WHAT IS
SAFE AND SOUND?
Capital acts as a cushion against losses and affords protection for members when a credit union is experiencing financial instability. It follows then that when it comes to measuring an an institution's financial stability, capital is key. When looking at safety and soundness, more capital is better.
ALLSTEEL scored above the national average of 15.65 points on our test to measure capital adequacy, achieving a score of 24 out of a possible 30 points.
ALLSTEEL had a capitalization ratio of 24.00 percent in our test, higher than the average for all credit unions, an indication that it's more well prepared for financial trouble than its peers.
In this test, Bankrate tries to determine the effect of troubled assets, such as unpaid mortgages, on the credit union's capitalization and allocated loan loss reserves.
Having a large number of these types of assets suggests a credit union could eventually have to use capital to absorb losses, diminishing its equity cushion. It also means that there are likely to be many assets that are in non-accrual status and no longer earning money, decreasing earnings and elevating the risk of a future failure.
ALLSTEEL scored above the national average of 38.09 on Bankrate's asset quality test, racking up 40 out of a possible 40 points .
A lower-than-average ratio of troubled assets of 0.00 percent in our test was potentially indicative of superior financial strength compared to other credit unions.
A credit union's ability to earn money affects its safety and soundness. Earnings can be retained by the credit union, boosting its capital buffer, or be used to address problematic loans, likely making the credit union better prepared to withstand economic trouble. Obviously, credit unions that are losing money are less able to do those things.
ALLSTEEL scored 0 out of a possible 30 on Bankrate's earnings test, falling short of 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.