The health of Ohio's banks continues to be strong, announced Dave Thomas, Chief Examiner of Banks with the Division of Financial Institutions. He provided an Industry Status Report at the Ohio Bankers' Day Conference today at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Columbus.

This year's conference was sponsored by the department's Division of Financial Institutions and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. More than 225 banking officials attended.

Thomas reported that Ohio's 220 state and nationally chartered banks held aggregate assets of $267 billion at year end 1998. He said that the banks continue to be well capitalized, possess good quality assets, achieve solid earnings, and have sufficient liquidity.

In considering capital, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity and market sensitivity, Ohio's state and federally-chartered banks generally receive strong scores. In ranking the banks on a 1-5 scale with one being the strongest, Ohio's state-chartered banks were represented as follows:

55% -- "1" Rating (sound in most respects with minor deficiencies)

42% -- "2" Rating (considered stable and generally have only modest weaknesses)

2% -- "3" Rating (moderately severe to unsatisfactory weaknesses which require

more than normal supervision)

1% -- "4" Rating (poor condition with prompt action necessary)

0% -- "5" Rating (extremely poor condition; without prompt action, failure is likely)

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The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Financial Institutions regulates Ohio’s state-chartered banks, savings and loans/savings banks, and credit unions. The Department also regulates securities, industrial compliance, fire codes, unclaimed funds, liquor, and real estate, among other industries. The department's web address is www.com.state.oh.us