We have new bank ratings this week! This week’s post discusses two other topics as well: De novo banks, or lack thereof, this year; and Increases in delinquent loans. We also commend banks that are keeping their loans in pristine…
Paycheck Protection Program Winding Down
It has been almost five and a half years since the first round of Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans began rolling out. In this week’s post, we are looking at which banks and credit unions still have PPP loans on their…
Bank Merger Activity is Heating Up
2025 is turning out to be a very active year for bank combinations. In less than 7 months, we lost 79 banks to mergers and acquisitions. The second half of the year looks to be even busier. On page 5…
U.S. Banks Bolstering Loan Loss Reserves
The image above depicts the growth in loans, loan loss reserves, and problem loans at our nation’s banks during the 12 month period ended March 31, 2025. Noncurrent loans grew more than three times the rate of both total loans…
Troubled Commercial Loans are on the Rise
In the past two years we have witnessed a steady rise in delinquent commercial loans, even as outstanding balances have been fluctuating. Today we examine how these changes are reflected in the banking industry as a whole, as well as…
Most Efficient U.S. Banks Measured by ROA
There is more than one way to measure a bank’s profit. Simply looking at how much the bank earned in dollars is a start, but it’s not ideal for comparison purposes. Instead, today we will look at Return on Assets…
Navy Federal Credit Union Off the Hook
We at Bauer are very protective of the men and women who serve to protect us. Any hint that they may be being mistreated, particularly by those who should be helping them, is enough to make our blood boil. That’s…
Redemption and the Dream of Economic Equality
In an update to a story we first reported on two years ago, the 24th black-owned bank, Redemption Bank, Salt Lake City, UT, is no longer a dream, but a reality. The announcement was made, appropriately enough, on June 19th,…
Is Another Housing Bubble Heading Our Way?
A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article (June 14, 2025) reported that there were almost half a million more sellers than buyers in April. That is just one of many recent reports that caused us to pose this question. As we…
Interest Margins to Brag About
The Federal Reserve left the Fed Funds interest rate unchanged again at its meeting last week, but we know it is just a matter of time before that changes. The most important thing (for us anyway) is how banks will…