Banks get a downgrade from Moody's. Here are the 10 lenders impacted. (2024)

Banks get a downgrade from Moody's. Here are the 10 lenders impacted. (1)

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

/ MoneyWatch

Moody's is downgrading the credit ratings of 10 small- to mid-sized banks, citing growing financial risks and strains that could erode their profitability. The credit ratings agency also warned it is watching some of the nation's biggest lenders for potential downgrades.

The actions come after a banking crisis that started in March with the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, once the nation's 16th largest bank, when depositors grew fearful of the bank's solvency and made a classic bank run. Signature Bank and First Republic Bank soon followed, leading to more concerns about the banking industry's stability.

U.S. markets fell on Tuesday as Wall Street digested the downgrades as well as the negative outlooks for some of the biggest U.S. banks.

M&T Bank, one of the banks whose credit rating was cut, fell 1.5% on Tuesday and shed another 1.4% in late morning trading on Wednesday. Truist Financial, one of the banks that Moody's said it is reviewing for a possible downgrade, fell 1.8% on Wednesday.

In its report, Moody's highlighted that some of the issues that caused the banking crisis earlier this year haven't disappeared; banks are still at risk for depositors to withdraw their funds, while the current higher-interest rate environment is knocking down the value of investments lenders made when rates were super low.

The rating agency added that asset risks are also rising for small- and mid-sized banks, especially those with large corporate real estate (CRE) holdings.

"Elevated CRE exposures are a key risk given sustained high interest rates, structural declines in office demand due to remote work, and a reduction in the availability of CRE credit," it noted.

Smaller banks are especially at risk, given that they have "sizable unrealized economic losses" that could cause investors to lose confidence, it stated in the Monday report.

"These are the major credit agencies diagnosing the issue that small and regional banks are not uniquely situated to handle a high interest rate environment," J.D. Durkin, the host for financial site TheStreet, told CBS News.

Even so, he added that while individuals may be concerned about their banks, there isn't much call to be worried about the safety of deposits, given the regulatory backstops such as FDIC insurance and the steps that U.S. regulators took when banks such as Silicon Valley Bank collapsed. "Consumers were made whole," he noted.

List of downgraded banks

Moody's cut ratings of 10 banks on Monday. The largest lender to receive a lower rating is M&T Bank, the 19th largest U.S. bank by assets, according to the Federal Reserve.

Here's the list of banks downgraded:

  • Commerce Bancshares
  • BOK Financial Corporation
  • M&T Bank Corporation
  • Old National Bancorp
  • Prosperity Bancshares
  • Amarillo National Bancorp
  • Webster Financial Corporation
  • Fulton Financial Corporation
  • Pinnacle Financial Partners
  • Associated Banc-Corp

6 banks with ratings under review

Moody's also said it placed six banks under review for possible downgrades, with some of those banks among the nation's largest. They are:

  • Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
  • Northern Trust Corporation
  • State Street Corporation
  • Cullen/Frost Bankers
  • Truist Financial Corporation
  • U.S. Bancorp

11 banks with negative outlooks

The credit rating agency also said it shifted the outlook of 11 banks from stable to negative. They are:

  • PNC Financial Services Group
  • Capital One Financial Corporation
  • Citizens Financial Group
  • Fifth Third Bancorp
  • Huntington Bancshares
  • Regions Financial Corporation
  • Cadence Bank
  • F.N.B. Corporation
  • Simmons First National Corporation
  • Ally Financial
  • Bank OZK

With reporting by the Associated Press

Aimee Picchi

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

Banks get a downgrade from Moody's. Here are the 10 lenders impacted. (2024)

FAQs

Why did Moody's downgrade banks? ›

The downgrade reflects Moody's views that NYCB faces high governance risks from its transition with regards to the leadership of its second and third lines of defense, the risk and audit functions of the bank, at a pivotal time.

What happens if a bank gets downgraded? ›

Impact on Borrowing Costs: Typically, a downgrade translates in higher borrowing costs for the impacted banks. Because credit ratings affect loan interest rates, a lower rating indicates that banks may need to provide higher interest rates to attract investors, thereby affecting their profitability.

