MIAMI, FL--(Marketwire - January 04, 2013) -  BauerFinancial has released its latest bank ratings and, for the third consecutive quarter, City National Bank of Florida (CNB) has received a five-star "Superior" rating, the highest rating possible.

Coral Gables-based BauerFinancial, the leading bank ratings firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. Using federal regulatory data to rate banks based on capital ratio, profit/loss trends, delinquent loans and other factors, it ranks banks from zero to five stars, with five stars signifying its "Superior" rating.

With more than $4.4 billion in assets, City National Bank is the fifth-largest financial institution in the state. The quarter ending September 30, 2012 was one of the strongest in CNB's history. The bank reported net income of $12.4 million, compared to net earnings of $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2011. In addition, CNB has experienced 17 consecutive months of loan growth and will lend more than $1 billion this year.

"We are gratified to see that BauerFinancial has once again confirmed what we have known all along -- City National Bank is strong, stable and dedicated to our clients," said CNB President and Chief Executive Officer Jorge Gonzalez. "We are one of the best capitalized and most liquid banks in the country and plan to continue our growth plan."

About City National Bank of Florida
Headquartered in Miami, City National Bank (CNB) is the financial institution to which Floridians have turned for more than 65 years. The fifth-largest financial institution in the state, City National Bank is one of the most liquid and best capitalized banks in Florida and is rated 5 stars "Superior" by BauerFinancial. CNB was voted the Best Business Bank by the readers of the Daily Business Review. The bank was also named the South Florida Business Journal's Local/Community Bank of the Year in 2011. CNB offers a diversified portfolio of financial products and services at 26 convenient banking centers from Miami-Dade County to the greater Orlando area.