The relationship between Americans and their banks used to be based on trust.

As well it should. In many ways, banks make some of our biggest financial dreams come true.

We go to the bank when we want to buy our dream home, and again when we remodel the kitchen. Our bank helps us buy that great new car we've been thinking about. When we retire, the bank turns a lifetime of savings into income by paying us interest on CDs, money markets and savings accounts.

We trust banks to protect our hard-earned money. We expect that every dollar we put into our bank will be held safe until we come back for it.

But what if the bank doesn't deserve our trust?

In America, we have let our guard down when it comes to our banking relationships. We assume that everything will be fine if our bank fails. After all, the FDIC insures our deposits up to $250,000. Why worry?

I hate to break this to you, but the FDIC's deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) -- aka, the money used to cover bank failures -- has been all but drained.

In 2007, the DIF had a healthy $52.4 billion. But since 2008 (after the housing meltdown), more than 413 banks have failed, and it's taken a devastating toll on the once-solid reserve fund.

According to the FDIC, the balance in the DIF is now just $11.8 billion -- almost 78% below where it was before the financial crisis. And though the fund will replenish slowly over time, the FDIC expects future bank failures from 2012 to 2016 to cost the fund $12 billion more.

I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to assume that the FDIC will always be there to cover my savings. Instead, I want to pick the safest bank in my area, so that I know the FDIC will never have to get involved.

So, to help Americans regain their sense of financial security and peace of mind that their money is safe, we've found a way to find the safest banks in America -- using a special metric called the "Texas Ratio."

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The Texas ratio was developed by a financial wizard at RBC Capital Markets named Gerard Cassidy, who used it to correctly predict bank failures in Texas during the 1980s recession, and again in New England during the recession of the early 1990s.

While the ratio has been excellent at predicting bank failures, it can also be used to find the banks that are the furthest from failure.

Without walking through the formula (which you can see here in our definition of the Texas ratio), the takeaway is this: The closer the Texas ratio gets to zero, the lower the bank's risk of failure.

Out of more than 7,300, there are just 359 banks in America with a perfect Texas ratio of 0.0. We list them below, sorted by state:

A note from the editor: "InvestingAnswers regrets the errors in the original report, where some of our Safest Banks had the incorrect location listed. This article is updated as of 8/10/12 to reflect the most accurate information, according to the FDIC."

