We're all concerned about how to keep our money safe and which banks are most likely to go under next. I've posted the link to the bank Implode-o-Meter (http://bankimplode.com/) before as a tool to keep an eye on troubled banks. Today, I saw this article on 5 banks that are supposed to be safe and thought I'd pass it on. The article doesn't identify the 5 banks till the end of the second page, so I've quoted it here below. Note that US Bancorp is identified by the article as safe, but also appears on the Implode-O-Meter.

5 Banks Safe From the Storm
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/SuperModels/5BanksSafeFro...

From the article:

"As bank failures mount and fear rises, the result will be a rush away from smaller banks toward ones that the government deems too big to fail. But since that will be a crowded trek, I checked in with analyst Whalen for a list of banks he considers the most stable and best of breed. His favorites:

* Northern Trust (NTRS, news, msgs), based in Chicago, has one of the best fundamental performance records in the business. Its profits are one standard deviation above those of its peers through June 30, and its loan default rate in the second quarter this year was just 0.03%. The main reason is that its noninterest income is four times greater than its net interest income, meaning that it doesn't depend on loans to make a profit. Whalen believes its performance margin compared with those of its peers will widen over the next few quarters as banks with more credit exposure take a beating.

* US Bancorp (USB, news, msgs), based in Minneapolis, still has a return on equity of 22% and has a high proportion of its income coming from nonloan services. It has charged off 1% of its total loans and is adding to loan-loss reserves at a 2-1 ratio without cutting dividends, which speaks well for management. Whalen says it is very unlikely that US Bancorp, "one of the best-performing commercial banks in the world," will ever need to obtain additional capital or sell itself to outsiders.

* Washington Federal (WFSL, news, msgs), a thrift based in Seattle, reported a 10.1% return on equity through the second quarter, compared with a negative 4% for peers. Returns have tracked a full standard deviation above those of its rivals. Its main operating unit reported just 0.21% of loan defaults versus 1.26% for its peers. It has received advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank system equal to 16% of its assets, but its strong capital position and profitability still make it a top choice for cash deposits.

* Charles Schwab Bank (SCHW, news, msgs), based in San Francisco and the thrift subsidiary of a discount brokerage, has an "eye-popping" return on equity of 27%, which is 1.26 standard deviations above those of its peers, making it almost countercyclical. With virtually no credit losses in the second quarter, Whalen calls the thrift subsidiary of Schwab a "pretty safe place to stash your loot" and says it deserves kudos for its success in a declining credit market.

* Bank of Hawaii (BOH, news, msgs), based in Honolulu, sports a return on equity of 26% and is a full standard deviation above its peers in funding its loans. With just a 0.46% charge-off rate and high average maturity of its loans, Whalen thinks it has done a beautiful job in a tough environment.

In summary, there may be a lot of banks facing the executioner for their mortal sins, and you should steer clear of them -- not just as investments but with your cash.

But others are holding their own and then some, and it's probably worth the trouble to move your funds there just to be safe."