Forbes has released its 16th annual list of “America’s Best Banks,” with numerous companies headquartered in Texas making the cut. Of the 100 banks on the list, seven are based in the Lone Star State. Here are the Texas-based 2025 “America’s Best Banks” (the numbers indicate the bank’s ranking on Forbes’ list of U.S. banks):
- No. 3: First Financial Bankshares, Abilene
- No. 22: International Bancshares, Laredo
- No. 23: Cullen/Frost Bankers, San Antonio
- No. 24: Southside Bancshares, Tyler
- No. 31: Prosperity Bancshares, Houston
- No. 70: Stellar Bancorp Inc., Houston
- No. 84: South Plains Financial, Lubbock
Forbes’ list looks at 11 metrics measuring growth, credit quality and profitability for the 12 months ending September 30, 2024, as well as stock performance in the 12 months through January 10, 2025. The 10 equally-weighted financial metrics are net interest margin; return on average tangible common equity; return on average assets; CET1 ratio; efficiency ratio; nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets; reserves as a percentage of total assets; risk-based capital ratio; operating revenue growth; and net charge-offs as a percentage of total loans.
In its summary of this year’s listing, Forbes editors Andrea Murphy and Hank Tucker wrote:
“Two years after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank shook regional bank stocks, most of America’s small banks emerged unscathed and are now thriving. Prolonged higher rates have helped keep FDIC-insured institutions’ average net interest margin elevated at 3.2 percent, and 93.6 percent of banks were profitable as of September 2024.
With lower expenses on staff and technology, regional banks often operate more efficiently than nationwide giants, and Forbes’ 16th annual list of America’s Best Banks is full of them. Led by Mount Olive, North Carolina’s Southern Bank at number one, none of the banks in the top 10 have more than $25 billion in assets, and JPMorgan Chase is the only trillion-dollar institution on the list at all.”
“We are incredibly proud to be rated number three in Forbes’ ‘America’s Best Banks for 2025,’” says David Bailey, president of First Financial Bankshares. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team, as well as our unwavering dedication to our 21 ‘non-negotiables’ that prioritize exceptional customer service.”
Click here to see the full list of Forbes’ 2025 “America’s Best Banks.”
