Bank stocks: How to invest

Ready to invest in the banking industry? Consider these 15 stocks.

How to invest in bank stocks Step-by-step instructions
Popular banks to invest in See list

March 2023 has been a turbulent time for the banking sector, with the collapse and rescue of Silicon Valley Bank in the US, and Credit Suisse. The best bank stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can work for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

How to invest in bank stocks

  1. Choose a platform. If you’re a beginner, our share-dealing table below can help you choose.
  2. Open your account. You’ll need your ID, bank details and national insurance number.
  3. Confirm your payment details. You’ll need to fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
  4. Search the platform for bank stock codes.
  5. Research the shares you want to buy. The platform should provide the latest information available.
  6. Buy your shares. It’s that simple.
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All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.


15 bank stocks to watch

We rounded up a selection of stocks in or related to the banking sector, weighting the list more heavily towards popular UK and US stocks.

  1. Barclays (BARC)
  2. Lloyds (LLOY)
  3. HSBC (HSBA)
  4. NatWest (NWG)
  5. Standard Chartered (STAN)
  6. Santander (BNC)
  7. Credit Suisse (CS)
  8. BNP Paribas (BNP)
  9. First Republic Bank (FRC)
  10. Bank of America (BAC)
  11. Citigroup (C)
  12. JPMorgan Chase-and-Co (JPM)
  13. Wells Fargo (WFC)
  14. Citizens Financial Group (CFG)
  15. Signature Bank (SBNY)

Take a deeper dive into banks stocks

If you're interested in investing in the banks industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.

1. Barclays (BARC)

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.

Barclays is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around 23.6 billion and employs 92,400 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.

  • Market capitalization: $37,739,376,640
  • P/E ratio: 9.2482
  • PEG ratio: 1.2099

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2. Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY)

Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates in three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal customers.

Lloyds Banking Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around £18.6 billion and employs 62,569 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.

  • Market capitalization: $32,975,269,888
  • P/E ratio: 7.5971
  • PEG ratio: 1.659

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3. HSBC (HSBA)

HSBC Holdings plc provides banking and financial services worldwide. The company operates through Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets segments. The Wealth and Personal Banking segment offers retail banking and wealth products, including current and savings accounts, mortgages and personal loans, credit and debit cards, and local and international payment services; and wealth management services comprising insurance and investment products, global asset management services, investment management, and private wealth solutions.

HSBC is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around £58 billion and employs 215,180 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.

  • Market capitalization: $132,110,155,776
  • P/E ratio: 7.5454
  • PEG ratio: 3.0429

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4. NatWest Group (NWG)

NatWest Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking, Private Banking, and Commercial & Institutional segments. The Retail Banking segment offers a range of banking products and related financial services, such as current accounts, mortgages, personal unsecured lending, and personal deposits, as well as mobile and online banking services.

NatWest Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around GBP£14 billion and employs 59,700 staff. All prices are listed in British Pound.

  • Market capitalization: $32,681,906,176
  • P/E ratio: 8.3511
  • PEG ratio: 0.4624

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5. Standard Chartered (STAN)

Standard Chartered PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. The company operates in three segments: Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking; Consumer, Private & Business Banking; and Ventures. It offers retail products, such as deposits, mortgages, credit cards, and personal loans; wealth management products and services that include investments, portfolio management, insurance, and wealth advice; and transaction banking services, such as cash management, working capital, and trade financing products.

Standard Chartered is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around £18.5 billion and employs 84,845 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.

  • Market capitalization: $23,606,312,960
  • P/E ratio: 8.1117
  • PEG ratio: 1.2723

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6. Banco Santander S-A (BNC)

Banco Santander, S. A. provides various financial services worldwide. The company operates through Retail Banking, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Insurance, and PagoNxt segments.

Banco Santander S-A is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around £47.8 billion and employs 208,080 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.

