Top 25 banking KPIs for leaders to measure overall success

Technologically adept customers are driving the growth of online banking. Research from the United Kingdom’s Juniper estimates that by 2026, digital banking will be used by more than 53% of the world’s population. By providing a seamless digital banking experience, banks can save both time and money, creating opportunities for new revenue streams.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a bank’s digital transformation, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential. This blog explores the 25 most important banking KPIs that managers use to measure performance.

Why banks need key performance indicators

KPIs allow banks to track progress toward specific goals. When a bank or credit union sets strategic objectives, these indicators help monitor how effectively they are being met.

Digital banking KPIs provide a framework for evaluating progress. Banks should document the reasoning behind each KPI to ensure clarity and consistency.

Once long-term objectives are established, KPIs guide ongoing performance evaluation. Continuous monitoring is necessary. First, assess each KPI for relevance and utility. Then define reporting frequency, monitoring schedules, and criteria for analysis.

Financial performance KPIs

ROA (Return on Assets)

In 2023, top-performing banks achieved an ROA of around 1.25%, while smaller banks averaged 1.10%. ROA measures asset profitability and reflects how efficiently a bank uses its resources.

Formula: ROA = Net Income / Total Assets

Return on equity (ROE)

In the first quarter of 2023, U.S. commercial banks saw their ROE rise over two points, reaching 12.9%. ROE reflects a bank’s ability to generate returns for shareholders and indicates financial appeal to depositors and lenders.

Formula: ROE = Net Income / Shareholders’ Equity

Net interest margin (NIM)

Global banks reported a 2023 NIM ranging from 2.5% to 3.2%. NIM evaluates the profitability of lending and investment activities by comparing interest income and expenses.

Formula: NIM = (Interest Income – Interest Expenses) / Total Earning Assets

Efficiency ratio

S&P Global Market Intelligence reports that the efficiency ratio for U.S. banks fell to 52.83% in Q1 2023 from 54.87% in Q4 2022. This ratio compares operating expenses to total income, and a lower value indicates improved cost control and profitability.

Formula: Efficiency Ratio = Operating Expenses / Operating Revenue

Asset quality KPIs

Non-performing loans (NPL)

In 2023, European banks reported an average NPL ratio of 2.9%. NPLs measure the quality of a bank’s lending portfolio and highlight risk exposure.

Formula: NPL Ratio = (Non-Performing Loans / Total Loans) * 100

Loan-to-deposit ratio

The industry average increased to 63.6% in Q4 2022. This ratio measures liquidity and lending capacity, providing insights for sound financial management.

Formula: Loan-to-Deposit Ratio = Total Loans / Total Deposits

Capital adequacy KPIs

Capital adequacy ratio (CAR)

European banks maintained an average CAR of 15.9% in 2023. CAR evaluates the adequacy of capital relative to risk-weighted assets, ensuring financial stability.

Formula: CAR = (Tier 1 Capital + Tier 2 Capital) / Risk-Weighted Assets

Cost-to-income ratio (CIR)

A CIR below 60% indicates efficiency. In 2023, leading U.S. banks averaged 59.9%. This metric shows how effectively a bank converts expenses into profits.

Formula: CIR = Operating Expenses / Operating Income

Customer satisfaction KPIs

Customer satisfaction score (CSAT)

Top banks achieve CSAT scores above 80. In 2023, leading U.S. banks scored between 78 and 82. These metrics reflect customer loyalty and positive experiences. We have improved customer satisfaction rates to over 80% across 90,000+ interactions.

Formula: CSAT = (Number of Satisfied Customers / Total Respondents) * 100

Net promoter score (NPS)

NPS measures customer loyalty and advocacy. Retently’s data shows that the average NPS ranges between 34 and 20 for healthcare, and 19 to -6 for communication and media industries.

Formula: NPS = (Percentage of Promoters – Percentage of Detractors) * 100

Customer acquisition cost (CAC)

CAC tracks the cost of acquiring new clients. Lower CAC supports efficient growth and revenue generation.

Formula: CAC = Total Sales and Marketing Expenses / Number of New Customers Acquired

Transaction value KPIs

Average transaction value

This KPI monitors the average value of transactions, helping banks optimize earnings.

Formula: Average Transaction Value = Total Transaction Value / Total Number of Transactions

Capital utilization rate

This KPI assesses how effectively the bank generates returns from capital. Efficient capital use enhances profitability.

Formula: Capital Utilization Rate = (Interest Income + Non-Interest Income) / Total Capital

Liquidity management KPIs

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)

LCR evaluates a bank’s ability to meet short-term obligations. Strong liquidity ensures stability and regulatory compliance.

Formula: LCR = High-Quality Liquid Assets / Total Net Cash Outflows

Loan portfolio diversification

Spreading loans across products and sectors reduces risk exposure and strengthens resilience against sector-specific shocks.

Formula: Loan Portfolio Diversification = (Number of Different Loan Types / Total Loans) * 100

Growth and expansion KPIs

Net asset growth rate

This KPI tracks changes in a bank’s net assets, indicating financial health and growth potential.

Formula: Net Asset Growth Rate = (Current Year’s Total Assets – Last Year’s Total Assets) / Last Year’s Total Assets

Operating income margin

This KPI measures profitability relative to revenue. A higher margin indicates efficient operations.

Formula: Operating Income Margin = (Operating Income / Total Revenue) * 100

Mortgage lending KPIs

Mortgage delinquency rate

This KPI monitors overdue mortgage loans, providing insight into lending safety and portfolio stability.

