Bank rating lists from for-profit companies are based on simplistic formulas. The only true list that matters is the one from the FDIC, which has a more thorough and complete picture of a bank’s safety and soundness.

• These ratings from for-profit companies are based on simplistic formulas. The only true list that matters is the one from the FDIC, which has a more thorough and complete picture of a bank’s safety and soundness.
• Lists from non-regulatory bodies can’t fully assess the true safety and soundness of an organization. They don’t know what proactive steps the bankers are taking to ensure safety and soundness or what corrective actions have been taken since the public information was published.
• The FDIC has good reason not to publish their ratings. Banks with problems often work them out over time. On average, the vast majority (87 percent) of banks on the FDIC problem list come back to healthy status over time.
• Depositors should know that their money is safe. No one has ever lost a penny of FDIC insured deposits. Your banker can help you understand your coverage and help you understand your options for making adjustments to your accounts if necessary to ensure that all of your deposits are insured.
• The banking industry is highly capitalized and prepared for economic weakness. As of Sept. 2008, the industry held $1.3 trillion in capital plus $156 billion in reserves for a total buffer against losses of $1.5 trillion.
• Our diversified industry of 8,400 banks with 97,000 locations nationwide stands ready to serve customers. The vast majority of banks have been in existence for decades and plan to serve their customers for many, many more.