Cathay Bank: Texas Ratio

The Texas ratio is a bank's problem assets divided by its tangible equity plus loan loss reserves. Problem assets are nonaccrual loans, loans 90 or more days past due and other real estate owned, net of government guarantees. A ratio above 100% means problem assets exceed the capacity to absorb them, a level long tied to bank failures.

Under 25%: healthy. 25-50%: above most banks but below the 50% level at which problem assets reach half of the capital cushion. 50-100%: watch, problem assets exceed half of loss-absorbing capacity. Over 100%: elevated failure risk; the bank's bad assets exceed its capacity to absorb them. The ratio should be read against trend. A stable 70% is different from a quickly rising 60%.