No one could have predicted that a decade of expansion and employment growth would be wiped out in a matter of weeks. Yet, based on the record number of unemployment filings last week (3.28 million), that is exactly what’s happened.…
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Complaint or Question About Your Financial Institution?
Complaint or Question About Your Financial Institution? We do a lot of things here at BauerFinancial, but since we are a private research firm, and not a government agency, fielding complaints about financial institutions is not really one of them.…
From Freedman’s to Liberty; a Lesson in Community
As we work to continue moving our particular cogs in the economic wheel, while practicing social distancing and self-isolating as appropriate, we have been surprised by a couple of regulatory posts that have not made the news due to everything…
Banks and Credit Unions Ready and Able to Help
The financial condition of the nation’s bank and credit union industries are possibly the strongest we have seen in our lifetime. That will prove to be invaluable as we come to grips with the full impact of COVID-19. Federal and…
U.S. Banks & Credit Unions: Ready to Help
March 13, 2020: BauerFinancial, Inc., Coral Gables, FL, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating firm, is pleased to announce that the financial condition of the nation’s bank and credit union industries are possibly the strongest we have…
Uncharted Territory, Community Banks Take Helm
After nearly 18 months gliding on cruise control with a target Fed Funds Rate at an attractive 5.25%, the Fed cut rates a half point at an emergency meeting. That was September 2007, and we all know what followed. Several…
All New Star-Ratings & Data This Week
All New Star-Ratings & Data This Week Bank Star-Ratings have all been updated based on December 31, 2019 financial data. (Credit Union Star Ratings will be out in the next week or two.) With these new ratings we are looking…
It Pays to Shop Around for Student Loans
It Pays to Shop Around for Student Loans Topping the $1.5 trillion mark, student loan debt is now the second highest type of household debt (after mortgages) in the U.S. Along with the burgeoning growth of student debt is a…
Consumer Debt Reaches New Record High
Consumer Debt Reaches New Record High After five straight years of continued growth, U.S. consumer debt passed $14 trillion at the end of 2019, a new record high, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRB). Consumer debt…
Consumer Debt Increases at Community Banks
Consumer Debt Increases at Community Banks Total loans and leases grew 4.6% at the nation’s banks during the 12 month period ending September 30, 2019. While Commercial and Industrial loan growth led the way at an annual rate of 6.3%,…