Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find my bank or credit union?
- Leading articles are removed, but aside from that institutions are listed exactly the way they file their call report . As a result, if you looking for 1st when the institution files as First, you will not get a match.
- Try your search without entering the state OR try by only entering the state. These searches will get you more than you bargained for, but the institution you are looking for will likely be in the mix.
- Brand new institutions can take up to four months to appear on our site due to the lag time in receiving data from regulators
- It is possible for foreign banks to have FDIC-insured U.S. branches. We do not have data on foreign banks.You may call the FDIC at 1.877.275.3342 or visit the FDIC's BankFind to find out if your bank is a foreign branch or a new bank in the last few months.
Do banks and credit unions pay to be rated?
No institution has ever paid for its rating, nor can any institution elect not to be rated. Bauer rates all U.S. chartered banks and all federally insured credit unions with assets of at least $1.5 million.
If all banks and credit unions have federal deposit insurance what difference does its rating make?
Consumers (and businesses) that exceed the deposit insurance limit could lose some of their money in a bank failure; it is surprisingly easy to go over the insurance limit without realizing it due to:
- interest payments;
- proceeds from the sale of a house;
- retirement accounts;
- death of a signer on the account;
- conditional clauses in trust documents;
- brokered deposits;
- and more.
Additionally, an acquiring institution is not obligated to keep paying CD rates at the rate contracted with the defunct institution. Interest rates are subject (likely) to drop, especially if they are above the market averages.
Businesses have another concern; if their bank fails they can lose their "line of credit" (source of funding) until they are able to find another lender.
Regardless of insurance limitations, individuals and businesses could be subject to disruptions in direct deposits if a bank is closed with no acquirer. The same goes for any bills that you have automatically set up to pay from your checking account.
How often are the star ratings updated?
Star Ratings are updated at least four times per year, generally in early March, June, September and December based on the previous quarter’s financial information.
What if I want more than a Star-Rating?
Click on the “Tell Me More” button next to the institution’s name. Bauer provides reports with as much, or as little, information, as you desire.
If you don't see what you want, call us at 1.800.388.6686.
The rating went down from last time. Does that mean the institution is in trouble?
Institutions rated 2-stars and below are relegated to our Troubled and Problematic Bank Report or our Troubled and Problematic Credit Union Report. For more information, you may want to purchase a Highlights Report that will show trends over the last year.
How are star ratings assigned?
Each institution files a quarterly Call Report with government regulators. Bauer performs its own, independent analysis on the data supplied and supplements that with historical and other data to assign comprehensive star ratings.
Does Bauer use the CAMELS rating system?
The CAMELS rating system is the regulators’ own proprietary system and is confidential. However, Bauer takes a similar approach in assigning our star ratings.
What is Due Diligence?
Any person, agency, or association that is in charge of watching over money for someone else, has an obligation to make sure it has, to the best of its abilities, determined that the place it selects for those funds, is strong. This process is known as “Due Diligence”. Visit Bauer's Due Diligence Report for more information.
What makes Bauer different from other rating agencies?
BauerFinancial is completely independent. It does not get paid (nor has it ever) to rate any institution, nor can any institution avoid its rating. Bauer does sell products to institutions and encourages them to advertise their 5-Star or 4-Star rating, but they must earn it first.
Bauer uses the same strict barometer to rate all banks and all credit unions and makes those ratings available to all people—for free—on its web site. Bauer has nothing to hide.
Since 1983, this practice, along with an excellent track record, has earned the respect of regulators, bankers and consumers across the country. We have been analyzing and reporting on the industry since 1983. Nobody knows this business better, nor is better respected.
Why are Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and other territories listed?
Although they are not states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. territories and share all of the benefits and guarantees of FDIC insurance.
What is the difference between a credit union and a bank?
Banks and credit unions can both carry federal deposit insurance (FDIC for banks; NCUA for credit unions). Without federal deposit insurance, an institution will not be rated by Bauer.FDIC and NCUA carry the same guarantees and are both backed by the Federal Government. What primarily sets banks and credit unions apart is their ownership. Banks can be owned by stockholders, individuals or groups. Credit unions are not-for-proft entities, owned by their members. The allegiances vary according to who owns the institution.
