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Moody'due south recent downgrade of 15 of the world'due south largest banks, along with JP Morgan Chase & Co.'south (NYSE:JPM) multibillion trading loss, makes information technology clear that certain big banks are but not as rubber as depositors might have hoped. Still, consumers accept to go on their coin somewhere.

24/vii Wall St. has compiled a list of the safest banks to assist consumers navigate through continued difficult times. The criteria were very strict. Nosotros focused on the universe of the coin-center banks, super-regional banks and banks with retail branches that encompass several states

24/7 screened for banks with a market capitalization of more $2 billion. We farther screened for banks whose share value is be less than 14 times earnings (P/E ratio). The share price to book value had to be less than two.0. The depository financial institution had to have a minimum return on equity of viii%. To demonstrate how confident a candidate bank is, information technology had to pay its common holders a dividend yield of two.0% or higher.

We also only chose financial institutions with an investment form credit rating by ratings agencies, and Wall St. analysts had to value the bank's share price above the electric current toll. We as well did not consider regional banks with fewer than 100 branches. All but one stock of the banks on our list trade to a higher place $x.00 per common share. We as well gave preference if Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-A) is an possessor of the common shares.

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We remained focused on the elevation 50 banks by assets with a big retail banking presence, then even though the fiduciary banks of State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) and Depository financial institution of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK) fit our initial screening criteria, they were not included. The "trouble banks," which include Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and Banking concern of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), were excluded even though it would seem nigh impossible that depositors would have whatever run a risk with them. We as well chose to avoid regional banks located in the troubled Southeast and the unabridged Pacific Declension, where so many faced financial troubles from housing and lending during and afterwards the recession. Nosotros left off some of the large banks that accept been involved very recently in mergers and acquisitions. Finally, we admittedly eliminated banks where nosotros had concerns about their viability and survival during another recession.

Here are the seven safest banks in America to deposit coin:

1. Wells Fargo & CompanyWells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is the undisputed safest bank in America, now that JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has come under scrutiny — fifty-fifty if Hunt has most $1 trillion more in assets. Wells Fargo has branches in almost every country in the United States, with some 6,200 storefront branches and more than 12,000 ATMs. The bank has an nugget base of operations of over $1.3 trillion. To prove how safety this banking concern is, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-A) owns shut to $xiii billion worth of the common stock, and that pale keeps rising. The market cap is a whopping $171 billion. The shares merchandise at less than 9 times earnings and at near one.2 times book value. The return on equity is only above 12%, and the banking company offers a two.7% dividend yield to the common holders. While shares trade at around $32.l, Wall St. values the top banking concern at about $38.00 per share.

2. JP Morgan Chase & Co. Despite the media attention surrounding the JP Morgan Chase & Co.'due south (NYSE:JPM) multibillion dollar trading loss, the house is all the same in adept shape compared to many of its peers. It has a fortresslike residue canvas, with nearly $two.3 trillion in assets, and CEO Jamie Dimon said the simply take chances to the bank's failure is a collision of the earth and moon. Despite the share price reject post-obit the trading loss, the company notwithstanding has a sizable market place cap of $135.17 billion. JP Morgan shares merchandise at less than 8 times earnings and only most 0.seven times book value. The return on disinterestedness is 9.viii%, and the company pays a dividend yield of iii.4% on the common stock. While the bank shares are trading at just over $36, analysts value the company at $47 a share.

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iii. U.S. Bancorp U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) is often overlooked every bit a coin-center bank considering it is a super-regional located in Minneapolis. It is the 5th-largest commercial bank in the U.S. and caters to millions of consumers. U.Southward. Bancorp has $341 billion in assets, more than 3,000 branch locations, more than 5,000 ATMs and its operations spread out over 25 states in America. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-A) owns some 69 meg shares worth more than $2.1 billion. The bank's market place cap is $59 billion. Information technology is worth almost ten times earnings and 1.six times book value. The return on equity is very high at xvi%, and it offers a 2.5% dividend yield to the common holders. Shares are trading around $31.50, and Wall St. analysts have a target of about $34.25 on this peachy prophylactic bank.

4. M&T Bank Corporation M&T Depository financial institution Corporation (NYSE:MTB) is based in Buffalo, N.Y., and now has more than $79 billion in assets. Excluding any small purchases made recently, M&T had nearly 700 branches, 2,000 ATMs and a presence in eight states. The market place cap is $10.12 billion, its P/E ratio is 12.seven and its toll-to-volume value is only one.07. Thousand&T has a return on equity of 9.5% and pays out a dividend of 3.v% to mutual stockholders. The stock is trading just due north of $eighty a share, but analysts have ready a target price of nigh $xc. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) owns almost 5.4 meg Grand&T Bank common shares worth more than $400 million.

5. PNC Financial Services PNC Fiscal Services (NYSE:PNC) is based in Pittsburgh and has nearly $300 billion in assets, with more than 2,500 branches and nearly 7,000 ATMs in fourteen states. It has a market cap of $31.01 billion, and its stock is valued at 10.6 times earnings and at less than 0.nine times book value. The return on equity is eight.9%, and the company pays out a two.73% dividend. Shares are trading at under $59, just Wall St. is eyeing a price of $70.l. PNC was even strong enough financially to shut its National Metropolis acquisition at the finish of 2008 when there was so much risk in the financial markets. PNC owns about one-fourth of the great asset direction house of BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK).

half dozen. KeyCorp KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) is the one exception to our rule about share prices under $10.00. Its other metrics more than brand upward for this exception. It has a market cap of merely $7.12 billion against some $87 billion in assets. It operates in xiv states throughout the Rocky Mount states, Northwest, the Great Lakes and the Northeast. Information technology is impressive that KeyCorp is on the list, because that information technology is headquartered in Cleveland, where many troubled loans arose. The bank has a return on equity of 9.ii% and pays out a two.vii% dividend yield. Shares trade around $7.l only take a target toll of $9.00 from Wall St.

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7. BOK Financial Corporation BOK Fiscal Corporation (NASDAQ:BOKF) is the smallest bank on the list, with a $3.8 billion marketplace value and $26 billion in avails. The bank holding company is based in Tulsa, Ok., and its mutual branch names in other states are Bank of Albuquerque, Depository financial institution of Arizona, Bank of Arkansas, Banking company of Kansas City, Banking concern of Oklahoma, Bank of Texas and Colorado State Banking concern and Trust. BOK is worth about 12.5 times earnings and is valued at 1.iii times book value. The return on disinterestedness is eleven%, and information technology offers a 2.vii% dividend yield to the common holders. Shares are trading around $56.00, and Wall St. analysts have a target higher up $59.00.

-Jon C. Ogg and Samuel Weigley