Financial Institutions

The Fitch Ratings Banks Group has actively built the agency into the global leader in bank credit rating coverage. Our experienced analysts provide comprehensive, timely and transparent coverage of every major institution around the world, as well as unparalleled coverage of smaller companies. Our analysts offer a diversity of talent and backgrounds, with experience in regulatory oversight, investment banking, buy-side investing, accounting and more.

The Bank group's rating process utilizes a set of rating scales that are unique to Fitch Ratings. The Individual rating, which expresses Fitch Ratings' view of a bank's stand-alone financial profile, is combined with the Support rating to arrive at the more traditionally recognized rating from the AAA scale that is assigned to the issuer and its debt issues. Fitch Ratings' Support rating provides important insight relative to the likelihood and nature of external support should the financial institution experience financial difficulties. Ratings guidelines are applied to long and short-term foreign currency ratings; long and short-term local currency ratings; and National ratings for emerging markets (non-comparable across borders).

Quantitative aspects of a bank's strengths and weaknesses are reviewed, such as balance sheet integrity, profitability, and risk management. The analysts also evaluate qualitative factors of the institution, such as strategy and quality of management, the environment in which it operates, and the most likely future development of its business. Final rating determinations are made by committees comprised of lead analysts and seasoned independent committee members, including Fitch Ratings senior management.

The Bank group also works closely with the agency's Structured Finance analysts to provide a holistic view of a company and how it accesses financial markets.

Coverage

Fitch Ratings extensive global franchise for financial institutions includes comprehensive coverage of the largest and most significant financial services firms. Further, Fitch Ratings' leading global market share in financial institutions includes numerous niche-oriented firms and companies that are accessing the capital markets for the first time. Industry sub-sectors covered by the Fitch Ratings Financial Institutions team include, but are not limited to, the following:
> commercial banks
> universal banks
> bancassurance
> mortgage banks and savings banks
> building societies
> investment banks & brokerages
> asset managers
> hedge funds
> commercial finance companies
> consumer finance companies
> leasing companies