Best Bank Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top bank stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best bank stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Banks - Regional
D
Banks is Zen Rated D and is the 100th ranked industry out of 146 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
Exchange
Industry
Zen Rating
Market Cap
Price
1d %
EBITDA
P/E
D/E
Country
DD Score
LSBK
LAKE SHORE BANCORP INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$123.68M$15.73-0.69%$10.44M13.22x4.07
United States
NFBK
NORTHFIELD BANCORP INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$592.63M$14.190.71%$31.08M109.15x7.26
United States
NSTS
NSTS BANCORP INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$71.82M$13.65-0.22%$206.00k-682.50x2.38
United States
AFBI
AFFINITY BANCSHARES INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$137.07M$22.490.13%$12.55M15.95x6.14
United States
OPHC
OPTIMUMBANK HOLDINGS INC
NYSEMKT
Banks - Regional
$67.48M$5.500.92%$24.17M3.69x9.00
United States
UNB
UNION BANKSHARES INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$107.51M$23.30-0.81%$14.36M9.21x19.17
United States
CIB
GRUPO CIBEST SA
NYSE
Banks - Regional
$15.62B$65.542.82%$2.11B14.75x8.52
Colombia
FUSB
FIRST US BANCSHARES INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$88.23M$15.85-1.57%$9.83M14.81x10.14
United States
FFIC
FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORP
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$541.12M$15.971.91%$54.26M16.13x11.71
United States
CBNA
CHAIN BRIDGE BANCORP INC
NYSE
Banks - Regional
$245.54M$37.420.29%$27.77M11.31x9.97
United States
FDSB
FIFTH DISTRICT BANCORP INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$79.39M$15.080.67%$5.24M17.33x3.14
United States
BSBK
BOGOTA FINANCIAL CORP
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$108.88M$8.470.83%$2.78M47.06x5.18
United States
ECBK
ECB BANCORP INC
NASDAQ
Banks - Regional
$158.36M$18.090.33%$13.22M15.20x8.38
United States

Bank Stocks FAQ

What are the best bank stocks to buy right now in May 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best bank stocks to buy right now are:

1. Chemung Financial (NASDAQ:CHMG)


Chemung Financial (NASDAQ:CHMG) is the #1 top bank stock out of 313 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Chemung Financial (NASDAQ:CHMG) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: D, and AI: A.

Chemung Financial (NASDAQ:CHMG) has a Due Diligence Score of 46, which is 7 points higher than the bank industry average of 39.

CHMG passed 16 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Chemung Financial has seen its stock return 40.53% over the past year, overperforming other bank stocks by 25 percentage points.

Chemung Financial has an average 1 year price target of $64.00, a downside of -5.87% from Chemung Financial's current stock price of $67.99.

Chemung Financial stock has a consensus Hold recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Chemung Financial, 0% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 100% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS)


Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS) is the #2 top bank stock out of 313 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: B.

Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS) has a Due Diligence Score of 60, which is 21 points higher than the bank industry average of 39.

IFS passed 23 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Intercorp Financial Services has seen its stock return 36.88% over the past year, overperforming other bank stocks by 22 percentage points.

Intercorp Financial Services has an average 1 year price target of $56.00, an upside of 13.36% from Intercorp Financial Services's current stock price of $49.40.

Intercorp Financial Services stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Intercorp Financial Services, 100% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. West Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WTBA)


West Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WTBA) is the #3 top bank stock out of 313 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for West Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WTBA) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: B.

West Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WTBA) has a Due Diligence Score of 48, which is 9 points higher than the bank industry average of 39.

WTBA passed 16 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. West Bancorporation has seen its stock return 16.51% over the past year, overperforming other bank stocks by 1 percentage points.

What are the bank stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 266 bank stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 bank stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. First Northwest Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNWB)


First Northwest Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNWB) has an annual dividend yield of N/A, which is N/A percentage points lower than the bank industry average of 2.75%. First Northwest Bancorp's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. First Northwest Bancorp's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

First Northwest Bancorp's dividend payout ratio of 12.7% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

2. Blue Ridge Bankshares (NYSEMKT:BRBS)


Blue Ridge Bankshares (NYSEMKT:BRBS) has an annual dividend yield of 18.24%, which is 15 percentage points higher than the bank industry average of 2.75%. Blue Ridge Bankshares's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Blue Ridge Bankshares's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Blue Ridge Bankshares's dividend payout ratio of 653.8% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Tfs Financial (NASDAQ:TFSL)


Tfs Financial (NASDAQ:TFSL) has an annual dividend yield of 7.18%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the bank industry average of 2.75%. Tfs Financial's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Tfs Financial's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Tfs Financial's dividend payout ratio of 342.4% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are bank stocks up?

Bank stocks were up 2.03% in the last day, and up 2.55% over the last week. Inter & Co was the among the top gainers in the banks - regional industry, gaining 7.11% yesterday.

Shares of bank companies are trading higher as Treasury yields pull back on hopes that the conflict in the Middle East could soon be resolved, easing concerns about oil prices and inflation.

What are the most undervalued bank stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued bank stocks right now are:

1. Op Bancorp (NASDAQ:OPBK)


Op Bancorp (NASDAQ:OPBK) is the most undervalued bank stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Op Bancorp has a valuation score of 71, which is 25 points higher than the bank industry average of 46. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Op Bancorp's stock has gained 7.19% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the bank industry by -8 percentage points.

2. Woori Financial Group (NYSE:WF)


Woori Financial Group (NYSE:WF) is the second most undervalued bank stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Woori Financial Group has a valuation score of 71, which is 25 points higher than the bank industry average of 46. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Woori Financial Group's stock has gained 59.94% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the bank industry by 45 percentage points.

3. Pcb Bancorp (NASDAQ:PCB)


Pcb Bancorp (NASDAQ:PCB) is the third most undervalued bank stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Pcb Bancorp has a valuation score of 43, which is -3 points higher than the bank industry average of 46. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates PCB a Valuation Rating of "A".

Pcb Bancorp's stock has gained 18.13% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the bank industry by 3 percentage points.

Are bank stocks a good buy now?

38.43% of bank stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect bank stocks to rise by 12.32% over the next year.

0% of bank stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 6.25% of bank stocks are rated B (Buy), 79.41% are rated C (Hold), 13.24% are rated D (Sell), and 1.1% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the banks - regional industry?

The average P/E ratio of the banks - regional industry is 13.2x.
WallStreetZen does not provide financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.

Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes and is not advice. WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data.