Formula: Mortgage Delinquency Rate = (Number of Delinquent Mortgages / Total Number of Mortgages) * 100

Regulatory compliance score

This KPI evaluates how well a bank adheres to regulatory standards. Maintaining compliance preserves credibility and avoids legal issues.

Formula: Regulatory Compliance Score = (Number of Compliance Violations / Total Compliance Audits) * 100

Workforce productivity KPIs

Staff productivity

Staff productivity measures output relative to labor costs. Well-organized staffing strategies improve efficiency and operational performance.

Formula: Staff Productivity = Total Output / Total Labor Costs

Asset quality index (AQI)

AQI assesses the quality of a bank’s assets. Strong asset quality reduces potential losses and protects financial stability.

Formula: AQI = (Total Value of High-Quality Assets / Total Value of Assets) * 100

Core deposits KPIs

Core deposit growth rate

This KPI tracks growth in core deposits, ensuring stable funding and effective cash flow management.

Formula: Core Deposit Growth Rate = (Current Year’s Core Deposits – Last Year’s Core Deposits) / Last Year’s Core Deposits

Digital engagement rate

Digital engagement rate measures how actively customers use a bank’s online services. It reflects digital adoption and satisfaction.

Formula: Digital Engagement Rate = (Number of Digital Interactions / Total Customer Interactions) * 100

Cross-selling success KPIs

Cross-selling success rate

This KPI evaluates how effectively banks sell additional products to existing customers. Successful cross-selling enhances revenue and customer value.

Formula: Cross-Selling Success Rate = (Number of Cross-Sold Products / Total Customer Transactions) * 100

Brand equity score

Brand equity measures the recognition and reputation of a bank’s brand. Strong brand equity attracts and retains customers.

Formula: Brand Equity Score = (Brand Equity Value / Total Brand Value) * 100

Analyzing these 25 banking KPIs provides a comprehensive view of a bank’s health, efficiency, customer satisfaction, and risk management. Executives can make informed, data-driven decisions to shape the bank’s future.

How can Brickclay help?

Data integration and analytics

Brickclay helps banks leverage data through tailored engineering and analytics solutions. Our services cover data integration, analytics, and insights that guide strategic decisions.

Regulatory compliance and risk management

We support banks in meeting regulatory requirements and managing risk effectively. Our solutions ensure compliance while enhancing operational resilience.

Customer insights and operational efficiency

Brickclay provides tools to analyze customer behavior and optimize operational processes. Banks can improve decision-making and achieve measurable efficiency gains.

Digital transformation support

Our expertise in digital transformation helps banks adapt to a rapidly evolving financial landscape. We deliver innovative, customized solutions that drive growth and competitive advantage.

By partnering with Brickclay, banks can implement data-driven strategies to shape their future. Contact us today to start your transformative journey.

general queries

Frequently asked questions

The most important KPIs in the banking industry include ROA (Return on Assets), ROE (Return on Equity), Net Interest Margin (NIM), efficiency ratio, non-performing loans (NPL), capital adequacy ratio (CAR), customer satisfaction score (CSAT), digital engagement rate, and cross-selling success rate. These indicators help banks evaluate financial health, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and risk management.

Banking KPIs are essential because they allow financial institutions to track progress toward strategic objectives, monitor operational performance, manage risks, and improve customer satisfaction. By measuring specific metrics, banks can implement a data-driven banking transformation strategy to make informed decisions.

Banks measure financial performance indicators by tracking metrics such as ROA, ROE, Net Interest Margin (NIM), efficiency ratio, and cost-to-income ratio (CIR). These KPIs provide insights into profitability, capital utilization, and operational efficiency, helping banks optimize financial outcomes.

ROA (Return on Assets) measures how efficiently a bank uses its assets to generate profit, while ROE (Return on Equity) evaluates profitability relative to shareholders’ equity. Both metrics are crucial for measuring bank risk management performance and assessing financial strength from different perspectives.

Tracking digital banking performance metrics such as digital engagement rate, CSAT, and NPS allows banks to enhance user experience, streamline services, and respond to customer needs promptly. By improving these metrics, banks can significantly boost customer satisfaction metrics banking.

Banks use bank data analytics solutions providers to implement dashboards, reporting software, and business intelligence platforms. These tools track KPIs in real-time, provide actionable insights, and support improving banking operational performance through informed decision-making.

Banks can enhance efficiency by monitoring efficiency ratio and cost-to-income ratio (CIR), automating routine processes, optimizing resource allocation, and leveraging bank operational efficiency KPIs. This reduces expenses and maximizes profitability.

Key metrics for loan quality and risk management include non-performing loans (NPL), loan-to-deposit ratio, capital adequacy ratio (CAR), and asset quality index (AQI). Tracking these indicators helps banks mitigate risk, maintain liquidity, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Banks track digital engagement rate, transaction volumes, mobile app usage, and online interactions to monitor customer adoption of digital services. Leveraging digital banking performance metrics allows banks to tailor services, improve satisfaction, and drive engagement.

Brickclay provides end-to-end data analytics solutions that integrate data, automate KPI tracking, and generate actionable reports. By leveraging our tools, banks can improve banking operational performance, track banking digital engagement rate, and implement a data-driven banking transformation strategy to support growth and decision-making.

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About Brickclay

Brickclay is a digital solutions provider that empowers businesses with data-driven strategies and innovative solutions. Our team of experts specializes in digital marketing, web design and development, big data and BI. We work with businesses of all sizes and industries to deliver customized, comprehensive solutions that help them achieve their goals.