SENTINEL scores higher on overall financial health (health score: 85/100). Higher health scores reflect stronger capital ratios, lower delinquency, and better earnings.
Financial Metrics Comparison
| Metric | AREA | SENTINEL |
|---|---|---|
| Health Score 0–100, higher is better | 76 | 85 |
| Total Assets | $196.3M | $197.2M |
| Members | 11,726 | 9,834 |
| Net Worth Ratio Higher = better capitalized (≥7% = "well capitalized") | 16.72% | 9.69% |
| Delinquency Rate Lower = fewer past-due loans | 0.55% | 0.45% |
| Return on Assets (ROA) Higher = more profitable | 0.000% | 0.000% |
| Loan-to-Share Ratio Higher = more loans deployed vs deposits | 81.82% | 69.48% |
| Member Growth Year-over-year membership change | 1.2% | 3.2% |
Teal/bold = better performer on that metric. Financial ratios from most recently reported NCUA quarter.
Membership & Structure
| Detail | AREA | SENTINEL |
|---|---|---|
| Location | ABERDEEN, SD | BOX ELDER, SD |
| Charter Type | Federal | Federal |
| Field of Membership | Community | Community |
| Peer Group | $100M–$500M | $100M–$500M |
| Charter Number | 274 | 10257 |
What This Comparison Says About AREA vs SENTINEL
AREA (ABERDEEN, SD) and SENTINEL (BOX ELDER, SD) are both federally-insured credit unions reporting quarterly to the NCUA, but they differ meaningfully in scale and profile. AREA holds $196.3M in assets across 11,726 members, while SENTINEL holds $197.2M across 9,834 members. On the composite health score, SENTINEL comes out ahead at 85/100 versus 76/100 for its counterpart — a gap driven by the weighted combination of capital, loan quality, earnings, growth, and liquidity metrics shown above. Charter numbers 274 and 10257 indicate entirely separate NCUA supervisory records; they operate under peer groups $100M–$500M and $100M–$500M respectively.
Capital adequacy is the first check: AREA's net worth ratio of 16.72% clears the NCUA's 7.0% "well capitalized" bar, while SENTINEL posts 9.69%. Loan quality — measured as loans 60+ days past due over total loans — comes in at 0.55% for AREA and 0.45% for SENTINEL; lower is tighter. Earnings efficiency (ROA) shows 0.000% versus 0.000%, though credit unions as not-for-profit cooperatives often report ROA near zero by design, returning surplus to members through rates and dividends. Loan-to-share ratios of 81.82% and 69.48% indicate how each institution deploys member deposits — the 60–80% band is generally considered the balanced-liquidity window by industry analysts.
Both credit unions are covered by NCUSIF federal insurance up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category, the same limit as FDIC coverage at banks — so the comparison here is about financial efficiency and member experience, not deposit safety. Before joining either institution, verify the field of membership: AREA is currently defined as "Community" and SENTINEL as "Community", and eligibility rules (employer, geography, association) determine who can actually open accounts. Current deposit rates, loan APRs, fees, and product availability change continuously and are not reflected in quarterly Call Report data — contact each credit union directly before opening accounts or borrowing. This comparison is informational only and is not financial advice, an endorsement, or a solicitation; credit union performance can shift materially quarter to quarter and should be re-evaluated with current reports before making any decision.
What to Consider When Choosing
Net Worth Ratio: The NCUA requires credit unions to maintain a net worth ratio of at least 7% to be considered "well capitalized." AREA shows 16.72% vs SENTINEL at 9.69%. Higher ratios indicate stronger financial buffers.
Delinquency Rate: Measures the percentage of loans that are 60+ days past due. Lower delinquency rates indicate tighter underwriting and lower credit risk. AREA: 0.55% — SENTINEL: 0.45%.
Return on Assets: ROA measures how efficiently a credit union generates income from its assets. Industry benchmark is typically 0.50–0.70%. Both values here may be close to zero since credit unions are not-for-profit and return value to members through lower rates and higher dividends.
Membership eligibility: Check each credit union's field of membership before applying. Many restrict membership by employer, geography, or community affiliation.