Federal credit union · Fife Lake, Michigan · NCUA charter #24047
Forest Area
Health score 92/100, grade A (Excellent) - from the NCUA 5300 Call Report, 2025Q4.
- 92
- Health / 100
- $309.6M
- Total assets
- 21,085
- Members
- 12.3%
- Net-worth ratio
Forest Area scores 92/100 on PlainCU's health composite from NCUA 5300 Call Report data (2025Q4). Assets $309.6M; members 21,085; net-worth ratio 12.30%; health rank #779 of 4,374; healthier than 80th of scored peers.
5300 filing masthead
NCUA 5300 Call Report Masthead
#779 of 4,374 health · 2025Q4Forest Area · health 92/100 · $309.6M · 2025Q4
- PHOTO 92/100
- BOOK 12.3%
- CHARTER 1.41%
- NCUSIF 1.34%
- CAMELS $309.6M
- HEALTH 21,085
- NW #779/4,374
- DELQ INTREPID
- ROA 24047
Call Report peers
Forest Area in the assets neighbourhood
Forest Area's $309.6M assets sit next to INTREPID ($309.6M) on the assets neighbourhood; peer NAMES stay, and the masthead VALUES are this credit union's Call Report.
Subscribe to this credit union's financial changes (RSS) — one item per NCUA 5300 call report, no account required.
Forest Area vs every NCUA-scored credit union
Where this credit union's health score sits among every federally insured CU with a scored NCUA 5300 filing
92 Top 20% higher than 80% of 4,374 credit unions
every scored credit union, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more credit unions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NCUA 5300 Call Report aggregates · 2025Q4
Forest Area - Share Insurance Coverage
Read from the 2025Q4 NCUA Call Report for charter #24047: composite supervisory bracket and risk-based capital. Full deposit-insurance coverage details in our disclaimer.
Where Forest Area diverges from peer averages
- Return on Assets leads the peer set - 1.34% here, 0.62% peer average (+0.71 pp).
- Widest shortfall vs peers is Delinquency Rate: +0.52 pp (1.41% vs 0.89%).
Peer averages are NCUA 5300 means for the $100M–$500M cohort (1069 CUs), 2025Q4 vintage - registry deltas only, not a join recommendation.
Where Forest Area sits in Michigan
- Michigan health ordinal: #29 of 171.
- Assets rank #63 of 171 inside Michigan ($309.6M reported).
- Michigan membership ordinal: #61 of 171.
In-state ordinals use the live credit_unions table for MI only - ROW_NUMBER sorts match /rankings healthiest and largest, scoped to the state.
Forest Area: 2025Q4 → 2026Q1
Forest Area: total assets by quarter
4 Call Report filings on this page's own vintage chain
- Assets moved +2.7% from $309.6M (2025Q4) to $317.9M (2026Q1).
- Net-worth ratio shifted +0.02 pp (12.28% → 12.30%).
Trajectory uses quarterly_financials rows already on this page - same NCUA 5300 vintage chain, not a forecast.
At 12.30%, this credit union is above the 7.0% NCUA well-capitalized threshold under PCA rules.
How the 92/100 score is built
Each segment is a pillar's weighted contribution to the composite; widths sum to 92.
- Net Worth Ratio 30.0 pts
- Delinquency Rate 16.9 pts
- Return on Assets 15.0 pts
- Member Growth 15.0 pts
- Loan-to-Share Ratio 15.1 pts
Forest Area vs peer ratios
| Metric | Value | vs peer |
|---|---|---|
| Net Worth Ratio | 12.30% | +0.19 pp |
| Delinquency Rate | 1.41% | +0.52 pp |
| Return on Assets | 1.34% | +0.71 pp |
| Member Growth | 5.96% | - |
| Loan-to-Share Ratio | 72.61% | +0.41 pp |
Health score = weighted composite of the five NCUA ratios above. Scores based on NCUA 5300 Call Report Q4 2025 data. Peer group: $100M–$500M (1069 CUs).