Name

City

State

Oakworth Capital BankBirminghamAL
McGehee BankMcGeheeAR
First Scottsdale Bank, N.A.ScottsdaleAZ
Armed Forces Bank of California, N.A.San DiegoCA
Evergreen International BankLong BeachCA
Premier Business BankLos AngelesCA
Vibra BankChula VistaCA
Eastern International BankLos AngelesCA
County Commerce BankVenturaCA
The Merchants National Bank of SacramentoSacramentoCA
Focus Business BankSan JoseCA
Valley Republic BankBakersfieldCA
California Republic BankNewport BeachCA
1st Enterprise BankLos AngelesCA
Capital Bank and Trust CompanyIrvineCA
Malaga Bank FSBPalos Verdes Pen.CA
First American Trust, FSBSanta AnaCA
Wells Fargo Bank, Ltd.Los AngelesCA
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.Los AngelesCA
Young Americans BankDenverCO
The Bank of BurlingtonBurlingtonCO
The Colorado State Bank of WalshWalshCO
Redstone BankCentennialCO
First FarmBankGreeleyCO
FlatIrons BankBoulderCO
AMG National Trust BankBoulderCO
Trust Company of AmericaCentennialCO
Start Community BankNew HavenCT
The National Iron BankSalisburyCT
The Bank of FairfieldFairfieldCT
The MassMutual Trust CompanyEnfieldCT
Fieldpoint Private Bank & TrustGreenwichCT
Prudential Bank & Trust, FSBHartfordCT
Bank of New CastleNew CastleDE
HSBC Trust Company (Delaware), N.A.WilmingtonDE
One South BankChipleyFL
FirstCity Bank of CommerceNorth Palm BeachFL
First Navy BankPensacolaFL
Plus International BankMiamiFL
The Warrington BankPensacolaFL
Bank of the SouthPensacolaFL
Prime Meridian BankTallahasseeFL
Intracoastal BankPalm CoastFL
Broward Bank of CommerceFort LauderdaleFL
First Green BankMount DoraFL
Members Trust CompanyTampaFL
Palm Beach Community BankWest Palm BeachFL
Verity BankWinderGA
NOA BankDuluthGA
Community Business BankCummingGA
Independence Bank of GeorgiaBraseltonGA
Chattahoochee Bank of GeorgiaGainesvilleGA
Invesco National Trust CompanyAtlantaGA
----HI
Dysart State BankDysartIA
Peoples Trust and Savings BankRiversideIA
Hartwick State BankHartwickIA
Center Point Bank and Trust CompanyCenter PointIA
Maxwell State BankMaxwellIA
Walker State BankWalkerIA
The Exchange State BankSpringvilleIA
ITS BankJohnstonIA
Swisher Trust & Savings BankSwisherIA
Benton County State BankBlairstownIA
Pleasantville State BankPleasantvilleIA
Breda Savings BankBredaIA
First State BankStuartIA
Victor State BankVictorIA
Panora State BankPanoraIA
Pocahontas State BankPocahontasIA
Western Capital BankBoiseID
American Union Savings and Loan Association, SBChicagoIL
Sidell State BankSidellIL
Middletown State BankMiddletownIL
Peoples Bank of MaconMaconIL
North County Savings BankRed BudIL
Farmers State Bank of MedoraMedoraIL
Peoples State Bank of ColfaxColfaxIL
Franklin BankFranklinIL
Columbus Savings BankChicagoIL
Elkville State BankElkvilleIL
Harris Central National AssociationRoselleIL
Community Bank of EastonEastonIL
Midland Community BankKincaidIL
Nashville Savings BankNashvilleIL
Buckley State BankBuckleyIL
Franklin Grove BankFranklin GroveIL
The Bank of Lawrence CountyBridgeportIL
The Lemont National BankLemontIL
Heritage State BankLawrencevilleIL
Farmers State Bank of EmdenEmdenIL
Grand Ridge National BankGrand RidgeIL
Washington Federal Bank For SavingsChicagoIL
Burling BankChicagoIL
Arcola First BankArcolaIL
Teutopolis State BankTeutopolisIL
Country Trust BankBloomingtonIL
Collinsville Building and Loan AssociationCollinsvilleIL
Everence Trust CompanyGoshenIN
Ossian State BankOssianIN
The Central National Bank and Trust CompanyAtticaIN
Forethought Federal Savings BankBatesvilleIN
Signature BankHaddamKS
The Citizens State BankGrainfieldKS
The Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Cawker CityCawker CityKS
The First National Bank of HarveyvilleHarveyvilleKS
The First National Bank of HowardHowardKS
Prescott State BankPrescottKS
Leonardville State BankLeonardvilleKS
The Downs National BankDownsKS
1st Bank of TroyTroyKS
The State Bank of Conway SpringsConway SpringsKS
The City State BankFort ScottKS
The Citizens State BankMiltonvaleKS
The Stock Exchange Bank, Caldwell, KansasCaldwellKS
The Farmers State Bank of Bucklin, KansasBucklinKS
First National Bank in FrankfortFrankfortKS
The Caldwell State Bank in Caldwell, KansasCaldwellKS
Millennium BankJunction CityKS
National Advisors Trust Company, FSBOverland ParkKS
The Liberty Savings Association, FSAFort ScottKS
