Use our industry guide to find key background information, market research, import and export guidelines, statistics, legislation, trade bodies and trade publications.
The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.
We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.
Trends and forecasts
Useful links
Top 10 banking trends in 2025 and beyond
Report from Accenture exploring the trends shaping the banking industry in 2025 and beyond, including discussion of data, AI, and digital technologies.
Global banking CEO outlook 2024
KPMG survey providing insights from global banking CEOs. Areas covered include growth strategies and investments in technology, talent and ESG.
Global Banking Annual Review 2024
McKinsey’s annual banking review provides analysis of the sector, including how banks can achieve and sustain high levels of performance.
Market research
Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.
Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports for the consumer finance sector from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides
a contents listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.
IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors, including banks. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report are available. The company
also produces global industry research reports.
Mintel
A full listing of reports covering the financial services industry is available with the option to view the executive summary and a table of contents for each report.
Industry news
Need to find the latest news on this industry sector? We can carry out industry news searches using a range of trade titles and general business sources through our databases. To discuss your requirements, please contact the enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.
Statistics on the UK
UK Finance
The trade association UK Finance provides a range of statistics including data on high street banking, cards and mortgages.
Bank of England
The Bank of England produces data covering various areas of the financial services industry, including:
Statistics on Europe
European Banking Federation
The European Banking Federation compiles annual Facts & Figures on the sector in Europe. Data covers:
- main banking sector indicators
- total bank assets
- loans
- deposits
- securities acquired and issued
- capital and reserves
- number of employees
- banks and bank branches.
Employment
UK
Average employment costs within this sector are available from Table 14 of the Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.
The data includes average employment costs for:
- financial institution managers;
- finance and investment analysts/advisers;
- financial and accounting technicians;
- counter clerks.
Other regions
Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.
Legislation and regulation
Financial services sector: End of transition period guidance
Page from HM Treasury which brings together guidance on the end of the Brexit transition period for consumers and financial services businesses from a number of government departments and regulatory bodies.
Considerations for firms after the transition period
Information from the Financial Conduct Authority to help financial services firms at the end of the Brexit transition period. Includes temporary transitional power (TTP), considerations for UK and EEA firms and the end of passporting.
Retail banking market investigation
Investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the supply of personal current accounts (PCAs) and of banking services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The final report was published in Aug 2016. The CMA published its final order implementing reforms, announced in the final report, in Feb 2017.
UK key players, ratios and trends
We can produce reports on this sector using selected information from the FAME company database. Reports are available for:
- Banks
UK SIC (2007) Code 64.19/1
Summaries of the three types of report we can produce are given below. You can find further information, a sample report, pricing details and an online order form on our industry sector reports page.
We also operate a bespoke reports service with results tailored to your specifications. Please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com to discuss your requirements.
Key players report
Our key players report looks at the top companies (by turnover) in any one of the segments within this sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures. The reports provide data on 11 comparative fields for the last available year, including:
- turnover;
- profit margins;
- returns on shareholder funds;
- solvency ratios
- number of employees.
Our reports enable easy comparison of the top companies in this sector against each other and against the sector median, average and standard deviation in each of the 11 fields.
Mailing list
A separate mailing list report is also available with address and contact details for the top companies in any of the segments within this sector.
Market reports
Our market reports look at the aggregated data for the top companies (by turnover) for any of the segments within this sector across all the fields usually found in a company report. The reports include data for the last 10 years* and enables easy comparison of trends for the whole sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures.
*Please note the number of companies for which data is aggregated will vary for any given year.
The market reports include sections on:
- key financials and employees;
- profit and loss account;
- balance sheet;
- cash flow statement;
- financial ratios;
- financial trends and changes;
- profitability trends and changes.
UK benchmarking
We offer benchmarking reports that can be used to inform your own business strategy or help you identify value-added services to offer to your clients.
Contact the enquiry team directly on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com for a report tailored to your own specific requirements.
Directories
Banks and building societies list
Monthly list published by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) of the banks and building societies it regulates.
Trade bodies
The websites of trade bodies and other organisations in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.
UK
Europe
Middle East
Americas
Asia
Oceania
Global
Trade journals and publications
Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.
Further reading
Articles, books and journals in the Library collection
- View a list of books in our collection on the banking industry
- View a list of articles in our collection on the banking industry
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this Business & Industry Guide is correct. However, the content of websites changes frequently and users should satisfy themselves that the information they contain is suitable for the purposes for which they wish to use it. We would be grateful to receive notification of any broken links at library@icaew.com.
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