Carbon in the form of a pencil Essay Example for Free

Carbon in the form of a pencil Essay Although with this line I could not prove that width and resistance of a carbon track have an inversely proportional relationship, this means that as one increases the other decreases in proportion. Although to show that this relationship applies in this case I have to plot in a graph resistance against the reciprocal of the width (which is 1 divided by the width). When I did this the graph produced a set of results which when a line of best fit was drawn it produced a straight line which passed through zero. This means that my prediction that width and resistance would be inversely proportional was true. The shape of the initial graph of width against resistance also shows simply that as the width increases the resistance decreases. The resistance also decreases far quicker for the smaller widths and as the width gets to about 5cm although it is still decreasing it is much more gradual. Evaluation: I believe that using my results I can draw useful and correct observations this is because I repeated every reading I took three times and then averaged them. I then plotted the graphs with the averaged results meaning that they are fairly reliable. Although, there are some results I feel especially on the width and resistance graphs that appear anomalous and I would have liked to repeat these readings again but due to time restraints I couldnt. In particular the resistances of the widths above 4cm appear incongruent. This may be because on the larger widths the contact did not span the entire width of the carbon track (as shown in the diagram below) although on the smaller widths, which produced the results, I had expected it did span the entire width. The results may have also been affected by the fact that the contacts remained in the same place for every reading, meaning that towards the end as the contact had a fairly sharp edge the carbon where the readings were being taken may have been rubbed off. This would mean that the resistance would be greater than expected which is the case in the later results. Therefore if was to do the experiment again and had unlimited time I would have redrawn the width line every time so that the effect of the contacts rubbing off carbon would not have an effect. This is because the contact would not have been removed from the track and so no carbon could be removed from the track. Another improvement to the experiment I would make would be improving the accuracy of the carbon track. This would mean that the carbon would be uniformly thick throughout the line and would go exactly up to the line and not pass it. This is so that we could know that the resistance was of exactly 5cm was not the resistance of between 4. 5cm and 5. 5cm. To do this I would make a template for the carbon track, which, could be coloured in ensuring that the carbon would no go past where it is, desired which happens no matter how hard you try to stay within the lines. An example of this is in the carbon track I drew, which appears to be quite good in that no carbon went over the lines but on closer inspection it in place is over a millimetre past the line. My carbon line in normal view: As you can see the line appears perfect. Magnified view of Carbon track: This closer view shows that the carbon track is by no means perfect and this degree inaccuracy means that the results may not be what they should. The patterns in my graphs were fairly obvious to find and I believe that when I did use a straight fit best line instead of a curve it was acceptable because it was more fitting for the readings. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Electricity and Magnetism section. Download this essay Print Save Not the one? Search for

Macbeth essay :: essays research papers

A Character in Her Own Right   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Behind all the great men of Shakespeare, there is a women close behind, who is often over looked. These women are just as crucial of a character as the men they follow. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth is a mere tool, there to carry out orders for his wife, both of whom desire nothing more than to rule. Together they will do anything, including murder, achieve their goal. Lady Macbeth proves to be a tragic figure and possess every capability that a man is able to. Although female, Lady Macbeth has proven herself as a central influence to the plot of the story, her strong, individualistic ways and ruthless plans prove to be the rise and downfall of her husbands reign as king and death, as well as her own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the reader is first introduced to Lady Macbeth in acts one and two, they receive some insight into who she is and what she stands for. Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from her husband and learns of his desire to be king and to what lengths he claims he will go to achieve it. In her response, the presence of a realistic mind set is obvious. She frankly tells her husband that he can not be a good man while taking what is not his. She gets straight to the point and uses other tactics of persuasion to make sure her point is clear. â€Å"Hie thee hither. / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear/ And chastise with the valor of my tongue/ All that impedes thee from the golden round† (I.iiiii.24-27). Here she is using her sexual hold over Macbeth to further her power over him and get her own way. Lady Macbeth also proves to be truly ruthless as she wishes herself a man filled with cruelty and thick blood so she will not feel any remorse. She also speaks of bashing babies against the wall and wishing for night so that her knife can not see what is does and heaven can not tell her to stop. Lady Macbeth will not let her husband back out of the plot and clearly has thought of everything so the murder goes just the way she wants. She does everything except the actual deed. Lady Macbeth states to her husband, â€Å"My hands are of your color, but I shame/ To wear a heart so white† (II.

