Safest Banks in California 2026
California has 123 FDIC-insured banks with an average Bank Health Score of 72/100 (B). The safest bank is Summit Bank with a score of 100/100.
Data from FDIC Q2 2024
123 California banks are ranked below by the BankHealth composite score. The composite weights Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), inverted non-performing loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%) into a 0-100 grade.
Top-of-list banks combine strong capital with clean loan books and reasonable profitability. Bottom-of-list banks face pressure on one or more scoring factors — most often elevated NPL ratios or thin profitability margins. Each bank links to its full profile with multi-quarter trend charts, the four composite factor breakdowns, and the underlying FDIC Call Report data.
California's 123 FDIC-insured banks hold a combined $541.2B in assets. Their average Bank Health Score of 72/100 sits 2.0 points above the national average of 70/100. Across the state, 69% of banks earn an A or B grade for financial health, while 17% fall to a D or F.
The largest bank headquartered in California is City National Bank with $92.2B in assets and a Bank Health Score of 89/100. The strongest by score is Summit Bank in Oakland (100/100, Tier 1 capital 21.55%). The weakest is Metropolitan Bank at 28/100, dragged down by an NPL ratio of 1.94%.
All scores below come from the latest FDIC BankFind Call Report (Q2 2024). The Bank Health Score weights Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), nonperforming loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%) — the four metrics regulators watch most closely when judging whether a bank is well-capitalized. Every bank with FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category, but the score helps you tell apart banks that are comfortably well-capitalized from those operating closer to the line.
Top 3 Safest Banks in California
Summit Bank
Oakland, CA
California's top-rated bank, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 21.55% — well above the federal "well-capitalized" threshold of 8%. Holds $296M in assets.
Capital Bank&Trust Co
Irvine, CA
Second-strongest in the state on capital and loan quality. NPL ratio sits at 0.00% with $174M in total assets.
Westamerica Bank
San Rafael, CA
Third in the rankings on the Bank Health Score. Liquidity ratio of 80.53% and ROA of 3.03%.
Top 20 of 123 Banks in California
| # | Bank | City | Grade | Score | Tier 1 Capital | NPL Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summit Bank | Oakland | A | 100 | 21.55% | 0.00% |
| 2 | Capital Bank&Trust Co | Irvine | A | 100 | 190.32% | 0.00% |
| 3 | Westamerica Bank | San Rafael | A | 99 | 15.10% | 0.19% |
| 4 | Bank of Stockton | Stockton | A | 98 | 16.83% | 0.14% |
| 5 | Hcn Bank | Riverside | A | 97 | 13.97% | 0.00% |
| 6 | Citizens Business Bank | Ontario | A | 97 | 15.13% | 0.29% |
| 7 | First American Trust FSB | Santa Ana | A | 97 | 38.40% | 0.00% |
| 8 | Hatch Bank | San Marcos | A | 96 | 36.80% | 0.13% |
| 9 | Oak Valley Community Bank | Oakdale | A | 96 | 14.13% | 0.00% |
| 10 | Pacific Coast Bankers Bank | Walnut Creek | A | 96 | 27.24% | 0.00% |
| 11 | River Valley Community Bank | Yuba City | A | 96 | 15.00% | 0.00% |
| 12 | Golden Valley Bank | Chico | A | 96 | 16.43% | 0.00% |
| 13 | Plumas Bank | Quincy | A | 95 | 16.36% | 0.90% |
| 14 | Bank of Ny Mellon Tr Co NA | Los Angeles | A | 95 | 328.90% | 0.00% |
| 15 | El Dorado Savings Bank FSB | Placerville | A | 95 | 45.64% | 0.21% |
| 16 | Community Bk of Santa Maria | Santa Maria | A | 95 | 14.52% | 0.00% |
| 17 | Commerce West Bank | Irvine | A | 95 | 18.41% | 0.66% |
| 18 | Bac Community Bank | Stockton | A | 94 | 16.06% | 0.00% |
| 19 | First Northern Bank of Dixon | Dixon | A | 93 | 15.44% | 0.64% |
| 20 | Infinity Bank | Santa Ana | A | 93 | 15.09% | 1.01% |
Bank Health Scores for California are calculated from FDIC Call Report data including Tier 1 capital ratios, nonperforming loan ratios, liquidity ratios, and return on assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our Bank Health Score analysis of FDIC data, Summit Bank in Oakland is currently the safest bank in California with a score of 100/100 (Grade A). It posts a Tier 1 capital ratio of 21.55% and a nonperforming loan ratio of 0.00%.
California has 123 FDIC-insured banks with a combined $541.2B in total assets. The average Bank Health Score across the state is 72/100 (Grade B).
California's average Bank Health Score of 72/100 is 2.0 points above the national average of 70/100. 69% of banks in California earn an A or B grade, compared with the national average grade of B.
Of 123 FDIC-insured banks headquartered in California, 54 earn an A, 31 a B, 17 a C, 18 a D, and 3 an F. The most common grade is B.
The Bank Health Score (0-100) is based on four FDIC-reported metrics: Tier 1 capital ratio (35% weight), nonperforming loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%). Higher scores indicate stronger financial health. Every score uses the latest FDIC Call Report data.
Bank Health Scores are computed from quarterly FDIC Call Report data. Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), nonperforming loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%).