How are Peer Groups defined?
Banks are placed into one of six broad categories defined by line of business. Specific peer groups are also defined within many of those six broad categories. See the online Users Guide at www.ffiec.gov for additional details. 1. Commercial Banks – banks not in one of the subsequent specialty peer groups are considered commercial banks. These 15 peer groups are defined by a combination of asset size, number of branches and location in a Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most banks fall within this grouping. 2. Savings Banks – FDIC insured and supervised savings banks are in one of four peer groups defined by asset size within this special line of business category. 3. Credit Card Specialty Banks – Insured commercial banks whose lending activities are focused on credit cards are in one of three peer groups within this special line of business peer group. 4. De Novo Banks – Newly chartered insured commercial banks are placed into a peer group defined by the year of opening. Banks remain in
