Knowing your bank is financially sound can provide you with peace of mind when it comes to your finances. Not only can you count on the safety of your deposits (up to federal insurance limits), but you can also be confident that your bank will be around for the foreseeable future.
Beyond these logistical matters, a financially sound bank may be more open, honest, and helpful to its customers.
If you’re wondering about the financial well-being of your bank, Bauer Financial ratings, among other signs, can give you some insight. Below, learn what Bauer Financial ratings are and what they can tell you about the health of your bank.
Bauer Financial is an independent bank research firm that rates banks and credit unions and shares these ratings with the public. Unlike other research firms such as Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s, Bauer Financial ratings are intended for depositors, not investors, and focus on the financial institution as a whole.
Bauer Financial assigns scores with the following ratings:
Lowest rating: 0 stars
Troubled: 1 star
Problematic: 2 stars
Adequate: 3 stars
Good: 3.5 stars
Excellent: 4 stars
Superior: 5 stars
Ratings of either 4 or 5 stars mean a bank or credit union is recommended by Bauer.
Bauer Financial rates financial institutions based on the quarterly reports, known as Call Reports, that banks have to file with federal regulators. The firm analyzes this information along with historical data to create its ratings, considering factors such as:
Capital ratios: Capital ratios measure a bank’s capital compared to its risk-weighted assets. Banks must keep a certain amount of capital on hand to mitigate potential risk, such as losing money on investments or to delinquent borrowers.
Liquidity: This measures a bank’s ability to meet short-term financial obligations with cash and other readily available assets.
Percentage of delinquent loans: Loan delinquency means payments are past due. A high percentage of delinquent loans may be problematic for banks because it can mean less available income and reduced profitability.
Frequency of charge-offs and repossessed assets: When borrowers don’t repay their debts, it can result in charge-offs or repossessed assets. Charge-offs happen when a lender writes off an unpaid debt as a loss because it’s confident the borrower won’t pay. Generally, more of these occurrences can indicate a struggling bank or customer base.
Community reinvestment rating: These ratings are a result of the Community Reinvestment Act, which encourages financial institutions to meet credit needs within their communities. A high rating means a bank or credit union does a good job of meeting the needs of all income levels within its community.
Read more: ESG banking: How to choose a bank that aligns with your values
If you want to know how Bauer Financial rates your bank or credit union, you can look it up online with the following steps:
Visit BauerFinancial.com. Navigate to the “Bank Star Ratings” or “Credit Union Star Ratings” page (under the “Ratings” tab), depending on what type of institution you’re researching.
Search for an institution. You can search using one of three methods: by state, institution name, or FDIC certificate number/NCUA charter number.
Find the rating. After entering your bank’s information and hitting “Submit,” the institution’s name should populate, along with its star rating. There will also be a link you can click for more detailed reports that are available to purchase.
Ideally, you want to bank at a stable, healthy institution. While you may be tempted to think the country’s largest banks are the healthiest, that isn’t necessarily the case. Instead, use the following indicators to get a sense of a bank’s health.
High Bauer Financial rating: Bauer Financial’s star ratings take multiple factors into account. A rating of 4 or 5 stars indicates an excellent or superior institution, and one that the firm recommends.
FDIC or NCUA insurance: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insure deposits at banks and credit unions, respectively. Financial institutions with these designations guarantee your money in case of bank failure. You can look up an institution to confirm insurance coverage using either the FDIC’s or NCUA’s search tool.
Positive customer reviews: Taken with a grain of salt, customer reviews can provide valuable information. Use sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot to get a sense of a bank’s customer satisfaction.
Track record of complaints: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database is a valuable tool for researching a bank’s track record with customers. Search your bank in the database for information about common complaints and resolutions.
Thorough security measures: With much of the banking industry accessible online, digital security measures are increasingly important. Many banks publish information on how they protect your data, which you can find on their website. If you can’t find this information, you can contact customer service to request it.
While you should know how to confirm the health of your bank, you should also be aware of any red flags that could indicate risk. Here are some things to look out for:
Low Bauer Financial rating: Anything below a 4-star or 5-star rating doesn’t come with a recommendation from Bauer Financial, so be cautious when choosing an institution with a lower score.
Lengthy or pending complaint resolution: With the CFPB’s Consumer Complaint Database, you can find out whether or not a financial institution provided a timely response to the complaint and how they resolved the issue.
Poor customer service: A lack of available customer service representatives isn’t just frustrating — it can also indicate the bank may not have the financial stability to hire a sufficient number of employees. Check out third-party review sites to get insight into a bank’s reputation with customers.
Legal trouble: Legal action against a bank or credit union is an obvious red flag. A simple online search should pull up any incidents, or you can search the CFPB’s Enforcement Action page.
Lack of transparency: Banks and credit unions should make it easy to find any information you need. A lack of transparency or difficulty finding data — regarding fees, reports, or anything else — should be a cause for concern.
While the chance of your bank failing is extremely low, banking with a financially sound institution is always a smart decision. When considering a new bank, look for signs of financial health, such as high Bauer Financial scores, FDIC or NCUA insurance, and positive customer ratings. Meanwhile, avoid any banks or credit unions with red flags, such as low Bauer and customer ratings and a lack of transparency.
