69 Wisconsin financial institutions had third-quarter losses

In Wisconsin, one of every four of the state’s financial institutions reported net losses during the quarter that ended Sept. 30, or 69 of the 281 commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

"These numbers clearly reflect the stressed financial conditions of bank customers throughout the state," said Kurt R. Bauer, president and chief executive of the Wisconsin Bankers Association.

Marshall & Ilsley Bank, Milwaukee, reported the largest net loss for the quarter, with AnchorBank, Madison, listed as second. At the other end of the spectrum, Associated Bank, Green Bay, ranked No. 1 for net income for the period.

FDIC figures show the state’s 247 commercial banks had a total loss of $255 million for the third calendar quarter compared to net income of $280 million for the same period last year.

About 4.5 percent of the loans and leases issued by the commercial banks were delinquent in the last quarter, twice the percentage of a year ago.

Bauer said the bank performance figures are "not necessarily a prediction of the future." But, he added, such reports usually lag other economic trends, "which means banks could see challenging earnings in the fourth quarter and into 2010," Bauer said in a statement Tuesday.