Numbers for the banking industry have not looked so good either. Many are trying to clean up from bad loans... And that includes some local institutions. 23 news economic reporter Kristin Burke has a financial health check-up for one community bank... With a look at what's changed since we first spoke to them eight months ago.

There has been alot of discussion recently about whether size matters when it comes to performance... But this might not hold true in the banking industry.

"We're not looking to be the fastest growing bank in the area.. we want to be here for another 127 years. "

Eight months ago we talked to Stillman Bank President Ed Munguia about how the small community bank was faring.

While there isn't a bank in town that hasn't doled out a bad loan.. Stillman's conservative lending philosophy hasn't wavered...Which has helped the bank remain one of the highest capitalized institutions in the Rockford area.

"We do an extreme amount of due diligence analyzing not only our customers personal or corporate situation but also the industries they serve."

But as we crawl deeper into the crisis.. Munguia is starting to see some of the banks loan portfolio sour as job loss and a reduction in hours makes it harder for residents to make ends meet.

"We do track low delinquencies and we noticed they are inching up month by month."

But Munguia's concerns go far beyond the red on his balance sheet. He says too much government oversight could end up being most costly for banks and customers.

" But there is always a cost and ultimately that cost gets passed on to the customers and others who use our services."

While it's any ones' guess when we will be able to bank on better times...Munguia is counting on smaller banks to save our community ...In Rockford Kristin Burke 23 News Right Now .

Stillman bank's capital ratio stands at a sterling 19 percent.. regulators require.. 12 percent. the institution began in the late 18-00's. It has six stateline locations with 16 thousand customers.