Deteriorating Asset Quality Drives First-Quarter Bank Ratings Lower

When visiting the doctor, many patients are reassured by the various diplomas on the wall. But those pieces of paper don't tell you how well your physician did in school.

And almost as important as your health is your money. While we'd love to be able to rate your doctor, we can't. That's why each quarter TheStreet.com Ratings analyzes the financial strength of all reporting U.S. banks and thrifts -- currently 8,736.

Our Financial Strength Ratings are designed to give depositors and financial professionals a solid indication of an institution's risk of failure. ...