Forbes’ 2026 America’s Best Banks ranking names 100 banks, but the full order is not available in the accessible list text. Two placements are independently attributable to the banks themselves: HBT Financial says Heartland Bank and Trust Company ranked No. 1, and 1st Source says it ranked No. 11. The ranking assesses bank performance—not which institution offers the best account for your needs.
What Forbes’ 2026 list ranks
Forbes’ official page, titled “Forbes 2026 America’s Best Banks List | Top Ranked and Rated,” is dated February 4, 2026, and names Andrea Murphy and Hank Tucker as editors. Its linked feature story, by Hank Tucker, is titled “America’s Best Banks 2026: Small Banks In The Heartland Shine.” Forbes describes a pattern in which top-performing banks other than JPMorgan Chase are mostly small institutions with community roots. Forbes’ 2026 list page
HBT Financial describes the ranking as Forbes’ 17th annual edition: 100 banks selected after analyzing the 200 largest publicly traded U.S. banks and thrifts by asset size. That describes the scope of the selection process, not a list of every U.S. bank or a recommendation for every depositor. HBT Financial’s announcement
Which placements can be verified
| Reported placement | Institution | What the evidence establishes |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | HBT Financial / Heartland Bank and Trust Company | HBT Financial reported that it ranked first. HBT Financial |
| No. 11 of 100 | 1st Source Bank | 1st Source reported its placement. 1st Source |
These are company announcements about their own rankings. The accessible Forbes page text does not show the full table, so these two placements do not establish the complete top 100 or the order of banks between them. Forbes’ list page
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How the ranking was assembled
The stated emphasis is on growth, credit quality, profitability, and stock performance. 1st Source says S&P Global Market Intelligence supplied financial data and Forbes performed the ranking. 1st Source’s methodology summary
Ten named financial measures
1st Source and Banner Bank each identify the following ten financial measures as equally weighted:
- Net interest margin
- Return on average tangible common equity
- Return on average assets
- Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio
- Efficiency ratio
- Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets
- Reserves as a percentage of total assets
- Risk-based capital ratio
- Operating revenue growth
- Net charge-offs as a percentage of total loans
Banner says the financial metrics cover the 12 months ending September 30, 2025; it reports stock performance measured over the 12 months through January 23, 2025. Those are the periods Banner specifies in its account of the methodology. Banner Bank’s methodology summary
Why sources give different metric counts
HBT says the analysis used 11 key metrics. 1st Source and Banner enumerate ten financial measures, while stock performance is also described separately. Their announcements do not clarify whether stock performance is the eleventh metric or explain the difference. The count should therefore be attributed to the source rather than treated as reconciled. HBT Financial 1st Source Banner Bank
What the ranking does—and does not—tell you
A performance ranking can help identify banks that scored well on the measures described, but it is not an account-level comparison. The cited ranking summaries do not establish which bank has the best savings APY, lowest checking fees, broadest ATM access, or most suitable terms for a particular customer. Confirm current account details directly with each institution.
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Compare accounts on the terms that affect you
- Fees and balance requirements: Check monthly charges, minimum balances, and conditions for waiving fees.
- Rates and APY: Compare the rate on the specific account and how it may change.
- Access and eligibility: Verify branch and ATM availability, state restrictions, and who can open the account.
- Digital banking: Review the online and mobile features you rely on, such as transfers and deposit tools.
- Service and protections: Consider available customer support and confirm account protections and terms.
The ranking sources do not provide a complete comparison on these points, so a high placement alone cannot resolve them.
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