It’s hard to argue that the banking industry has faced a serious challenge over the past year. However, Demopolis-based Robertson Banking Company has made gains where others have lost, and where a few others have failed.

In the June edition of U.S. Banker, which was released this week, Robertson Banking Company was rated No. 21 among the top 200 community banks in the United States. The Demopolis financial institution climbed 21 spots from the No. 42 position they held last year.

President and CEO Al Garrett said Robertson has managed to avoid many of the pot holes plaguing major banks by steering clear of high risk, high reward lending and sticking to time honored business practices.

“A lot of credit goes to good credit underwriting and that we didn’t get involved in a lot of the exotic products, like sub-prime mortgage lending,” he said.

“And a lot of it’s due to cost efficiency,” noted Senior Vice President Pete Reynolds. “A good efficiency ratio and the use of technology have allowed us to become a lost cost operating bank. The less you have to spend to make money, the better off you are. That holds true in every business, not just banking.”

Two banks that were listed among the Top 50 on the 2009 list have since failed.