American confidence in banks increased in 2017, according to Gallup’s annual “Confidence in Institutions” survey. Thirty-two percent of Americans reported “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in banks, up five points from last year, and up 11 points from the record low notched in 2012.
Banks ranked just behind public schools, the Supreme Court and the medical system in confidence, but ahead of “big business,” TV news, organized labor, newspapers and Congress — in which only 12 percent said they had confidence. Confidence in banks peaked in 2004, when 53 percent expressed confidence in them.
Americans’ overall confidence in institutions edged up to 35 percent this year after reaching historical lows over the past three surveys. Ten out of 14 institutions saw nominal increases in confidence, the survey found.
