, reflecting its role as a pillar of stability in Sri Lanka’s financial system and its dedication to advancing innovation, trust and long-term value for all stakeholders. 

This distinction reflects the strength and resilience of the bank’s balance sheet, underpinned by prudent risk management and sustainable financial performance. It affirms HNB’s standing among some of the world’s most stable and well-capitalised banks and highlights the confidence that investors, counterparties and customers continue to place in the franchise, reinforcing HNB’s commitment to prudent growth and operational excellence across all facets of banking and positioning the bank to continue shaping the future of Sri Lanka’s financial landscape with confidence and integrity.