Small banks with lean branch networks and higher noninterest-bearing deposit concentrations led S&P Global Market Intelligence’s 2025 deposit rankings, reinforcing the advantage of low-cost, rate-resilient funding. The rankings skewed toward the smallest institutions—72 of the top 100 hold less than $500 million in deposits and 19 operate with a single branch. These banks also posted higher median noninterest-bearing deposit levels and better deposit efficiency, reflecting lower all-in funding costs.
Another S&P post showed securities balances declined modestly in the fourth quarter as banks rotated into higher-yielding assets and increased available-for-sale exposure, accepting greater mark-to-market volatility to maintain liquidity and flexibility.