Bank of America, Wachovia Bank, SunTrust and Regions - the biggest banks operating in Florida - have all made a new list of large banks considered "vulnerable to financial difficulties or even possible failure."

The new ratings released by Weiss Ratings of Jupiter indicate that almost half of the country's banks are still in a precarious position 20 months after the $700 billion federal bailout. It rates banks based on such measures as capital, asset quality and earnings.

Overall, Weiss Ratings gave 2,259 banks and savings institutions controlling $5.8 trillion (or 44 percent of all assets nationwide) a rating of D+ ("weak") or worse. Only 962 institutions - accounting for less than a combined 4 percent of all assets - were recommended to consumers with a rating of B+ ("good") or higher.

"Major U.S. banks continue to be plagued by toxic assets and an inability to raise capital," said Martin Weiss, chairman of Weiss Ratings and longtime harbinger of problem loans in banks.

Weiss said that the "severity of this situation" and the growing difficulty consumers have in finding a safe place to put their money have persuaded his company to stop charging consumers for its ratings.

Bank of America, Wachovia (which is now part of Wells Fargo), SunTrust and Region have a combined market share that totals nearly half of all banking deposits in Florida. Each, along with other top players like Citibank and HSBC, was rated "D" by Weiss.

For a list of strongest and weakest banks, go to www.weissratings.com/banklists and enter your e-mail address.