Many troubled Chicago banks see problems deepen

The number of Chicago-area banks with real estate-focused Texas ratios above 100 was unchanged at 32 from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31. But those exceeding 200 grew from 12, of which three failed in the fourth quarter, to 15 as of Dec. 31, according to a new study.

The ratio tallies up a bank's severely past-due real estate loans and foreclosed real estate and compares them with the bank's core capital, typically shareholders' equity, and money set aside for potential loan losses. When the result exceeds 100, the bank has serious troubles.