Best's Credit Ratings
A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating agency dedicated to serving the financial and health-care service industries. It began assigning credit ratings in 1906, making it the first of today's rating agencies to use symbols to differentiate the relative creditworthiness of companies.
Best's Credit Ratings are independent opinions regarding the creditworthiness of an issuer or debt obligation. Best's Credit Ratings are based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company's balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile, or, where appropriate, the specific nature and details of a debt security. A complete list of Best's Credit Rating Methodologies is available.
A.M. Best assigns the following types of ratings:
- Best's Financial Strength Rating - an independent opinion of an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations. This rating is assigned to insurance companies.
- Best's Issuer Credit Rating - an independent opinion of an issuer/entity's ability to meet its ongoing senior financial obligations. This rating is assigned to insurance companies, banks, hospital/health-care systems, holding companies and other legal entities authorized to issue financial obligations.
- Best's Debt Rating - an independent opinion of an issuer's ability to meet its ongoing financial obligations to security holders when due. This rating is assigned to the debt securities and insurance-linked securities transactions of the entities rated by A.M. Best.
- Best's Bank Deposit Rating - an independent opinion of a bank's ability to meet its ongoing financial obligations to depositors. These ratings are assigned to banks.
For more detailed information regarding each of these types of ratings, read our guides for Financial Strength, Bank Deposit, Issuer Credit, or Debt Ratings.
Best's Credit Ratings are not a warranty, nor are they a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities, insurance policies, contracts or any other financial obligations, nor do they address the suitability of any particular financial obligation for a specific purpose or purchaser. For complete details, read this Important Notice.
Usage of Best's Ratings
Best's Credit Ratings are proprietary and may not be reproduced without permission from A.M. Best. A company assigned a Best's Credit Rating should review the Guide to Proper Use, which outlines the acceptable parameters of the use of these ratings.
All queries regarding the use of proprietary information or to obtain a licensing agreement or a letter of consent should be directed to:
A.M. Best Company, Office of Intellectual Property, Ambest Road, Oldwick, New Jersey 08858
Phone: 908-439-2200, extension 5644 or e-mail James.Peavy@ambest.com.
View our Legal and Licensing information for details on the use of A.M. Best trademarks, logos and service marks.
Rating Activity, Research and News
The following sections outline the most recent coverage of Best's Ratings, related News articles, Special Reports & Statistical Studies. For complete news coverage, visit our NewsRoom.
