Mag Names Best Banks
by January 21, 2013 12:00 am 60 views
Another issue, another Forbes list.
This time, it involves the 100 largest publicly traded banks and thrifts — excluding, and substituting for, nine thrifts that did not file data on capital ratios. In ranking those institutions, Forbes relied on data provided by SNL Financial of Charlottesville, Va.
The metrics used for ranking the banks were return on average equity; net interest margin; nonperforming loans as a percentage of loans; nonperforming assets as percentage of assets; reserves as a percentage of NPLs; two capital ratios (Tier 1 and risk-based); and leverage ratio. The data is based on regulatory filings of public banks and thrifts through the third quarter of 2012.
Six of the institutions on the list do business in Northwest Arkansas, so we scanned it to see which ones ranked where. BOKF Financial was the highest entry at No. 22, followed by U.S. Bancorp (34), IberiaBank (57), Bank of America (86), BancorpSouth (89) and Regions Financial (94).
Notable Numbers
Among other notable statistics included in the article that accompanied the Forbes list included the fact there were 390 bank failures between 2009 and 2011.
As of the date (Dec. 18) the story was published, however, only 51 had failed in 2012. That was almost 50 percent fewer than in 2011.
Forbes also reported profits at the 7,181 FDIC-insured banks for the third quarter of 2012 were $37.6 billion. That’s the best quarterly total since 2006.
And, finally, Forbes reported the number of banks on the FDIC’s “Problem List” has dropped for six consecutive quarters. The total — 694 — is the lowest number in three years.