How and why Muhammad was opposed in Makkah Essay

The prophet Muhammad preached in Makkah to bring people in the right path and to believe in one god. However, he was opposed in many ways possible by many people mainly the Quraish. There were many reasons why people opposed the prophet Muhammad in Makkah and many were due to selfish needs such as wealth and power. The prophet Muhammad was opposed in many ways such as verbal and physical abuse. The Quraish were the main people to oppose Muhammad in Makkah. The opposition of the Quraish to the message of Islam greatly influenced the rest of the Arabs to reject Islam as well. In fact the influence of the Quraish was so great that even if they had not exerted themselves in their resistance they still could have swayed the people. That was because all of the Arabs looked to the Quraish and waited for their approval for many reasons such as the high status of the Quraish in the hearts of the Arabs. They revered the Quraish because they were the people who lived close to the Kabah. For this reason the other Arabs honored and respected the Quraish and took pride in rushing to fulfill any need that they might have for food, drink or other things as well. Although Muhammad’s preaching was basically religious, there was implicit in it a critique of the conduct and attitudes of the rich merchants of Mecca. Attempts were made to get him to soften his criticism by offering him a fuller share in trade and a marriage alliance with one of the wealthiest families, but he decisively rejected such offers. Points in the message of the Qur’an were questioned, such as the assertion that men would be resurrected before the Judgment. Commercial pressure was brought to bear on Muhammad’s supporters, and in some families there was mild persecution of junior members who followed him. In about 616 Abu Jahl organized a boycott of the clan of Hashim by the chief clans of Mecca, all egedly because the clan continued to protect Muhammad and did not curb his preaching; but, since few of the clan were Muslims, other questions may have been involved. After three years the boycott lost momentum, perhaps because some of the participants found they were harming their own economic interests. Many in Makkah had become rich, as the city was a central trade hub and a spiritual center for polytheism. They did not appreciate Muhammad’s message of embracing social equality, rejecting idols, and sharing wealth with the poor and needy. Thus, many of  the Prophet Muhammad’s early followers were among the lower classes, slaves, and women. These early Muslim followers were subject to horrible mistreatment by the Makkan upper classes. Several were tortured, others were killed, and some took temporary refuge in Abyssinia. The Makkan tribes then organized a social boycott of the Muslims, not allowing people to trade with, care for, or socialize with the Muslims. In the harsh desert climate, this was essentially a death sentence. The Makkans got together to try and get rid of Muhammad (pbuh) and his teachings. They had already openl y opposed it in public and had even tried to ridicule and slander the Prophet (pbuh). They had spoken to Abu Talib and asked him to withdraw his support and protection for Muhammad (pbuh). They had failed each time and Muhammad (pbuh) continued to preach and slowly the message was spreading. There were only a few months until the pilgrimage would be performed and Makkah would be flooded with many Arabs from all over the peninsula. They wanted to get together and sort out Muhammad (pbuh) and his preaching. They wanted to get together and formulate a new plan! They wanted to minimise the effect of the teachings of Islam upon the pilgrims. They decided if they joined forces they might be able to sort out Muhammad (pbuh). They would make things up, spread rumours and lies so that people stay away from Muhammad (pbuh) and don’t listen to his message. Someone suggested that they accuse Muhammad (pbuh) of being a sorcerer, using magic to trick and influence people. Another said they say that Muhammad (pbuh) is just a madman and is preaching nonsense. Another suggested they say that an evil spirit possesses Muhammad (pbuh) and that the Arabs should ignore him and keep away from him. Another suggested that they say that Muhammad (pbuh) was just a poet and the message of th e Qur’an was just poetry. The fact of the matter was that none of these allegations were true and the Makkans knew this. How could they try and combat the message of Muhammad (pbuh) and how could they halt his message from being preached. They decided that they would consult Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah – a very influential person in his tribe. Al-Waleed listened to all these allegations against the prophet (pbuh) and dismissed them all. He, however, found that the most plausible way would be to suggest that Muhammad (pbuh) was a magician and  that he used magic words to influence people. They said that his ‘magic’ words would separate a father from his son, a husband from his wife, a man from his clan†¦ They finally decided that this was the best excuse they could use to discredit Muhammad (pbuh). They would tell the pilgrims that Muhammad (pbuh) was a powerful sorcerer and that they should avoid him at all costs. To conclude, Muhammad was opposed in Makkah because rich people didnâ €™t want to lose their power, status or wealth. Also because they believed that the idols they worshipped were good enough for their fathers. Their forefathers and so were good enough for them.

