The banking crisis has dominated the headlines in 2008. The credit crunch has resulted in significantly adjusted expectations of future financial performance, enterprise values and brand values with only 31 of the top 500 banking brands growing their brand value this year. Across the 500 we have seen a brand value destruction equivalent to US$218 billion. Amongst the winners, we have seen the continued rise of powerful banking brands from the Chinese market in the top 20 and the continued advance of other emerging market brands. Some of the best known developed world banks have disappeared or were subsumed by stronger rivals in 2008. Some are dead men walking awaiting a silver bullet. Governments’ fingers are on triggers.