However, there are private companies that provide their own ratings of these institutions.

As a service to consumers, the staff of the FDIC Library has compiled a listing of several financial institution rating services.

Disclaimer:   This list should not be construed as an endorsement or confirmation by the FDIC of information provided by these companies.

1. Quantitative as well as qualitative assessments of banking operations incorporating management meetings and discussions with the rated institution.
    
2. Industry peer comparison.
    
3. Long-term focus through industry cycles.
    
4. Rating profile determined by both current and stressed conditions.
    
5. Consideration of impacts of affiliates and parent companies within the group.

1. Long-term core earnings capability:
   • Historical earnings from core operations.
   • Development of additional viable business lines for future earnings generation.
      
2. Business profile:
   • Franchise strength (brand recognition, defensible market leadership, niche stronghold, long-term client base).
   • Competitive dynamics within pertinent markets.
   • Profitability, stability and growth potential of primary lines of business.
   • Diversified mix of assets and revenue sources (interest vs. fee income).
      
3. Balance sheet strength:
   • Liquidity profile (adequacy of funding to support existing business/future growth as well as diversification of short-/long-term sources of funding).
   • Core capitalization (quality/adequacy in providing protection and capital requirements for existing business/future growth).
   • Capital structure and financial flexibility (degree of leverage and short-/long-term access to various sources of financing).
   • Asset quality (reviewed against de facto measures of credit loss statistics/risk concentration, as well as on credit risk management and administration).
      
4. Risk management:
   • Measurement and management of risk factors: interest rate, market, liquidity, currency, operational and other risks.
   • Organization and control systems.
   • Integrity of data and modeling techniques.
   • Back-end validation testing.
      
5. Other factors:
   • Regulatory structure.
   • Management and corporate governance.
   • Parent company and affiliated operations.

All U.S. banks and federally insured credit unions are rated by BauerFinancial Inc. No bank pays for this service, nor can they elect to avoid it. BauerFinancial is an unbiased third party that has been rating banks from a depositor’s perspective since 1983.

Ratings on website: visit www.bauerfinancial.com to look up the ratings of all U.S. banks or credit unions: unlimited number, FREE.

Ratings by phone: Verbal ratings are offered by a live customer service representative for a nominal fee: $4 for the first one, $2 each additional on the same phone call, 9-5 eastern time.

1. One page Highlights Report with 5 quarters of financial highlights on a specific institution ($10 for the first report, $4 for each additional report)
2. One page Summary Report (Highlights Report plus additional data on delinquencies and profitability) on a specific institution ($20)
3. Your Hometown Bank Ratings allows the consumer to define a city(s) or county(s) and receive a comprehensive list of all the banks in the defined area including: each branch address, the current star-rating, year established, website, telephone number and the number of branches nationwide. ($28/city, $38/county, $10 for each adjacent city or county)
4. Six page Analytical Report that includes peer group comparisons on a specific institution ($40)
5. Statewide Bank Report ($55) – Star ratings and financial highlights for all banks operating in any given state
6. Troubled and Problematic Bank Report ($99) – All U.S. banks rated 2-stars or below by BauerFinancial
7. Recommended Bank Report ($195) – All U.S. banks and thrifts rated 5-stars or 4-stars by BauerFinancial
8. Jumbo Rate News – Weekly Newsletter tracking the national Jumbo CD market (available: weekly, monthly, customized and on request) – Visit website for a downloadable single issue and for prices: www.jumboratenews.com.
9. Customized Data: BauerFinancial has an extensive database and can customize reports, lists, spreadsheets, mailing lists or files based on any number of criteria. Simply call our research department at 1.800.388.6686 and explain what you are looking for. Not only will you get exactly what you need, you will find our prices to be very competitive.

1. Minority Financial Institutions. Brokerage firms, banks, thrifts, community development financial institutions, money management firms, venture capital firms, insurance companies, mutual fund companies, and mortgage banking firms owned by minorities and women. Comprehensive data by Group: Asian, African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Women. Institution-level data. Management Information - President, Cashier, Operations Officer and other data. $ 2,500.00
    

2. Minority Business Financing. Strategies for financing a woman or minority business. $1,250.00.

• A single unit quarterly summary report is $50 per institution certificate (CERT).
   
• A holding company roll-up quarterly summary report is $80 per holding company record (HCR).
   
• An XML (MSFT SpreadsheetML format) download of analysis metrics for a ten (10) quarter look back period is $250 per CERT and $275 per HCR.

• Bankmonitor.net - An Online Inquiry System for Financial Institutions 
• U.S. Corporate Bank Ratings (All regulated Banks and Savings Banks in one volume)
• LACE International Bank Ratings
• LACE Savings & Loan Ratings
• Bank Holding Company Ratings
• Credit Unions (All CU’s on CD. 2,500 Largest in print version)
• Bank Alert Service – E-mail Releases and Bank Customer Letter.
• Watch List (banks with relatively poor financial conditions)
• New Issue Ratings for Securities

1. Short Form Report ($25) Overview of an institution or bank holding company designed for people without a financial background.
    
2. Blue Ribbon Bank Report ($35) Highest rated banks in a selected region.
    
3. Bank, S&L, or Credit Union Research Reports ($45) - In depth report designed for investors.
    
4. Holding Company Research Report ($95) - In-depth report which contains a breakout of data and ratings for each of the commercial bank members of a bank holding company.
    
5. Bank and Thrift State Ratings Report ($110) Key financial measures and ratings for all banks and S&Ls in a state.
    
6. Watchlist Report ($110) Tracks any 50 institutions selected.

1. Ratings Online ($7.95) Billed to a credit card
    
2. Verbal ratings ($15) Available via telephone
    
3. Watchdog service ($48) Provides immediate notification of a ratings change, plus a quarterly ratings affirmation notice.
    
4. Personal Safety Report ($45) 12 page detailed analysis of an individual bank or thrift.
    
5. Consumer Safety Update ($25) Summary report covering a company's rating and factors contributing to the rating.
    
6. Weiss Recommend Companies ($55) Lists those companies receiving the highest Weiss Safety Rating.