MT Bank - Understanding Whats Important - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3039 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Economics Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? MT Bank Table of Contents Abstract History Industry Assessment SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Stakeholder Analysis Financial Analysis BCG Matrix Recommendations.15 Works Cited16 Tables Table 1 Top 50 Commercial Banks (USA) Table 2 FDIC Ratios Table 3 MT Competitors Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "MT Bank Understanding Whats Important" essay for you Create order Figures Figure 1- Loans to Assets Ratio Figure 2 Asset Growth Figure 3 Loan Growth Figure 4 BCG Matrix..14 Abstract For my final project I have chosen to examine MT Bank. It will be of importance to examine the industry as whole, perform a SWOT analysis, and review financial statements. Through examining each of these factors a clearer understanding of how MT Bank operates in the commercial banking industry will be generated. Thereafter, a conclusion will be drawn on how MT Bank should pursue their future in the banking industry. History MT Bank was founded in 1856 in Buffalo, NY as the Manufacturers and Traders Bank by Pascal Pratt and Bronson Rumsey. By the end of this decade the bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ownership increased from 13 founding stockholders to over 145, all of which received a primary dividend of four percent. Fast forwarding to the beginning of the twenty first century MT Bank began acquiring not only land and buildings throughout Buffalo, NY but also other banks. The 1970à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ushered in a new ear for MT Bank, this began with the hiring of a new chairman and CEO; Robert Wilmers. Currently, Wilmers is still the CEO of MT Bank and has been able to perpetuate the tradition of long standing success. Through continued success MT has been able to acquire other banks and expand its reach into Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington DC. By 2011 the bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s assets reached nearly $80 Billion making it the 24th largest bank in the United States. Industry Assessment The industry that MT currently operates is the commercial banking industry. The commercial banking industry has seen much change over the past century, this change has predominately occurred from government intervention. The basic aim of government regulation is to ensure that firms are able to be competitive while also preventing market failures. These include natural monopolies, excessive competition, and economic rents. To help with this overall goal the government tends to regulate in two facets; economic and social. An economic regulation deals with the government having a direct or indirect control over the firms in an industry. This is beneficial because it limits markets with monopolies from raising prices too high which would result in unfair payments made by their customers (Conte Karr, 2001). The social aspect of government regulations is seen in antitrust laws. These are laws that prohibit practices or mergers that would ultimately lead to the degradation of competitio n. These regulations play an important part in commercial banking because they are directly correlated to preventing market failures (Conte Karr, 2001). Commercial banking is defined as a financial institution that provides services, such as accepting deposits, giving business loans and auto loans, mortgage lending, and basic investment products like savings accounts and certificates of deposit (Commercial Banking, 2014). As of September 2013 there are currently 539 commercial banks with assets over $1 Billion. Of the 539 commercial banks the top 20 banks currently hold 31% market share and the top 50 banks hold 41% market share. Furthermore, the top 20 banks currently hold 59% of totals assets and the top 50 banks hold 70% of all totals assets (Census, 2007). In the commercial banking industry market share and total assets have become the major focus. This most closely aligns with the mantra of the maturity stage of the industry life cycle, firms in this stage are concerned wit h market share. Potential new entrants find these markets unattractive because of high barriers to entry and first mover advantages. Table 1 Top 50 Commercial Banks (USA) Top 50 Commercial Banks (USA) 1 JPMORGAN CHASE BK NA/JPMORGAN CHASE CO 2 BANK OF AMER NA/BANK OF AMER CORP 3 CITIBANK NA/CITIGROUP 4 WELLS FARGO BK NA/WELLS FARGO CO 5 U S BK NA/U S BC 6 PNC BK NA/PNC FNCL SVC GROUP 7 BANK OF NY MELLON/BANK OF NY MELLON CORP 8 CAPITAL ONE NA/CAPITAL ONE FC 9 STATE STREET BTC/STATE STREET CORP 10 T D BK NA/TD US P C HOLD ULC 11 HSBC BK USA NA/HSBC NORTH AMER HOLD 12 BRANCH BKGTC/BBT CORP 13 SUNTRUST BK/SUNTRUST BK 14 FIA CARD SVC NA/BANK OF AMER CORP 15 FIFTH THIRD BK/FIFTH THIRD BC 16 CHASE BK USA NA/JPMORGAN CHASE CO 17 REGIONS BK/REGIONS FC 18 GOLDMAN SACHS BK USA/GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP