New York Community Bank Bancorp Inc (NYSE: NYCB) saw its shares tumble over 6% in pre-market trading today after Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the bank’s credit rating deep into junk territory.

Moody’s cut its rating on New York Community Bank by two notches from Baa3 to Ba2, pushing it well below investment grade. The move reflects Moody’s growing concerns over the bank’s profitability and asset quality.

In its downgrade note, Moody’s pointed to New York Community Banks earnings weakness compared to peers and its concentrated commercial real estate exposure in the challenging New York market. Non-performing loans have been rising as a percentage of total loans, sparking worries over the bank’s credit costs in coming quarters.

Meanwhile, the bank’s efficiency ratio has hovered above 60% in recent years, lagging behind other regional bank players. Thinner profit margins have left New York Community Bancorp more vulnerable to any further deterioration in credit or the economy.

The junk rating will make borrowing more expensive for New York Community Bank, as it gets classified among higher risk borrowers. This could negatively impact net interest margins over time.

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However, bank management emphasized that capital and liquidity levels remain strong. The bank noted no change in its business strategy or lending approach despite the downgrade.

With macroeconomic headwinds potentially still ahead, investors reacted with an immediate selloff of New York Community Bancorp shares today. The stock was down over 6% to trade around $9 per share pre-market.

[Statistics and quotes from bank senior executives]

The rare two-notch downgrade of a bank by Moody’s shows the rising credit concerns surrounding New York Community Bank. Profitability challenges, questionable loan quality, and risky concentration in volatile commercial real estate loans ultimately catalyzed this credit rating cut to junk status.

For banks heavily focused on the competitive New York market, slowing economic growth poses operational risks. Investors will watch closely whether New York Community can improve efficiency and stabilize margins after today’s reputational blow.

The post New York Community Bank Credit Rating Slashed to Junk Status first appeared on Vastu Krupa Estate.