America’s Best Banks 2017 | Forbes

For the eighth straight year, Forbes has come up with a list of America’s Best Banks. They ranked the 100 largest banks and thrifts by assets based on the following methodology:

We ranked the banks based on 10 metrics related to growth, profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality. Metrics include return on average tangible equity, return on average assets, net interest margin, efficiency ratio and net charge-offs as a percent of total loans. We also factored in nonperforming assets as a percent of assets, risk-based capital ratio and reserves as a percent of nonperforming assets (we previously compared reserves to nonperforming loans).

We tweaked two of the metrics this year with 12-month operating revenue growth replacing total revenue growth, which includes gains on sale of securities and can be volatile, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence analyst Robert Clark. CET1 ratio replaces the Tier 1 common capital ratio under the U.S. Basel III revised regulatory capital rules. All data is based on regulatory filings for the period ending Sept. 30. Each of the 10 metrics are weighted equally in the final rankings.

• There have been only 13 bank failures the past two years, compared to 297 during 2009 and 2010.
• The FDIC’s Problem Bank List reached 884 in 2010, but was only 132 as of September.
• Banks have mostly recovered from the late 2000s financial crisis after a multitude of asset write-downs, settlements and fines.
• Banks are healthier than they have been in a decade, but there is still a wide variance in the financial condition of the largest financial institutions.
• The four biggest banks in the U.S. have a combined $8.5 trillion in assets, or nearly $4 trillion more than the combined total of the next 100 biggest banks and thrifts. Yet, none of the Big Four could crack the top 50 of America’s Best Banks thanks to low net interest margins, weak revenue growth and high levels of net charge-offs as a percent of loans. JPMorgan Chase was the best performer at No. 57. Wells had the biggest drop of the Big Four, down 11 spots.
• Some banks really jumped up in the rankings. For example, First National Bank of Nebraska was #36 last year and is #16 this year.

For their article about “America’s Best Banks 2017”, click here. For the article about their methodology and the full list showing each bank’s assets, return on equity and other financial details, click here.

As you look at this list, remember it is not based on what consumers think of the banks. This is based on their financial strengths. Now, without further ado, here is Forbes list of “America’s Best Banks 2017”

1. PacWest Bankcorp
2. CVB Financial (holding company for Citizens Business Bank)
3. Community Bank System
4. Western Alliance Bancorp
5. Glacier Bancshares
6. First Republic Bank
7. Bank of Hawaii
8. Home BancShares
9. Prosperity Bancshares
10. FCB Financial Holdings
11. Bank of the Ozarks
12. First Hawaiian
13. South State
14. Capital One Financial
15. East West Bancorp
16. First National of Nebraska
17. Central Banco.
18. Cullen/Frost Bankers
19. Cathay General Bancorp
20. LegacyTexas Financial
21. Investors Bankcorp
22. Signature Bank
23. Hope Bancorp
24. Pinnacle Financial Partners
25. Renasant
26. WesBanco
27. First Financial Bancorp
28. Umpqua Holdings
29. Banner
30. Columbia Banking System
31. Washington Federal
32. Commerce Bancshares
33. First Interstate BancSystem
34. Hilltop Holdings
35. Customers Bancorp
36. Sterling Bancorp
37. State Street
38. Simmons First National
39. PrivateBancorp
40. SVB Financial Group
41. BankUnited
42. BB&T
43. M&T Bank
44. Heartland Financial USA
45. Provident Financial Svcs
46. International Bancshares
47. MB Financial
48. Capitol Federal Financial
49. Great Western Bancorp
50. Banc of California
51. Flagstar Bancorp
52. United Bankshares
53. Union Bankshares
54. Fifth Third Bancorp
55. Northern Trust
56. BancorpSouth
57. JPMorgan Chase
58. U.S. Bancorp
59. Old National Bancorp
60. United Community Banks
61. Berkshire Hills Bancorp
62. F.N.B
63. Wells Fargo
64. NBT Bancorp
65. First Midwest Bancorp
66. Chemical Financial
67. Bank of New York Mellon
68. Wintrust Financial
69. UMB Financial
70. Trustmark
71. Popular
72. Citigroup
73. PNC Financial Services
74. First Citizens BancShares
75. Northwest Bancshares
76. IBERIABANK
77. Zions Bancorp.
78. TFS Financial
79. Fulton Financial
80. TCF Financial
81. Webster Financial
82. BOK Financial
83. Texas Capital Bancshares
84. First BanCorp.
85. Regions Financial
86. People’s United Financial
87. Citizens Financial Group
88. New York Comm. Bancorp
89. Synovus Financial
90. Astoria Financial
91. Huntington Bancshares
92. KeyCorp
93. SunTrust Banks
94. Valley National Bancorp
95. Comerica
96. First Horizon National
97. Bank of America
98. EverBank Financial
99. Hancock Holding
100. Associated Banc-Corp