Big Four (banking)

The term Big Four (English " the big four " ) called in many countries, the four largest banks.

United Kingdom

The term Big Four referred to 2001, the four major UK banks deposition in London. These were the Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds Banking Group), NatWest (now part of Royal Bank of Scotland RBS), Barclays Bank and the Midland Bank (now part of HSBC ).

After the merger in 2001 between Halifax and Bank of Scotland for HBOS has now been out of the Big Four, the Big Five. The term Big Five was used until the merger of National Provincial Bank with the Westminster Bank in 1968 before.

In the wake of the global credit crisis HBOS fell into a severe financial crisis from which the Bank could not free themselves. In a prepared rescue HBOS was finally adopted on 18 September 2008, Lloyds TSB, which in fact, the term Big Five was again replaced by the Big Four.

The four largest UK banks are now HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland RBS, Barclays Bank and Lloyds Banking Group.

China

In China, currently the following banks are referred to as the Big Four banks:

• Bank of China
• China Construction Bank
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• Agricultural Bank of China

Australia

In Australia, the following banks are grouped together under the Big Four banks:

• National Australia Bank
• Commonwealth Bank
• Westpac
• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group

South Africa

South Africa's Big Four banks are

• First National Bank
• Absa Group Limited
• Standard Bank
• Nedbank

Sweden

Sweden also has its Big Four banks, these are:

• Swedbank
• Nordea
• Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken ( SEB)
• Svenska Handelsbanken