Updated April 2026 · FDIC Call Report Q2 2024
Mega Banks
13 U.S. banks fit the mega banks definition, holding $13.5T in combined assets. The cohort posts an average Bank Health Score of 87/100, with a Tier 1 capital ratio averaging 16.19% and an NPL ratio of 0.97%.
What Defines This Tier
Mega banks — institutions with $250 billion or more in assets — sit at the top of the U.S. banking pyramid and are designated globally systemically important banks (G-SIBs) when they cross additional thresholds. They face the strictest capital and stress-testing requirements under the Federal Reserve's CCAR framework, file Resolution Plans ("living wills") with the FDIC, and report quarterly Call Report data with the most extensive disclosure schedules. Their balance sheets typically span retail deposits, commercial lending, capital markets, wealth management, and international operations.
Tier-Wide Snapshot
| Banks in tier | 13 |
| Combined assets | $13.5T |
| Average Health Score | 87/100 |
| Average Tier 1 capital ratio | 16.19% |
| Average NPL ratio | 0.97% |
| A-graded banks | 12 (92%) |
| D or F-graded banks | 0 (0%) |
Strengths and Risks in This Tier
Strengths in this tier: deep diversification across business lines, access to capital markets, sophisticated risk management infrastructure, and federal designation as systemically important — which carries implicit support but also far more intrusive supervision.
Risks to watch: complex derivative books that can mark down quickly in stress, capital markets revenue that swings with volatility, large counterparty exposures, and sheer scale — a 50-basis-point move on a trillion-dollar balance sheet is a real number. Stress test results from the Federal Reserve's annual CCAR exercise are a useful external check.
For depositors: at this scale, FDIC insurance limits ($250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category) cover only a fraction of the institution's liabilities — but those limits are exactly what matter for retail deposits. The relevant question is not whether the institution is "too big to fail" but whether your individual deposits sit inside FDIC limits. Confirm at FDIC.gov.
Top Banks in Mega Banks
| # | Bank | Location | Grade | Score | Assets | Tier 1 Capital | NPL Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase Bank NA | Columbus, Ohio | A | 95 | $3.5T | 16.37% | 0.78% |
| 2 | Charles Schwab Bank SSB | Westlake, Texas | A | 93 | $273.8B | 39.89% | 0.05% |
| 3 | Bank of New York Mellon | New York, New York | A | 93 | $351.8B | 16.14% | 0.58% |
| 4 | Citibank National Assn | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | A | 90 | $1.7T | 14.11% | 0.67% |
| 5 | TD Bank National Assn | Wilmington, Delaware | A | 89 | $370.3B | 17.70% | 0.72% |
| 6 | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | New York, New York | A | 88 | $545.2B | 15.81% | 1.95% |
| 7 | Bank of America NA | Charlotte, North Carolina | A | 88 | $2.6T | 13.53% | 0.74% |
| 8 | U S Bank National Assn | Cincinnati, Ohio | A | 86 | $664.9B | 13.38% | 1.11% |
| 9 | Wells Fargo Bank NA | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | A | 84 | $1.7T | 12.93% | 1.36% |
| 10 | Truist Bank | Charlotte, North Carolina | A | 84 | $511.9B | 13.11% | 0.62% |
| 11 | BMO Bank National Assn | Chicago, Illinois | A | 83 | $262.0B | 12.41% | 1.14% |
| 12 | PNC Bank National Assn | Wilmington, Delaware | A | 82 | $552.5B | 11.55% | 1.08% |
| 13 | Capital One National Assn | Mclean, Virginia | B | 78 | $477.3B | 13.53% | 1.79% |
How These Scores Are Calculated
Every bank in this list earns a Bank Health Score from four FDIC Call Report inputs: Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), nonperforming-loan ratio inverted (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%). Data flows from the FDIC BankFind API and the FFIEC Call Report archive. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "mega banks" bank?
Banks with over $250 billion in assets, the largest financial institutions in America. The FDIC and federal regulators draw size lines based on consolidated total assets reported on the quarterly Call Report. Currently 13 institutions fit this definition.
What is the average health score for mega banks?
Across 13 banks (a small but specific cohort) in the Mega Banks tier, the average Bank Health Score is 87/100 — squarely in A territory and stronger than the industry median. The tier as a whole is well-capitalized, with low loan losses and ample liquidity. A-graded banks: 12. B-graded: 1. D or F-graded: 0.
What are the typical strengths of banks in this tier?
Strengths in this tier: deep diversification across business lines, access to capital markets, sophisticated risk management infrastructure, and federal designation as systemically important — which carries implicit support but also far more intrusive supervision.
What should I watch for when reviewing a bank in this tier?
Risks to watch: complex derivative books that can mark down quickly in stress, capital markets revenue that swings with volatility, large counterparty exposures, and sheer scale — a 50-basis-point move on a trillion-dollar balance sheet is a real number. Stress test results from the Federal Reserve's annual CCAR exercise are a useful external check.
Are deposits at mega banks insured the same way?
Yes. FDIC deposit insurance is identical at every FDIC-insured institution regardless of size — $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Verify your bank's FDIC status and your specific coverage at FDIC.gov.
Sources: FDIC BankFind API ( banks.data.fdic.gov); FFIEC Call Reports ( cdr.ffiec.gov/public); OCC ( occ.gov). Public domain.
Last updated 2026-04-06 · Data covers 13 mega banks. Informational only; not investment advice.