Number of credit institutions in Europe 2025, by country

As of June 2025, there were a total of 4,752 credit institutions operating in the European Union. Across Europe, approximately 1.8 million individuals were employed by credit institutions, with some bank employees looking after more than 200 customers each.

The German banking sector

In 2025, Germany had more than twice as many banks operating than any other European country, despite a steady downward trend for years. Germany has 3 main types of banks, which include commercial, savings (or Sparkassen) and cooperative banks. Despite the declining number of banks, the German bank sector's assets increased steadily during the last decade, amounting to over 10 trillion euros in 2024. 

What is the leading bank in Europe?

In 2024, HSBC was the largest bank in Europe, in terms of market capitalization. The British headquartered bank also led the European banking sector in terms of assets and tier 1 capital. The UK giant also ranked first in terms of revenue. When it comes to digital banking, Revolut stands out as the leading player, with its customer base rising sharply in recent years, reaching over 52 million at the end of 2024.