FARMINGTON — Franklin Savings Bank was recently given an “A-” rating by Weiss Ratings, the nation’s leading independent provider of ratings and analyses of financial services companies, mutual funds and stocks.

Franklin County’s only locally-owned bank has dominated the state rankings compiled by Weiss since 1999. Franklin Savings Bank is the only bank in Maine to receive an A grade and one of only four banks in all of New England to do so.

In the banking industry, Weiss Ratings are considered the toughest. Only 7.3 percent of banks in the U.S. receive an A grade.

Weiss Ratings evaluates the financial strength of more than 7,500 financial institutions, based on capitalization, asset quality, profitability, liquidity and stability.

Franklin Savings is also the only Maine bank given a 5-star rating by BankRate.com, which uses a star rating system to evaluate the current financial status of financial institutions in its Safe and Sound Ratings.

The bank also received a 5-star “superior” rating from Bauer Financial, as did more than half of Maine banks.