Safest Banks in South Dakota 2026
South Dakota has 47 FDIC-insured banks with an average Bank Health Score of 74/100 (B). The safest bank is Richland State Bank with a score of 99/100.
Data from FDIC Q2 2024
47 South 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.
South Dakota's 47 FDIC-insured banks hold a combined $3.4T in assets. Their average Bank Health Score of 74/100 sits 4.0 points above the national average of 70/100. Across the state, 66% of banks earn an A or B grade for financial health, while 9% fall to a D or F.
The largest bank headquartered in South Dakota is Wells Fargo Bank NA with $1.7T in assets and a Bank Health Score of 84/100. The strongest by score is Richland State Bank in Bruce (99/100, Tier 1 capital 26.76%). The weakest is Plains Commerce Bank at 36/100, dragged down by an NPL ratio of 1.06%.
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 South Dakota
Richland State Bank
Bruce, SD
South Dakota's top-rated bank, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 26.76% — well above the federal "well-capitalized" threshold of 8%. Holds $42M in assets.
Andes State Bank
Lake Andes, SD
Second-strongest in the state on capital and loan quality. NPL ratio sits at 0.00% with $26M in total assets.
Pioneer Bank&Trust
Belle Fourche, SD
Third in the rankings on the Bank Health Score. Liquidity ratio of 45.78% and ROA of 1.27%.
Top 20 of 47 Banks in South Dakota
| # | Bank | City | Grade | Score | Tier 1 Capital | NPL Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richland State Bank | Bruce | A | 99 | 26.76% | 0.24% |
| 2 | Andes State Bank | Lake Andes | A | 99 | 25.61% | 0.00% |
| 3 | Pioneer Bank&Trust | Belle Fourche | A | 97 | 16.85% | 0.01% |
| 4 | Ipswich State Bank | Ipswich | A | 97 | 30.12% | 0.00% |
| 5 | Dnb National Bank | Clear Lake | A | 96 | 21.27% | 0.12% |
| 6 | First Nb in Philip | Philip | A | 96 | 15.56% | 0.00% |
| 7 | First Premier Bank | Sioux Falls | A | 96 | 18.09% | 0.06% |
| 8 | Bryant State Bank | Bryant | A | 94 | 17.43% | 0.41% |
| 9 | First State Bank of Roscoe | Roscoe | A | 93 | 22.61% | 1.23% |
| 10 | Bcorp Bank National Assn | Sioux Falls | A | 91 | 15.69% | 0.60% |
| 11 | Farmers State Bank of Turton | Turton | A | 91 | 21.53% | 0.00% |
| 12 | Citibank National Assn | Sioux Falls | A | 90 | 14.11% | 0.67% |
| 13 | First Fidelity Bank | Burke | A | 88 | 12.81% | 0.52% |
| 14 | Pathward National Assn | Sioux Falls | A | 86 | 13.02% | 0.96% |
| 15 | First National Bank | Fort Pierre | A | 85 | 24.50% | 0.52% |
| 16 | Quoin Financial Bank | Miller | A | 85 | 12.25% | 0.03% |
| 17 | Reliabank Dakota | Estelline | A | 85 | 13.08% | 0.61% |
| 18 | Wells Fargo Bank NA | Sioux Falls | A | 84 | 12.93% | 1.36% |
| 19 | First Nb in Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | A | 84 | 13.37% | 0.15% |
| 20 | Farmers State Bank of Canton | Canton | A | 83 | 16.19% | 1.07% |
Bank Health Scores for South 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, Richland State Bank in Bruce is currently the safest bank in South Dakota with a score of 99/100 (Grade A). It posts a Tier 1 capital ratio of 26.76% and a nonperforming loan ratio of 0.24%.
South Dakota has 47 FDIC-insured banks with a combined $3.4T in total assets. The average Bank Health Score across the state is 74/100 (Grade B).
South Dakota's average Bank Health Score of 74/100 is 4.0 points above the national average of 70/100. 66% of banks in South Dakota earn an A or B grade, compared with the national average grade of B.
Of 47 FDIC-insured banks headquartered in South Dakota, 22 earn an A, 9 a B, 12 a C, 4 a D, and 0 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%).