Largest European banks in 2021, by cost/income ratio
The cost to income ratio (C/I ratio) is an important financial metric in determining the profitability of banks. The measure looks at the cost of running operations as to a bank’s operating income. Lower ratios mean that a bank is running more profitably whereas a higher C/I ratio indicates that the bank's operating expenses are too high. In Europe, cost to income ratios vary from 88 percent in Malta to 44 percent in Bulgaria.