The economic troubles have a lot of people worried about their money, especially after Washington Mutual, a National Bank, went belly up.

The government says your money is safe as long as your bank is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Some local banks have been getting calls from customers wanting to know if their money is safe because of the shape the economy is in. They've been paying attention to some online bank rating systems and are worried.

"The rating services use different criteria in some cases something is more important in one bank than in another. It's not a very reliable source in my opinion."

Banks are rated by several national firms like bankrate.com and Bauer Financial, and they're given grades. These ratings look at several factors like profitability, or capitol.

Jimmy Barr, Peoples First Executive VP, said, "The important rating service for us and for all banks is whatever the regulatory agency that comes in and examines them."

We checked bankrate.com and Bauer Financial to see how the banks in this area are rated.

For example, 1st National Bank had the highest bank rating, five out of five stars in both Bankrate and Bauer. Peoples First had one star on Bankrate and two stars on Bauer, but Barr says these ratings are just one tool to use when selecting a bank.

"I think you look at the history of the bank, you look at community service, you look at some of the individuals involved in the bank."

Even if the bank isn't making the profits it would like, you are not losing your money. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, also known as the FDIC, insures individual's bank accounts.

Recently congress raised the amount FDIC will insure, from $100,000 to $250,000, so if you have $250,000 or less in the bank and that bank closes up shop, your money is still safe.

"No one has ever lost any money in an FDIC insured account."

While the bad economy might affect how much money your bank is making, as long as it's an FDIC member, your money is not in jeopardy.

The current crisis means most loans are harder to get, but some loans are impossible.

Regions Bank has a moratorium on financing new condo projects and is currently working to help clients sell the new condo units currently sitting empty.

Federal Credit Unions are insured as well. They are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

RATING LIST

BANKRATE.COM AND BAUER FINANCIAL BANK LIST

VISION 1 STAR; BAUER ZERO STARS
BAY BANK & TRUST 3 STAR; BAUER 4 STAR
1ST NATIONAL BANK 5 STAR; BAUER 5 STAR
PEOPLES FIRST 1 STAR; BAUER 2 STAR
SUMMIT BANK NOT RATED; BAUER START UP
COASTAL COMMUNITY 1 STAR; BAUER 3 STAR

BANKRATE.COM CREDIT UNION LIST

BAY CREDIT UNION 4 STARS; BAUER 5 STAR
INNOVATIONS CREDIT UNION 3 STARS; BAUER 5 STAR
PANHANDLE EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION 4 STARS; BAUER 5 STAR
TYNDALL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 4 STARS; BAUER 5 STAR