How can I find the best banks and credit unions in my area?
Search by selecting only a state – leave the institution name field blank. The search will return all the banks (or credit unions ) in that state in alphabetical order. Or you can order Your Hometown Bank Ratings Report for information on all the banks operating in your county.
Is Bauer like other Rating Agencies I read about (like Moody's and Standard and Poor's)?
Bauer’s Star-Ratings are not the same as Standard and Poor’s or Moody’s. BauerFinancial’s star-ratings are geared toward depositors whereas S&P, Moody’s and Fitch rate investment offerings. BauerFinancial rates the strength of the bank or credit union as a whole. If you are looking for a Letter of Credit or Bank Guarantee, as a general guideline, Bauer’s ratings can be likened to the others as:
BauerFinancial Moody's Standard & Poor / Fitch
5-Stars Aaa AAA
4-Stars Aa1, Aa2, Aa3 AA+, AA, AA-
3½-Stars A1, A2, A3 A+, A , A-
3-Stars Baa1, Baa2, Baa3 BBB+, BBB, BBB-
2-Stars Ba1, Ba2, Ba3 BB+, BB, BB-
1-Star B1, B2, B3 B+, B, B-
Zero-Stars Caa, Ca, C CCC, CC, C, D
Does Bauer Provide Ratings for Letters of Credit or Bank Guarantees?
When it comes to obtaining a Letter of Credit (LC), a Bank Guarantee (BG) or even a Line of Credit, it is important to remember that they are only as good as the bank that is providing the assurances. To make sure that the bank you select is credit-worthy, we suggest you purchase both a Due Diligence Report and an Analytical Report on the bank. The Due Diligence Report provides a balance sheet, income statement and several ratios comparing the bank’s performance for the current quarter to its performance during the corresponding quarter a year ago while the Analytical Report provides peer group comparisons and further breakdowns. Both reports include the bank’s current star rating.
What is a Banker’s Bank?
A banker’s bank is a bank for banks. Unlike regular banks that have a customer base made up of individuals and businesses, a bankers bank has other banks as its customers and provides a number of correspondent services for them.
What is a Corporate Credit Union?
A corporate credit union is a credit union for credit unions. Unlike regular credit unions that have a membership made of individual or “natural” persons, a corporate credit union has other credit unions as its members.
How can I file a Complaint about my Financial Institution?
- has been unfair or misleading,
- discriminated against you in lending,
- violated a federal consumer protection law or regulation, or
- if you have any other dispute
with a bank or credit union, you will want to contact the entity that supervises or regulates that institution. Knowing what entity that is (or are), though, can be a challenge, to say the least.
The following table should serve as a guide, but bear in mind, you do not have to limit yourself to one agency:
In addition to insuring all banks, the FDIC supervises State-chartered banks that are NOT members of the Federal Reserve System.
877.275.3342 (877-ASKFDIC)
Hearing Impaired 800.925.4618
https://ask.fdic.gov/fdicinformationandsupportcenter/s/
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Or OCC, is the primary regulator for National Banks and Federal Savings Associations.
800.613.6743
TTY 800.877.8339
https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/complaints/index-file-a-bank-complaint.html
Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve supervises State-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System.
888-851-1920
TTY 877.766.8533
https://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/
National Credit Union Administration
Or NCUA supervises and regulates all Federal Credit Unions.
800.755.1030
https://complaint.mycreditunion.gov/LandingPage
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The CFPB is the secondary regulator for all of the aforementioned and in addition to taking your complaints, it offers a wide variety of help on money topics.
855.411.2372
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
Each State
In addition to the Federal Regulator, State-chartered banks and credit unions are all regulated by the Department of Financial Institutions for their state. You can find the state regulatory agencies by doing an internet search on “department of banking” or “department of financial institutions” + the “state” name.