The Brand Finance annual report on the most valuable global banking brands, published in February 2010, assesses the financial value of the top 500 banking brands. The report, first published in 2006, includes a brand rating and brand value for each brand. The brand rating is a benchmarking study of the strength, risk, and future potential of a brand relative to its competitor set, while the brand value is a summary measure of the financial strength of the brand. The report notes that the fortunes of the world's largest banks have dominated the headlines, with many famous brands collapsing or being acquired. The banking sector has begun to show signs of recovery, with the top 500 most valuable banking brands growing by 62% in terms of market capitalization.