What happens when a company's credit rating is downgraded? ›

When credit rating agencies lower the rating of any issuer, it is said to be a rating downgrade. 2. A downgrade indicates a higher risk of default as the issuer's ability to make scheduled interest or principal payments becomes questionable.

Is Fulton Bank among 10 banks downgraded by Moody's investors Service? ›

Moody's Investors Service, a credit rating agency, downgraded Lancaster city-headquartered Fulton Bank and nine other mid-sized banks this week over concerns related to higher interest rates and rising risks related to commercial real estate exposure.

Which banks will fail in 2024? ›

Republic First Bank reported unrealized securities losses in excess of its equity as early as June 2022. State regulators closed Republic First Bank in April 2024, marking the first bank failure of the year.

Which banks are most at risk? ›

Which Bank Stocks Are Most at Risk of a Liquidity Crisis?
  • Zions Bancorp NA. (ZION)
  • Signature Bank. (SBNY)
  • Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN)
  • SVB Financial Group. (SIVBQ)
  • First Republic Bank. (FRCB)
Mar 15, 2023

What happens to my money if the banks collapse? ›

Bottom line. For the most part, if you keep your money at an institution that's FDIC-insured, your money is safe — at least up to $250,000 in accounts at the failing institution. You're guaranteed that $250,000, and if the bank is acquired, even amounts over the limit may be smoothly transferred to the new bank.

Can banks lose your money during a recession? ›

About Recessions and Ensuring Deposit Insurance

If the United States were to enter a recession, the funds you have saved at a bank aren't at risk of becoming lost or inaccessible the same way they were during the Great Depression.

Can I lose my money if a bank goes under? ›

If your bank fails, up to $250,000 of deposited money (per person, per account ownership type) is protected by the FDIC. When banks fail, the most common outcome is that another bank takes over the assets and your accounts are simply transferred over. If not, the FDIC will pay you out.

What is the current US credit rating? ›

Fitch Affirms the United States at 'AA+'; Outlook Stable. Fitch Ratings - New York - 01 Mar 2024: Fitch Ratings has affirmed the United States of America's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'AA+' with a Stable Outlook.

Is BBB credit rating bad? ›

'BBB' ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

Does it hurt your credit score to downgrade? ›

Usually, to change credit cards, you need to cancel your old card and apply for a new one. Both of those actions can impact your credit score. When you downgrade a credit card, however, your credit is not affected. Card issuers only let you downgrade to credit cards in the same product line.

Is the US bank in trouble? ›

CFPB Orders U.S. Bank to Pay $21 Million for Illegal Conduct During COVID-19 Pandemic. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today ordered U.S. Bank to pay nearly $21 million for keeping out-of-work consumers from accessing unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why did Moody's downgrade US Bank? ›

Moody's said the rating action reflects several sources of strain on the US banking sector: funding pressures, regulatory capital weaknesses and rising risks associated with commercial real estate exposures.

What are the 10 banks that Moody's downgraded? ›

List of downgraded banks
  • Commerce Bancshares.
  • BOK Financial Corporation.
  • M&T Bank Corporation.
  • Old National Bancorp.
  • Prosperity Bancshares.
  • Amarillo National Bancorp.
  • Webster Financial Corporation.
  • Fulton Financial Corporation.
Aug 9, 2023

Why did so many banks end up closing? ›

Inflation, recessions, and housing market crashes can all cause banks to shut down. Regulation: The government provides many regulations that banks must follow, especially after the 2008 recession. Specifically, the FDIC protects individuals against losing their deposits if an insured bank fails.

Did Moody's cut US banking system to negative? ›

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Moody's on Friday lowered its outlook on the U.S. credit rating to "negative" from "stable" citing large fiscal deficits and a decline in debt affordability, a move that drew immediate criticism from President Joe Biden's administration.

Did Moody's warn of more pain for U.S. banks as downgrades sector? ›

Ratings giant Moody's has warned of more pain ahead for the US banking system after a run on deposits led to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Moody's cut its outlook for the sector to "negative" from stable, warning of "a rapid deterioration in the operating environment".

Why did the banks of the Great Depression fail? ›

Many smaller banks, such as this one in Haverhill, Iowa, lacked sufficient reserves to stay in business and became no more than convenient billboards. Many of the small banks had lent large portions of their assets for stock market speculation and were virtually put out of business overnight when the market crashed.

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