More banks ‘problematic’

Florida-based banking research firm BauerFinancial Inc. said that the number of “problematic” banks nationwide rose more than 50 percent in the past year. The number of banks receiving two or fewer stars on the Bauer’s five-star scale rose to 64, up from 41 at this time last year. Credit unions saw that trend in reverse, as the number of credit unions receiving a “problematic” rating dropped to 125, down from 156 last year. Still, 78 percent of the nation’s 8,651 banks achieved “recommended” status, earning four or five stars.