S&P Global Market Intelligence Releases Annual Rankings of Best-Performing U.S. Community Banks, Public Banks and Credit Unions for 2025

S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGI) released its 2025 rankings of best-performing U.S. community banks, public banks and credit unions, assessing returns, growth, funding and balance-sheet strength.

Rhea-AI Summary

S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGI) released its 2025 rankings of best-performing U.S. community banks, public banks and credit unions, assessing returns, growth, funding and balance-sheet strength. Central Bancompany led public banks after a November 2025 IPO. Northeast Bank ($4.95B) topped midsize banks; American Interstate Bank topped small banks; Workmen's Circle CU led credit unions with ROAA up 85 bps to 1.95%.

Regional winners include NorthEast Community Bank, Cumberland Security Bank, First Bank and Eagle Bank across Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, South Central and West.

Positive

• Central Bancompany completed an IPO in November 2025, becoming Nasdaq-listed and eligible for rankings
• Northeast Bank reported $4.95 billion in assets and moved to the top national spot for $3B–$10B banks
• American Interstate Bank outperformed medians in all eight ranking metrics among small community banks
• Workmen's Circle CU increased ROAA by 85 basis points to 1.95%

Negative

• None.

Argus Mar 18 session

-1.46% close to close 0.8x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – SPGI

On Mar 18, the day this news came out, SPGI closed 1.46% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 18 session.

Key Figures

Community bank size range: $3B–$10B Smaller bank threshold: $3B Large public bank cutoff: $10B +5 more

Community bank size range

$3B–$10B

Asset range for one community bank ranking category

Smaller bank threshold

$3B

Upper asset limit for under-$3B community bank rankings

Large public bank cutoff

$10B

Minimum total assets for U.S. public bank ranking

Northeast Bank assets

$4.95B

Total assets as of Dec. 31, 2025

Workmen's Circle ROAA

1.95%

Return on average assets, 12th highest among top 100 credit unions

ROAA increase

85 basis points

Improvement in Workmen's Circle return on average assets vs prior period

Performance metrics count

8 metrics

Number of metrics used for most community bank rankings

Outperformance metrics

7 of 8

Eagle Bank beating top-50 median in seven of eight metrics

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 12

5 events

1. Mar 12

   AI/data expansion

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   Expanded Capital IQ Pro with AI tools and broader fixed income and biopharma data.

2. Mar 12

   Market outlook

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   Forecasted global sustainable bond issuance consolidating at $800–$900 billion in 2026.

3. Mar 05

   CERAWeek keynote

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   Announced U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum as plenary speaker at CERAWeek 2026.

4. Mar 05

   Industry conference

   24h Move

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   Detailed the 41st World Petrochemical Conference focused on transformation in chemicals.

5. Mar 03

   New PPA indices

   24h Move

   +0.2%

   Launched first-of-kind North American PPA price assessments and a new monthly PPA report.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

return on average assets, basis points, net interest margin, efficiency ratio, +1 more

5 terms

return on average assets financial

"The credit union's return on average assets rose 85 basis points to 1.95%"

Return on average assets (ROAA) measures how efficiently a company turns its assets into profit by comparing profit after expenses to the average value of its assets over a period (usually the average of beginning and ending assets). It matters to investors because it shows how well management uses the company’s resources to generate returns—think of it as how much profit a baker earns from the oven space they actually used over time.

basis points financial

"return on average assets rose 85 basis points to 1.95%"

Basis points are a way to measure small changes in interest rates or percentages, where one basis point equals 0.01%. For example, if a loan's interest rate increases by 50 basis points, it's gone up by 0.50%. They help people understand tiny differences in rates that can add up over time, making financial comparisons clearer.

net interest margin financial

"including pretax return on average assets (ROAA), net interest margin (NIM) and efficiency ratio."

Net interest margin measures how much a bank earns from lending and investing compared with what it pays for funding, expressed as a percentage of its interest-earning assets. Think of it like a grocery store’s markup: it shows the gap between buying cost and selling price per dollar of goods — here, the cost is interest paid and the sale is interest received. Investors watch it because a higher margin usually means a bank is more profitable and better at managing interest rate and credit conditions.

efficiency ratio financial

"including pretax return on average assets (ROAA), net interest margin (NIM) and efficiency ratio."

A measure of how much a company spends to produce each dollar of revenue, usually shown as operating expenses divided by revenue and expressed as a percentage. Think of it as a household’s budget: a lower percentage means more of each dollar earned stays as profit, while a higher number means costs are eating into returns. Investors use it to judge cost control and compare how efficiently companies turn revenue into earnings, especially in banks and financial firms.

ipo financial

"The bank completed an IPO in November 2025 and began trading on the Nasdaq"

An initial public offering (IPO) is the process by which a private company sells its shares to the public for the first time, making its ownership available on the stock market. This allows the company to raise money from a wide range of investors to fund growth or other goals. For investors, an IPO offers a chance to buy into a company early in its public journey, potentially benefiting if the company grows in value.

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American Interstate Bank, Northeast Bank, Central Bancompany and Workmen's Circle CU lead their respective categories in 2025 performance rankings 

NEW YORK, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Market Intelligence today released its annual rankings for 2025's best-performing community banks with assets between $3 billion and $10 billion, community banks with assets below $3 billion, credit unions, U.S. public banks with more than $10 billion in total assets and community banks by region for the Midwest, Northeast, South Central, Southeast and West.

S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks institutions based on returns, growth and funding but places a premium on the strength and risk profile of balance sheets. The rankings were launched in 2011 to assess the performance of community banks and credit unions.

