The article explores how banking regulations, governance, market power, and diversification affect bank performance and risk in Asian and G7/BRICS countries. Credit Rating Agencies can boost bank performance, but strict regulations can limit their impact. Market power can improve performance but also increase fragility. Deposit diversification can reduce liquidity risk during crises, while deposit insurance has limited effectiveness. Expected government support can lead to riskier behavior in banks, especially in state-owned and large banks.