THE 19 UNION BK NA/UNIONBANCAL CORP 20 RBS CITIZENS NA/RBS CITIZENS FNCL GRP 21 NORTHERN TC/NORTHERN TR CORP 22 ALLY BK/ALLY FNCL 23 BMO HARRIS BK NA/BMO FNCL CORP 24 KEYBANK NA/KEYCORP 25 MORGAN STANLEY BK NA/MORGAN STANLEY 26 MANUFACTURERS TRADERS TC/MT BK CORP 27 CAPITAL ONE BK USA NA/CAPITAL ONE FC 28 SOVEREIGN BK NA/SANTANDER HOLDS USA 29 DISCOVER BK/DISCOVER FS 30 COMPASS BK/BBVA COMPASS BSHRS 31 BANK OF THE WEST/BANCWEST CORP 32 COMERICA BK/COMERICA 33 HUNTINGTON NB/HUNTINGTON BSHRS 34 DEUTSCHE BK TC AMERICAS/DEUTSCHE BK TR CORP 35 WELLS FARGO BK S CENT NA/WELLS FARGO CO 36 FIRST REPUBLIC BK/ 37 FIRST NIAGARA BK NA/FIRST NIAGARA FNCL GROUP 38 BOKF NA/BOK FC 39 BANK OF AMER CA NA/BANK OF AMER CORP 40 CITY NB/CITY NAT CORP 41 SYNOVUS BK/SYNOVUS FC 42 FIRST TN BK NA/FIRST HORIZON NAT CORP 43 FIRSTMERIT BK NA/FIRSTMERIT CORP 44 ASSOCIATED BK NA/ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP 45 EAST W BK/EAST W BC 46 FROST BK/CULLEN/FROST BKR 47 COMMERCE BK/COMMERCE BSHRS 48 FIRST-CITIZENS BTC/FIRST CITIZENS BSHRS 49 SILICON VALLEY BK/SVB FNCL GRP 50 BARCLAYS BK DE/BARCLAYS DE HOLDS LLC (FRB, 2014) Mention previously the goal of regulation in the commercial banking industry is to provide a competitive market, this prevents total dominance by a few firms. However, the banking industry is associated with high barriers to entry for new banks because of the regulatory restrictions associated with charters and high costs of capital. High barriers to entry are also associated with markets that are unfavorable to enter because established firms have an exponential advantage. As shown from the previous empirical evidence this industry is highly concentrate in both market share and total assets. In an attempt to reduce barriers to entry the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act was passed. This act changed interstate banking laws for both bank holding companies and individual banks. BHCs and individual banks were given the ability to merge with other banks located in different states. In theory this greatly reduced barriers to entry, however, in pr actice it potentially help top banks become larger and more dominant. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis of MT bank will help to evaluate the institutions strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Following the conclusions of the analysis will allow for recommendations that leverage MT Banks strengths to take advantage of potential business opportunities. Additionally, this conclusion will allow for a better understanding of operational weaknesses to contest threats to prospective growth. Strengths MT bank has garnered much strength since its founding in 1856. It has grown into one of the countries thirty largest banks with roughly $80 billion in assets. In addition the bank boasts 700 branches and ATMs in 1,500 different locations greatly extending is banking power (MT Bank Corp, 2014). Its growth can be attributed to the acquisition of banks in upstate New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and the Baltimore region. Market dominance in these select regions has allowed MT to not only create a competitive advantage but also sustain an advantage. Another key strength to MT Bank is the services the bank can offer. To this point we have only mentioned MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s role in the commercial banking industry. However, MT offers services in retail and investment banking. Weaknesses Not only has MT Bank created a competitive advantage in the areas it serves, it has also created a customizable approach to banking that customers love. However, the scope of coverage is limited to eight states which ultimately means the bank has a relatively small to negligible service area in comparison to other banks. MT Bank service area can be seen in above picture. This scenario could sway potential new customers to choose another bank which has a greater physical presence throughout the United States. Opportunities In recent years MT bank has created many opportunities that have positively affected the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s position. Since 2006 MT has acquired over 130 brick and mortar banking locations, many of which are outside the state of New York. Along with the purchase of physical brick and mortar locations MT Banks has purchased other commercial banks such as Wilmington Trust. and Hudson City Bancorp (Rochester, 2014). This was a strategic move that has allowed MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s total assets to increase greatly over the past five years. Since the year 2005, which is a significant year, MT has increased their total assets by nearly 50% (MT Bank Corporation, 2014) Lastly, MT Bank is not only located in the United States but has a location across the border in Toronto, ON. According to bank President Mark Czarnecki, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦our understanding of cross-border commerce, along with decades of experience serving Canadian businesses operating in the U.S., makes Ontario an ideal location for MTs first international commercial bank office (MT Bank, 2010).