WHAT IS
SAFE AND SOUND?
Capital acts as a cushion against losses and provides protection for members when a credit union is experiencing economic trouble. It follows then that a credit union's level of capital is a useful measurement of its financial fortitude. When it comes to safety and soundness, more capital is preferred.
ALLEGACY came in below the national average of 15.65 on our test to measure capital adequacy, racking up 12 out of a possible 30 points.
ALLEGACY had a capitalization ratio of 12.00 percent in our test, below the average for all credit unions, suggesting that it could be less resilient in a crisis than its peers.
Bankrate uses this test to determine the impact of troubled assets, such as unpaid mortgages, on the credit union's reserves set aside to cover loan losses, as well as overall capitalization.
Having large numbers of these types of assets suggests a credit union may have to use capital to absorb losses, reducing its cushion of equity. Many of those assets are also likely to be in non-accrual status and no longer earning money, resulting in lower earnings and potentially more risk of a future failure.
ALLEGACY scored 40 out of a possible 40 points on Bankrate's test of asset quality, beating out the national average of 38.09.
A below-average ratio of problem assets of 0.00 percent in our test was potentially indicative of greater financial strength than other credit unions.
How successful a credit union is at earning money has an effect on its safety and soundness. A credit union can retain its earnings, giving a boost to its capital buffer, or use them to deal with problematic loans, potentially making the credit union better prepared to withstand financial trouble. Obviously, credit unions that are losing money are less able to do those things.
On Bankrate's test of earnings, ALLEGACY scored 18 out of a possible 30, beating out the national average of 10.11.
One indication that the credit union is running ahead of its peers in this area was its earnings ratio of 0.00 percent in our test, above the average for all credit unions.
Bankrate.com's Safe & Sound Ratings provide a star rating system to evaluate the current financial status of financial institutions. The information gathered about banks, credit unions and thrifts is updated as set forth in the Terms of Use of Safe & Sound Ratings and Reports. The Safe & Sound Ratings information is grouped by categories of banks, thrifts and credit unions.
Bankrate.com evaluates the financial condition of institutions and assigns a one- to five-star rating for each with five stars representing the highest rating. Institutions with satisfactory performance will generally receive a rating of three or more stars. The majority of institutions fall into the three- to four-star range. An institution with an "NR" rating may be too new to rate or may have limited the publicly available information in their regulatory filings. The "NR" is not an indication of financial strength or weakness. The Safe & Sound rating is believed to be reliable, but the information is not guaranteed. In addition, events since the information was collected may have altered the institution's financial condition.