Community 1st Bank earns 5-Star rating

POST FALLS - Community 1st Bank in Post Falls is one of three banks headquartered in Idaho to earn a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., an independent banking rating service.

Five stars is BauerFinancial's highest rating available, indicating "superior" performance, based on capital strength, asset quality, profitability and other factors.

"We are honored to be recognized and recommended by this well-respected, independent source," said Dave Bobbitt, Community 1st chairman and CEO. "Moving up to the top tier of their ranking system is an accomplishment that reflects the hard work of all our team members and board of directors. This superior rating is a testament to Community 1st Bank's strength and stability."

The bank previously received four stars, considered "excellent."

The only other banks headquartered in Idaho to receive five stars were Ireland Bank in Malad City and First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls.

Spokane Teachers Credit Union, headquartered in Liberty Lake with branches in Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, received five stars among credit unions. The Public Employees Credit Union in Coeur d'Alene received four stars.

Local banks that received an "adequate" rating of three stars included Bank CDA, Mountain West Bank, Panhandle State Bank and Idaho Independent Bank.

The ratings are based on Sept. 30, 2010, data.

Community 1st, a locally-owned and operated bank established in 2007, recently reported profits for the first nine months of 2010 of almost $150,000, which was a 175 percent increase from 2009.

BauerFinancial has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks since 1983. All banks and credit unions are analyzed by the firm every quarter.

No institution can pay to be put on the list, nor can it choose to be excluded.

The ratings are posted at www.bauerfinancial.com.