  • Market capitalization: $56,165,629,952
  • P/E ratio: 5.9032
  • PEG ratio: 2.1303

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7. Credit Suisse Group (CS)

Credit Suisse Group AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. The company offers wealth management solutions, including investment advice and discretionary asset management services; risk management solutions, such as managed investment products; and wealth and succession planning. It also provides financing and lending solutions, including consumer credit and real estate mortgage lending, real asset lending relating to ship, and aviation financing for UHNWI; standard and structured hedging, and lombard lending solutions, as well as collateral trading services; and investment banking solutions, such as global securities sales, trading and execution, capital raising, and advisory services.

Credit Suisse Group is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD£28.4 billion and employs 48,150 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $3,561,810,688
  • PEG ratio: 2.8914

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8. BNP Paribas (BNP)

BNP Paribas SA provides various banking and financial products and services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three divisions: Corporate & Institutional Banking; Commercial, Personal Banking & Services; and Investment & Protection Services. The Corporate & Institutional Banking division offers capital market, securities, investment banking, financing, risk management, cash management, and financial advisory services for corporate clients and institutional investors.

BNP Paribas is listed on the PA, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around EUR$44.7 billion and employs 183,000 staff. All prices are listed in Euros.

  • Market capitalization: $63,615,131,648
  • P/E ratio: 6.5757
  • PEG ratio: 1.4246

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9. FIRST REP BK SAN FRANCISCO CALIF N (FRC)

First Republic Bank does not have significant operations. Previously, it provided private banking, private business banking, and private wealth management services to clients in metropolitan areas in the United States. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. . . . .

FIRST REP BK SAN FRANCISCO CALIF N is listed on the NYSE and employs 7,213 staff.

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10. Bank of America (BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. The Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, non-interest and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; credit and debit cards; residential mortgages, and home equity loans; and direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

Bank of America is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$94.6 billion and employs 213,000 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $366,533,476,352
  • P/E ratio: 17.308
  • PEG ratio: 2.1329

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11. Citigroup (C)

Citigroup Inc. , a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U. S.

Citigroup is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$69.3 billion and employs 229,000 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $132,690,812,928
  • P/E ratio: 19.9886
  • PEG ratio: 0.7694

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12. JPMorgan Chase-and-Co (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM).

JPMorgan Chase-and-Co is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$162.1 billion and employs 316,043 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $703,243,747,328
  • P/E ratio: 13.8927
  • PEG ratio: 4.9745

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13. Wells Fargo-and-Company (WFC)

Wells Fargo & Company, a financial services company, provides diversified banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. The Consumer Banking and Lending segment offers diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses.

Wells Fargo-and-Company is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$77.9 billion and employs 220,167 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $257,069,907,968
  • P/E ratio: 16.052
  • PEG ratio: 3.6061

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14. Citizens Financial Group (CFG)

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking.

Citizens Financial Group is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$7.1 billion and employs 17,329 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $21,224,159,232
  • P/E ratio: 18.8863
  • PEG ratio: 0.2626

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15. Signature Bank (SBNY)

As of March 12, 2023, Signature Bank went out of business. Previously, the company provided digital assets banking services and comprised of certain loan portfolios. The company was incorporated in 2000 and is based in New York, New York.

Signature Bank is listed on the PINK, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2.6 billion and employs 2,243 staff.

  • Market capitalization: $75,568,800
  • P/E ratio: 0.0602
  • PEG ratio: 0.1956

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All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.


Bottom line

While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in bank stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — bank stocks can be risky. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market generally and in the banking industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been a while since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.

Finder survey: If a pension or other investment performed well but included companies in the following industries or countries, which would cause you to feel guilty?

ResponseFemaleMale
A Russian company45.11%37%
A company still operating in Russia39.82%30.94%
Weapons manufacturing39.82%24.56%
I wouldn't feel guilty18.59%26.41%
Tobacco25.83%25.49%
Cannabis23.29%20.04%
Meat farming17.42%9.76%
Oil12.33%12.33%
None of the above11.84%7.19%
Banks5.97%8.84%
Vaccine production7.05%6.89%
Source: Finder survey by Censuswide of 1995 Brits, April 2022

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