The four most profit-making banks in 2014 were Chinese, making profits of more than USD180 billion between them, according to The Banker magazine’s annual rankings of profits and capital strength. Chinese lenders collectively earned almost double the amount of their U.S. rivals. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s USD59.1 billion profit last year topped the rankings, ahead of China Construction Bank (CCB), the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and the Bank of China (BOC). U.S. bank Wells Fargo ranked fifth with a USD33.8 billion profit, followed by JPMorgan and HSBC. ICBC also topped The Bankers’ ranking of the strongest banks in the world for the third year, which is based on the amount of capital held, in amount rather than as a ratio of assets. China’s big state-backed banks are growing globally, but still have relatively modest overseas assets. The Banker said that in most regions banks increased their profits last year from 2013, the Shanghai Daily reports.