Historical Financials
| Quarter | Assets | Members |
|---|---|---|
| 2026Q1 | $317.9M | - |
| 2025Q4 | $309.6M | 21,085 |
| 2024Q4 | $274.8M | 19,899 |
| 2023Q4 | $244.1M | 18,964 |
Credit Union Details
- Charter Number
- 24047
- Type
- Federal
- Field of Membership
- Community
- Peer Group
- $100M–$500M
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Fife Lake
- Data Quarter
- 2025Q4
Branch Locations (8)
Per its most recent NCUA branch filing, Forest Area runs 8 offices in 7 different cities.
| Office | City |
|---|---|
| Main Office (Main Office) | Fife Lake, MI |
| Cadillac | Cadillac, MI |
| Fife Lake | Fife Lake, MI |
| Kalkaska | Kalkaska, MI |
| Kingsley | Kingsley, MI |
| Lake City | Lake City, MI |
| Manton | Manton, MI |
| Mesick | Mesick, MI |
Source: NCUA Credit Union Branch Information, 2025Q4 filing.
Nearby Credit Unions in Michigan
A look at other Michigan credit unions, ranked by how closely their peer group and asset size match this one.
Nationwide credit unions with similar profiles
Two NCUA Call Report peer sets for Forest Area, both outside Michigan so the neighborhoods are not state containment (the Nearby list above stays in-state).
Similar total assets
Nearest other-state credit unions with ≥$10M assets ($309.6M here).
Similar health score
Nearest other-state credit unions by five-factor health composite (92/100 here).
Using this data
- Forest Area ranks #779 of 4,374 nationally on financial health and #29 of 171 in MI -- the national figure is a benchmark, not a prediction for how any specific account performs. National health rankings
- PREFERRED is a nearby credit union with a similar profile -- compare the two side by side before deciding where to bank. Compare with PREFERRED
- Rates and health both vary by institution, not just by state -- see how Michigan credit unions compare overall before assuming this one is typical. Michigan state overview
National and state figures are benchmarks built from NCUA 5300 Call Report data, not a recommendation for any individual account decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Area financially healthy?
Forest Area scores 92/100 (Excellent) on financial health, per the NCUA 5300 Call Report for Q4 2025. On the national health ranking (same basis as /rankings/healthiest), it sits at #779 of 4,374; by total assets it ranks #1,022 of 4,374 nationally (same basis as /rankings/largest); and #63 of 171 within Michigan. Anything above 80 is considered excellent, anything below 50 may need closer monitoring - this score reflects a 12.30% net worth ratio and a 1.41% delinquency rate.
How does Forest Area compare to other credit unions?
On PlainCU's health composite, Forest Area lands at 92/100, compared to a peer group average for $100M–$500M credit unions. Five NCUA-reported metrics feed that number: net worth ratio (weighted 30%), delinquency rate (25%), return on assets (15%), member growth (15%), and loan-to-share ratio (15%).
What is a credit union health score?
A credit union health score is a composite rating (0–100) that combines five financial metrics reported to the NCUA: net worth ratio (capital adequacy), delinquency rate (loan quality), return on assets (profitability), member growth, and loan-to-share ratio (liquidity balance). Scores above 80 indicate excellent financial health; 60–79 is good; 40–59 is fair; below 40 is weak.
How can I join Forest Area?
Forest Area operates under a community charter, meaning membership is generally open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school within its defined geographic service area, no employer or association tie required. Contact Forest Area directly for the exact boundaries and application steps.
Is my money safe at Forest Area?
Federal credit unions like Forest Area are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), administered by the NCUA. Each individual depositor is insured up to $250,000, the same limit as FDIC-insured banks. Forest Area's net worth ratio of 12.30% exceeds the 7% threshold NCUA considers "well capitalized."
What rates does Forest Area offer compared to banks?
Credit unions like Forest Area are not-for-profit cooperatives, which typically allows them to offer higher savings rates and lower loan rates than banks. Nationally, credit unions average 0.25–0.50% lower auto loan rates and 0.10–0.30% higher savings yields. Contact Forest Area directly for current rates, or compare overall credit union vs bank rates on our rates comparison page.
Every figure on PlainCU is rendered directly from NCUA quarterly call report data, no number is typed in by an editor. Credit union figures are computed directly from NCUA quarterly call report data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.