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  This branch will not only allow MT to serve a large number of US-based companies operating Canada but will allow MT to differentiate itself from the competition. Threats Since the financial crisis of 2008 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 2009 banking laws and regulations have become more stringent. Regulatory compliance poses an undoubtable burden on MT Bank. Regulatory compliance is also positively correlated to higher cost. One such regulation is Dodd-Frank Act, this act has mandated that banks need to keep higher ratios of capital on hand. Therefore, this limits MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ability to expand into other regions. Secondly, MT Bank faces other external threats such as the loss of their sustained competitive advantage. This loss can occur because of their small geographical coverage area. Other banks, through acquisitions and mergers, could open branches in similar locations. Thus, this would decrease their market share and potentially make them less valuable. Stakeholder Analysis The stakeholder analysis aims to evaluate the stakeholders of MT Bank. The stakeholders can be broken down into three major groups; Customer both potential and current, investors, and management. Following figure, the interest/power grid allows us to plot current and potential customers in the quadrant à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“keep satisfied.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The customers of MT Bank are responsible for driving profits without them the bank would be forced to close its doors. The group of investors and management can be grouped into the quadrant labeled keep informed. Keeping investors and especially management informed allows the company to make the best possible decisions. Financial Analysis Table 2 FDIC Ratios Ratio Measures of Bank Performance Identification of Variable What the Variable Measures Loans-to-assets ratio Liquidity and risk. The higher the ratio, the greater the amount of the bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s total portfolio that is subject to default risk Return on Assets (ROA) The bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s profitability. Low ROA may encourage risk taking by the bank. High ROA may indicate high-risk lending to increase profits Asset growth from previous year Risk of growth Loan growth from previous year Risk of growth Salary expenses per employee Managementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s control of expenses Interest on loans and leases to total loans and leases (interest yield) The average income of loans. High yields might indicate that the bank is originating high-risk loans. Interest and fee income to total loans and leases (interest fees to loans) Income. The addition of fees to the variables may catch firms that are loading up on fee income. Operating expenses to total expenses Managementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s control of expenses. Higher expenses are assumed to be indicators of loose control. (FDIC) The success of any bank depends on several factors which involve many different aspects of the balance sheet. The FDIC has created (Table 2 FDIC Ratios) to help explain the performance of a bank in regard to the balance sheet. Although the entire list is used by the FDIC to ensure a thorough understanding of a bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s performance, not all of these ratios and years are able to be used due to a lack of information. The areas that we will examine in our financial analysis are the total loans to assets ratio, the asset growth from the previous year, the loan growth from the previous year, and the return on assets. To aid in this analysis we will compare MT to the average US bank, and the average New York bank. Figure 1- Loans to Assets Ratio (Mergent Online) (FDIC) The total loans to assets ratio helps to explain the bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s liquidity and risk. The higher the ratio the more likely a banks is to default. Figure (Figure 1- Loans to Asse ts Ratio) upon comparison shows that MT is more likely to default. Although this is an improbable scenario, MT Bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s loan to assets ratio is the riskiest The asset growth and loan growth from the previous year are two ratios that deal with the overall risk of growth. The figures of (Figure 2 Asset Growth Figure 3 Loan Growth) show this comparison. During times of economic prosperity, such as the recovery and peak stage of the economic business cycle, MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s loans and assets increase greatly. However, during downturns in the economy, such as a recession or trough, MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s loans and