The Montezuma State BankMontezumaKS
Bank of Prairie VillagePrairie VillageKS
First Kansas BankHoisingtonKS
Flint Hills BankEskridgeKS
The Citizens State BankHugotonKS
Sebree Deposit BankSebreeKY
Hart County Bank and Trust CompanyMunfordvilleKY
Bluegrass Community BankDanvilleKY
West Carroll Community BankOak GroveLA
Tri-State Bank and TrustHaughtonLA
Lakeside BankLake CharlesLA
Patriot Community BankWoburnMA
Mercantile Bank and Trust CompanyBostonMA
Foxboro Federal SavingsFoxboroMA
Winter Hill Bank, FSBSomervilleMA
Northmark BankNorth AndoverMA
Boston Trust & Investment Management CompanyBostonMA
Fidelity Personal Trust Company, FSBBostonMA
Fidelity Management Trust CompanyBostonMA
T. Rowe Price Savings BankBaltimoreMD
Revere BankLaurelMD
Legg Mason Investment Counsel & Trust Company, N.A.BaltimoreMD
----ME
Bank of BirminghamBirminghamMI
Ann Arbor State BankAnn ArborMI
Comerica Bank & Trust, National AssociationAnn ArborMI
JPMorgan Chase Bank, DearbornDearbornMI
Auto Club Trust, FSBDearbornMI
Kent State BankKentMN
St. Martin National BankSaint MartinMN
Union State Bank of Browns ValleyBrowns ValleyMN
The First National Bank of HermanHermanMN
State Bank of JeffersJeffersMN
State Bank of BellinghamBellinghamMN
American State Bank of ErskineErskineMN
State Bank of LismoreLismoreMN
Liberty Savings Bank, FSBSaint CloudMN
Bank of MindenMindenminesMO
Bank of HillsboroHillsboroMO
Midwest Federal Savings and Loan Association of St. JosephSaint JosephMO
Peoples Bank of Wyaconda, MissouriKahokaMO
Silex Banking CompanySilexMO
Community Bank of RussellvilleRussellvilleMO
Springfield First Community BankSpringfieldMO
Parkside Financial Bank & TrustClaytonMO
Edward Jones Trust CompanySaint LouisMO
Missouri Bank and Trust Company of Kansas CityKansas CityMO
TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSBSaint LouisMO
Scottrade BankSaint LouisMO
The Bank of Bolivar CountyShelbyMS
First Federal Savings and Loan AssociationAberdeenMS
Bank of Walnut GroveWalnut GroveMS
Bank of Jones CountyLaurelMS
Davidson Trust Co.Great FallsMT
Bank of MontanaMissoulaMT
Montana State BankPlentywoodMT
Mount Gilead Savings and Loan AssociationMount GileadNC
Coastal Bank & TrustJacksonvilleNC
Cedar Hill National BankCharlotteNC
Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmingtonNC
Grant County State BankCarsonND
Farmers Security BankWashburnND
Strasburg State BankStrasburgND
Liberty State BankPowers LakeND
Peoples State Bank of VelvaVelvaND
First State Bank of GolvaGolvaND
Stock Growers BankNapoleonND
Heartland State BankEdgeleyND
Farmers State Bank of Crosby, N. D.CrosbyND
Peoples State BankWesthopeND
Merchants BankRugbyND
Sargent County BankFormanND
United Community Bank of North DakotaLeedsND
Farmers and Merchants BankAxtellNE
Citizens State BankCarletonNE
Farmers State BankCarrollNE
Boelus State BankBoelusNE
Bank of MeadMeadNE
Tri Valley BankTalmageNE
Battle Creek State BankBattle CreekNE
Cedar Rapids State BankCedar RapidsNE
Farmers State BankHumphreyNE
Bank of Newman GroveNewman GroveNE
Stanton State BankStantonNE
Farmers State BankWallaceNE
Winside State BankWinsideNE
Curtis State BankCurtisNE
Farmers and Merchants BankMilliganNE
Bank of HartingtonHartingtonNE
Bank of LewellenLewellenNE
Farmers State BankDodgeNE
Adams State BankAdamsNE
Oak Creek Valley BankValparaisoNE
Home State BankLouisvilleNE
First National Bank and Trust CompanyFalls CityNE
NebraskaLand National BankNorth PlatteNE
First Commerce BankLakewoodNJ
Bessemer Trust CompanyWoodbridgeNJ
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (USA) LimitedHobokenNJ
DSRM National BankAlbuquerqueNM
Western Heritage BankLas CrucesNM
Western Bank of ClovisClovisNM
The Carlsbad National BankCarlsbadNM
Eaglemark Savings BankCarson CityNV
Credit One Bank, N.A.Las VegasNV
HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A.Las VegasNV
Emigrant Mercantile BankNew YorkNY
WSB Municipal BankWatertownNY
Pioneer Commercial BankTroyNY
Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association of IrvingtonIrvingtonNY
Pathfinder Commercial BankOswegoNY
PCSB Commercial BankBrewsterNY
Berkshire Bank Municipal BankAlbanyNY
State Bank of ChittenangoChittenangoNY
Greene County Commercial BankCatskillNY
Fairport Savings BankFairportNY
Gold Coast BankIslandiaNY
Eastbank, N.A.New YorkNY
Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. USANew YorkNY
