In mid-March 2023, the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank triggered a significant downturn in the financial markets, with most banking stocks and bank-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experiencing sharp declines in stock prices. This situation led to fears of a 2008 banking crisis-like scenario. Despite the risks, some investors are interested in bank stocks during downturns. This article provides a detailed examination of how to research and evaluate bank stocks during such challenging times, with a particular focus on key financial ratios.