Author: BauerFinancial

FDIC-Insured Minority Depository Institutions, Helping Their Communities Prosper

Since the beginning (250 years ago), the United States has seen banks come and go. It was not until the late 1800s, however, that marginalized minority communities began pooling their money together to open their own banks. Today we celebrate Maggie…

RIP Maestro

Alan Greenspan, longtime Federal Reserve chairman, remains a controversial figure—praised for guiding economic prosperity but criticized for missing risks that led to the dot-com and housing bubbles. To assess his impact, it’s important to understand the turbulent economic backdrop before…

New Credit Union Ratings Are Out

The credit union industry, like the banking industry, is shrinking in number. U.S. credit unions are generally growing, profitable, and financially stronger, with fewer troubled institutions. Although, isolated failures do still occur, and when they do, lower-income communities can be…

Texas: America’s New Financial Capital

Texas is emerging as a major financial hub, with a new Texas Stock Exchange launching in Dallas and additional expansions from NYSE and Nasdaq. Backed by major financial firms and supported by business-friendly policies and no state income tax, Texas…

The Case of the Missing Bank Rating

People sometimes can’t find a bank’s rating on Bauer’s website due to naming, location, or search errors, but occasionally the bank truly isn’t listed. This is because certain foreign bank branches—allowed under laws like the International Banking Act of 1978…

New Bank Ratings Now Out, Based on March 31, 2026 Data

The banking sector is generally strengthening, with higher earnings, stable asset quality, and fewer problem banks, though some risks remain. For example, asset quality remained stable overall, with a slight improvement in total past-due and nonaccrual loans, though some loan…

Growing Stress in Single-Family Mortgage Portfolios

Rising mortgage stress was evident at the close of 2025, with nonperforming single-family home loans increasing to 2.02%. The Dallas region shows the highest risk, but Bauer has identified 52 banks nationwide with elevated residential real estate exposure. While most…

When Ambitious Lending Meets Credit Stress

In this week’s article, Bauer examines banks that entered 2026 with both high loan-to-deposit ratios and loan quality that is less than stellar, a combination that can heighten credit and liquidity risk. Using nonperforming assets, the Texas Ratio, and Bauer’s…

Community Bank Branches Good for Consumers

Deregulation is Not a 4-Letter Word, Neither is Regulation

The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) of 2018 initially imposed broad regulatory burdens on all large and community banks, even though many community banks do not engage in the risky lending that caused the 2008 financial…

Rate Risk Worries Returning to the Picture

A timely confirmation is expected for Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve Chair, with Jay Powell remaining on the Fed’s board until his term ends in January 2028 (awkward). While we don’t know exactly what will happen with…

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