Safest Banks in North Dakota 2026
North Dakota has 55 FDIC-insured banks with an average Bank Health Score of 68/100 (B). The safest bank is First Security Bank West with a score of 100/100.
Data from FDIC Q2 2024
55 North Dakota 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.
North Dakota's 55 FDIC-insured banks hold a combined $53.8B in assets. Their average Bank Health Score of 68/100 sits 2.0 points below the national average of 70/100. Across the state, 51% of banks earn an A or B grade for financial health, while 15% fall to a D or F.
The largest bank headquartered in North Dakota is Bell Bank with $13.9B in assets and a Bank Health Score of 57/100. The strongest by score is First Security Bank West in Beulah (100/100, Tier 1 capital 28.66%). The weakest is Aspire Bank at 29/100, dragged down by an NPL ratio of 0.90%.
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 North Dakota
First Security Bank West
Beulah, ND
North Dakota's top-rated bank, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 28.66% — well above the federal "well-capitalized" threshold of 8%. Holds $68M in assets.
Mcintosh County Bank
Ashley, ND
Second-strongest in the state on capital and loan quality. NPL ratio sits at 0.00% with $120M in total assets.
Strasburg State Bank
Strasburg, ND
Third in the rankings on the Bank Health Score. Liquidity ratio of 30.48% and ROA of 1.43%.
Top 20 of 55 Banks in North Dakota
| # | Bank | City | Grade | Score | Tier 1 Capital | NPL Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Security Bank West | Beulah | A | 100 | 28.66% | 0.03% |
| 2 | Mcintosh County Bank | Ashley | A | 98 | 15.13% | 0.00% |
| 3 | Strasburg State Bank | Strasburg | A | 98 | 15.22% | 0.00% |
| 4 | Bank of Tioga | Tioga | A | 95 | 13.28% | 0.00% |
| 5 | Kindred State Bank | Kindred | A | 95 | 15.26% | 0.33% |
| 6 | State Bank of Lakota | Lakota | A | 94 | 15.01% | 0.57% |
| 7 | Dakota Community B&T NA | Hebron | A | 92 | 13.13% | 0.06% |
| 8 | American St B&T Co Williston | Williston | A | 90 | 20.93% | 1.61% |
| 9 | Lincoln State Bank | Hankinson | A | 90 | 13.90% | 0.21% |
| 10 | First State Bank of Cando | Cando | A | 87 | 18.44% | 1.13% |
| 11 | Starion Bank | Bismarck | A | 86 | 13.06% | 0.39% |
| 12 | Citizens Stb at Mohall | Mohall | A | 85 | 15.32% | 0.79% |
| 13 | First State Bank of Golva | Golva | A | 84 | 16.65% | 2.69% |
| 14 | Peoples Stb Fairmount N D | Fairmount | A | 83 | 11.83% | 0.00% |
| 15 | State Bank&Trust of Kenmare | Kenmare | A | 83 | 15.74% | 1.77% |
| 16 | Peoples State Bank of Velva | Velva | A | 82 | 13.31% | 0.21% |
| 17 | Commercial Bank of Mott | Mott | A | 82 | 12.16% | 0.00% |
| 18 | Alerus Financial NA | Grand Forks | A | 82 | 11.23% | 0.21% |
| 19 | Farmers&Merchants Bank of Nd | Tolna | A | 81 | 17.11% | 2.34% |
| 20 | Dakota Western Bank | Bowman | A | 80 | 13.43% | 2.04% |
Bank Health Scores for North Dakota 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, First Security Bank West in Beulah is currently the safest bank in North Dakota with a score of 100/100 (Grade A). It posts a Tier 1 capital ratio of 28.66% and a nonperforming loan ratio of 0.03%.
North Dakota has 55 FDIC-insured banks with a combined $53.8B in total assets. The average Bank Health Score across the state is 68/100 (Grade B).
North Dakota's average Bank Health Score of 68/100 is 2.0 points below the national average of 70/100. 51% of banks in North Dakota earn an A or B grade, compared with the national average grade of B.
Of 55 FDIC-insured banks headquartered in North Dakota, 20 earn an A, 8 a B, 19 a C, 7 a D, and 1 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%).