assets decrease. Furthermore, over the long run MT Bank has experience the best overall growth in loans and assets from the previous years. Figure 2 Asset Growth (Mergent Online) (FDIC) Figure 3 Loan Growth (Mergent Online) (FDIC) 1 Lastly, we examine MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s return on assets. This ratio helps to explain the bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ â„ ¢s profitability. Low ROA may encourage risk taking by the bank and high ROA may indicate high-risk lending to increase profits (FDIC). MT has experience an average ROA of 1.20%, for the banking industry a ROA of slightly higher than 1.5% is optimal (Loth, 2009). BCG Matrix The above BCG Matrix analyses MT Bank and its four closest regional competitors. From the data we can see that that MT is ranked in the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“question markà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  quadrant. It has both a small overall market share and relative markets share. Businesses that are located in this quadrant require vast resources to grow, but whether they will succeed and move into the star quadrant is unknown. Table 3 MT Competitors MT Competitors BCG Matrix Brands Revenues (Billions) Banks Market Share Relative Market Share (RMS) Market Growth Rate MT Bank $4.35 5.18% 0.0738 6.52% PNC $15.30 18.23% 0.2595 12.50% HSBC $58.96 70.26% 1.0000 5.36% First Niagara $1.35 1.61% 0.0229 12.18% KeyCorp $3.96 4.72% 0.0672 0.51% However, of the five banks compared MT has one of the best market growth rates. Additionally, the poor placement of MT Bank on the BCG Matrix can be explained. Two of the banks, HSBC and PNC, currently reside in the top twenty banks nationally. As mentioned previously banks in the top twenty control 59% of total assets and 31% of the market share, thus, these two banks adversely skew the data. Furthermore, MT Bank is mid-market regional bank that competes on a regional (North Eastern States) level not on a national level. Figure 4 BCG Matrix Recommendations For MT Bank to remain successful they should concentrate on two areas of focus. The first area of focus should be on financial ratios. As stated previously, financial ratios are important in understanding the overall performance of the bank. Even though MT was one of the best performing banks through the Great Recession of 2008 they should strive to lower their loan to asset ratio. Their higher than average ratio can lead to the ultimate failure of MT. Secondly, the bank should focus of mergers and acquisitions to help maintain their competitive advantage. MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s current small market size puts them at a potential disadvantage in comparison to their competition. Acquiring other banks would allow them further convey their idea of community banking. This gives customers the personal touch that many large commercial banks are not able to give. The examination of MT Bank versus its competitors at both a national and state level is important in understanding the banks s uccess. MT Bank has succeeded in out performing their competition through not only good economic times, but the same bad ones that have led to the failures of their competition. MTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s success is garnered in their mantra of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“community bankingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  and their ability to exploit their competitive advantage (Throwback, 2014). Works Cited Census Bureau Homepage. Census Bureau Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. Commercial Bank. Investopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. Conte, C., Karr, A. R. (2001). An outline of the U.S. economy. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of State, International Information Programs. FDIC: Statistics on Depository Institutions. FDIC: Statistics on Depository Institutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. FRB: Large Commercial Banks June 30, 2013. FRB: Large Commercial Banks June 30, 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. Loth, Richard. Financial Ratio Tutorial à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ROAà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved October 23, 2009, from https://www.investopedia.com/university/ratios/profitability-indicator/ratio3.asp MT Bank Corporation About MT Bank Corporation. MT Bank Corporation About MT Bank Corporation. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. MT Bank Corporation MT Bank Approved to Open Canadian Commercial Banking Branch. MT Bank Corporation MT Bank Approved to Open Canadian Comme rcial Banking Branch. N.p., 07 June 2010. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. Rochester Business Journal. MT Acquires Delaware Bank for $351 Million. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. Throwback Approach Keeps Wilmers, MT on Top. American Banker RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014.