Investopedia: Is Shinhan A Good Option For Investors Looking For Banking Performance?

Investors who want to put new money to work in the banking sector are finding a shrinking pool of good options out there. While there are a few banks here and there, like U.S. Bank (NYSE:USB), that still offer some solid long-term potential, most U.S. and Canadian bank stocks have caught up to their fundamental values and so many European banks are just a horror show of credit risk and low growth.

So what about emerging markets? Investors have started to worry about the growth outlook in Brazil, and the problems in Argentina have offered up a reminder that success in these markets can be fleeting. But Asia may be a different case. In particular, investors may want to consider the opportunity in Korea's leading bank Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG).

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Investopedia: Citigroup On The Mend ... Slowly

It's just a fact of life that it's easier and faster to destroy than it is to rebuild. To that end, Citigroup (NYSE:C) has certainly been a frustrating stock to hold this year as the stock had been nearly cut in half before a recent rally. While this huge bank's third quarter earnings continue to point to progress, the reality is that Citigroup is still a long way from normal, and shareholders have to be content with more short-term disappointment if they want to see the long-term value play out.

Decent Third Quarter Results  
Although analysts had been marking down their expectations, going into this quarter, Citi didn't do too badly. Adjusted core revenue fell 2% on a sequential basis, as modest growth in regional consumer banking (2%) and decent growth in transaction services (7%) was offset by declines in securities and banking 12%. For whatever reason, it helps shareholders, this performance is likely to be the rule for other large banks like Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) (BofA) as well. 

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Want A Strong Bank? Think ICICI

After spending a lot of 2009 and 2010 rebounding from freak-out lows, American banks like Citigroup (NYSE:C) and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) are choking and sputtering. Not only are investors wrapped up in the negative headlines about potentially huge mortgage documentation risks, but loan growth is stagnant and the U.S. is still over-banked.

On the flip-side, the picture for banks outside of the U.S. and Western Europe is quite a bit brighter. In India, strong credit growth and surprisingly strong credit quality is providing a healthy environment, and ICICI Bank (NYSE:IBN) is making hay while the sun shines.

The Quarter That Was
ICICI reported earnings for its fiscal second quarter that handily surpassed the analysts' targets. Bottom-line earnings rose 19% in the quarter, fueled by 8% growth in net interest income and a 40% drop in provisions. Growth was helped by margin expansion of 10 basis points, loan growth of 2%, and deposit growth of 13%, while a significant rise in expenses (10%) was a dampener. (For more, see The Bottom Line On Margins.)

Credit quality is getting better. As the 40% reduction in provisions might suggest, ICICI is feeling good about its balance sheet. Impaired loans were a bit more than 8% at the end of the quarter, continuing a multi-quarter sequential strength of improvement. As a percentage of loans, non-performing loans were 1.4% in the quarter on a net basis.

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