PASCAGOULA, MISS — In its recently released nationwide ratings for banks and credit unions, BauerFinancial has again recognized Merchants & Marine Bank as meeting its highest standards with a 5-Star superior rating from the agency.
Bauer’s June 2021 ratings are based on financial data for American banks and thrifts from publicly available financial data reported to bank regulators. All banks rated are subject to federal regulatory capital requirements, but those requirements vary among institutions and are dependent on a variety of factors. In general terms, banks face requirements to maintain a leverage capital ratio of at least 4%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6%, and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%.
In addition to the capital ratio, which is a commonly accepted standard to evaluate a bank’s financial health, BauerFinancial uses a large set of criteria for rigorous analysis of each bank and credit union’s strength. These criteria include but are not limited to profitability/loss trends, the level of delinquent loans, chargeoffs and repossessed assets, the market versus book value of the investment portfolio, regulatory supervisory agreements, liquidity levels, and the bank’s community reinvestment rating (CRA) performance.
BauerFinancial maintains strict independence from the banks and credit unions it routinely rates. The organization does not sell products nor take any revenue from the banking industry. Since 1983, BauerFinancial has adhered to the same rigorous, independent practices to earn the respect of bankers, regulators, and consumers alike.
“I began my banking career with the FDIC as a financial institution examiner, leading teams that were conducting safety and soundness checks on our nation’s financial institutions,” said Merchants & Marine Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Clayton Legear. “I know first-hand, from both the regulatory perspective and now as a community banker, the hard work that has to be done to achieve a 5-star rating from BauerFinancial. This recognition is a validation of the efforts of everyone on this team, and a testament to our commitment to operating with the kind of discipline, stability and long-term focus that our Gulf Coast communities deserve.”
For more information on BauerFinancial’s ratings of banks and credit unions, including free industry reports, visit https://www.bauerfinancial.com/.
About Merchants & Marine Bank
Merchants & Marine Bank (M&M Bank), a wholly owned subsidiary of Merchants & Marine Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: MNMB), is a full-service state-chartered community bank with more than $600 million in total assets. Merchants & Marine Bank operates 14 full-service branch offices across the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast, as well as loan and deposit production offices in Hattiesburg. The Bank has a five-star, superior rating from BauerFinancial, and offers a full suite of traditional and electronic banking services for both personal and business clients.