"These rankings highlight the resilience and strategic excellence of financial institutions that have successfully balanced growth with prudent risk management," said Nathan Stovall, Director of Financial Institutions Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "In 2025, we saw standout performers across all categories demonstrate that strong fundamentals and community focus remain the cornerstone of sustainable banking success. Our rankings provide the market with essential intelligence to identify industry leaders and emerging trends."

National Rankings:

Best Performing U.S. Public Bank with more than $10 billion in assets: Central Bancompany Inc.

Jefferson City, Missouri-based Central Bancompany was the only bank to outperform the analysis median for all seven-ranking metrics. The bank completed an IPO in November 2025 and began trading on the Nasdaq, making it eligible for this year's ranking.

Best Performing U.S. Community Bank with between $3 billion and $10 billion in assets: Northeast Bank

Portland, Maine-based Northeast Bank rose from second place in 2024 to claim the top spot in 2025. With $4.95 billion in total assets as of Dec. 31, 2025, Northeast outshined its peers in six of the eight metrics analyzed.

Best Performing U.S. Community Bank with under $3 billion in assets: American Interstate Bank

Elkhorn, Nebraska-based American Interstate Bank received the best overall performance score, outperforming the median of the top 100 small community banks and all eligible banks nationwide in all eight metrics. The bank ranked No. 5 in the 2024 ranking.

Best Performing Credit Union: Workmen's Circle CU

Savannah, Georgia-based Workmen's Circle CU was this year's top performing credit union, rising from 10th place in 2024. The credit union's return on average assets rose 85 basis points to 1.95%, the 12th highest among the top 100 credit unions.

Regional Rankings:

Best Performing Midwest Bank with under $10 billion in assets: American Interstate Bank

The bank received the highest overall performance score when evaluated against eight performance metrics, having performed better in seven metrics when compared to the median of the top 50 community banks in the Midwest and in all eight metrics versus the median of all banks eligible for ranking.

Best Performing Northeast Bank with under $10 billion in assets: NorthEast Community Bank

White Plains, New York-based NorthEast Community Bank, a unit of Northeast Community Bancorp Inc., had an equal or better value than the median of the top 50 community banks in the region across all eight metrics analyzed.

Best Performing Southeast Bank with under $10 billion in assets: Cumberland Security Bank Inc.

Somerset, Kentucky-based Cumberland Security Bank Inc. outperformed the top 50 median in the analysis in seven of the eight metrics analyzed and performed better in all eight metrics versus the median for all 682 eligible banks in the analysis.

Best Performing South Central Bank with under $10 billion in assets: First Bank

Erick, Oklahoma-based First Bank, a subsidiary of Erick Bancshares Inc., received the highest overall performance score when evaluated against eight performance metrics. The bank performed better in six metrics compared to the median of the top 50 community banks in the South Central as well as seven metrics versus the median for all banks eligible for ranking.

Best Performing West Bank with under $10 billion in assets: Eagle Bank

Polson, Montana-based Eagle Bank ended Security State Bank's two-year run at the top of the West regional ranking. The Native American tribe-owned bank outdid the top 50 banks' median rates in seven of eight analyzed metrics including pretax return on average assets (ROAA), net interest margin (NIM) and efficiency ratio.

To access the full list of top performing U.S. public banks, community banks, credit unions and U.S. community banks by region for 2025, visit here and here.

Media Contact: 

Florence Bogitsh
S&P Global Market Intelligence
+1 646 460-7204
florence.bogitsh@spglobal.com 
press.mi@spglobal.com

About S&P Global Market Intelligence:

At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. Our team of experts delivers unrivaled insights and leading data and technology solutions, partnering with customers to expand their perspective, operate with confidence, and make decisions with conviction.

S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global enables businesses, governments, and individuals with trusted data, expertise, and technology to make decisions with conviction. We are Advancing Essential Intelligence through world-leading benchmarks, data, and insights that customers need in order to plan confidently, act decisively, and thrive economically in a rapidly changing global landscape. Learn more at www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence 

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SOURCE S&P Global Market Intelligence

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Which bank became the top-ranked U.S. public bank in S&P Global Market Intelligence's 2025 list (SPGI)?

Central Bancompany was the top-ranked U.S. public bank in 2025, after completing an IPO in November 2025. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, Central Bancompany outperformed the analysis median across all seven ranking metrics used for public banks.

Why did Northeast Bank (SPGI) rank highest among U.S. community banks with $3B–$10B in 2025?

Northeast Bank claimed the top spot by outperforming peers in six of eight analyzed metrics and reporting $4.95 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2025. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, this performance lifted it from second place in 2024.

What performance metrics made American Interstate Bank the best small community bank in 2025?

American Interstate Bank achieved the highest overall score by beating medians in all eight ranking metrics for small banks. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, it outperformed the median of the top 100 small community banks and all eligible banks nationwide.

How did Workmen's Circle CU improve its standing to become the top credit union in 2025?

Workmen's Circle CU rose from 10th to the top credit union after its return on average assets increased 85 basis points to 1.95%. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, that ROAA improvement contributed materially to its overall ranking.

Which regional banks topped the 2025 S&P Global Market Intelligence rankings for under $10B assets?

Regional winners included American Interstate Bank (Midwest), NorthEast Community Bank (Northeast), Cumberland Security Bank (Southeast), First Bank (South Central) and Eagle Bank (West). According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, each led by outperforming regional medians on multiple metrics.

How does S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGI) evaluate banks and credit unions in its 2025 rankings?

S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks institutions using returns, growth and funding while placing a premium on balance-sheet strength and risk profile. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the methodology emphasizes both performance and prudential risk measures.