Delta National Bank and Trust CompanyNew YorkNY
Provident Municipal BankMontebelloNY
Flushing Commercial BankNew Hyde ParkNY
Bessemer Trust Company, N.A.New YorkNY
Nelsonville Home and SavingsNelsonvilleOH
Home Savings Bank of WapakonetaWapakonetaOH
The Marblehead BankMarbleheadOH
First Federal Savings and Loan AssociationCenterburgOH
The Baltic State BankBalticOH
The Corn City State BankDeshlerOH
Credit First National AssociationBrook ParkOH
First State BankElmore CityOK
The First National Bank of NashNashOK
Peoples State BankBlairOK
Farmers & Merchants BankDukeOK
Community National Bank of OkarcheOkarcheOK
First American BankErickOK
The State Bank of WynnewoodWynnewoodOK
The Farmers and Merchants National Bank of FairviewFairviewOK
Prime BankEdmondOK
Citizens Bank of OklahomaPawhuskaOK
Centerpointe Community BankHood RiverOR
Manor BankManorPA
Second Federal Savings and Loan Association of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPA
The Philadelphia Trust CompanyPhiladelphiaPA
Gateway Bank of PennsylvaniaMcMurrayPA
The Haverford Trust CompanyRadnorPA
Eureka BankPittsburghPA
American BankAllentownPA
SEI Private Trust CompanyOaksPA
Talbots Classics National BankLincolnRI
The Farmers State Bank of TurtonTurtonSD
American State BankOldhamSD
Menno State BankMennoSD
The Security State BankEmerySD
Richland State BankBruceSD
The Roberts County National Bank of SissetonSissetonSD
Security National Bank of South DakotaDakota DunesSD
Farmers State BankParkstonSD
Target National BankSioux FallsSD
Independence Trust CompanyFranklinTN
Bloomburg State BankBloomburgTX
Citizens State BankAntonTX
The Commercial BankMasonTX
Amistad BankDel RioTX
The Lone Star State BankLone StarTX
The First National Bank of AmherstAmherstTX
First National Bank of Colorado CityColorado CityTX
Memphis State BankMemphisTX
First State BankJunctionTX
The First National Bank of SeymourSeymourTX
American Bank, N.A.DallasTX
The First National Bank of HicoHicoTX
Schwertner State BankSchwertnerTX
Brazos National BankCluteTX
The Granger National BankGrangerTX
Citizens State BankGanadoTX
Bandera First State BankBanderaTX
The First National Bank of WoodsboroWoodsboroTX
White Oak State BankWhite OakTX
First National Bank in WhitneyWhitneyTX
The City State Bank of PalaciosPalaciosTX
First National Bank in DalhartDalhartTX
The First National Bank of TahokaTahokaTX
Citizens National Bank of CrosbytonCrosbytonTX
First Bank and Trust of MemphisMemphisTX
Stockmens National Bank in CotullaCotullaTX
Gruver State BankGruverTX
The First National Bank of EldoradoEldoradoTX
Farmers and Merchants BankDe LeonTX
POINTWEST BankWestTX
Peoples State BankRockspringsTX
Texas Financial BankEdenTX
The City National Bank of San SabaSan SabaTX
First State BankOvertonTX
The Chasewood BankHoustonTX
Citizens BankClaudeTX
Tejas BankMonahansTX
Liberty Capital BankAddisonTX
Citizens National Bank of Wills PointWills PointTX
Columbus State BankColumbusTX
Heritage BankPearlandTX
Business Bank of Texas, N.A.AustinTX
First-Lockhart National BankLockhartTX
The First National Bank of MertzonMertzonTX
Pegasus BankDallasTX
R BankRound RockTX
Hill Bank & Trust Co.WeimarTX
First State BankStratfordTX
Memorial City BankHoustonTX
Texas Regional BankHarlingenTX
Bank of TexasMidlandTX
Texas Security BankDallasTX
The Bank of San AntonioSan AntonioTX
First Private Bank of TexasDallasTX
Tolleson Private BankDallasTX
Grand BankDallasTX
Citizens National BankCameronTX
First Associations BankDallasTX
First Electronic BankSandyUT
OptumHealth Bank, Inc.Salt Lake CityUT
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.Salt Lake CityUT
1st Commonwealth Bank of VirginiaArlingtonVA
The Trust Company of VirginiaRichmondVA
Frontier Community BankWaynesboroVA
Oak View National BankWarrentonVA
Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.McLeanVA
E*TRADE United BankArlingtonVA
Farmington State BankFarmingtonWA
Raymond Federal BankRaymondWA
Liberty Bay BankPoulsboWA
Milton Savings BankMiltonWI
M&I Bank of MayvilleMayvilleWI
Collins State BankCollinsWI
Palmyra State BankPalmyraWI
WPS Community Bank, FSBMadisonWI
Settlers BankDe ForestWI
Northwestern Mutual Wealth ManagementMilwaukeeWI
First Federal Savings & Loan Association of RavenswoodRavenswoodWV
Wyoming State BankLaramieWY
The Converse County BankDouglasWY