Ally Financial Inc (GMA)’s Woeful Performance: Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS), BB&T Corporation (BBT)

For most financial institutions, the Fed-mandated stress test and Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review went pretty well, with prior year laggards Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) emerging stronger than ever. But for Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:GMA), the former auto-loan segment of General Motors, things went even further south than last year, when it was able to muster a 2.5% minimum ratio. This year, Ally finished up with a measly 1.5% Tier 1 common ratio — and the same ratio for its post-stress, proposed capital actions metric. These were the lowest scores of any of the 19 financial institutions tested.

Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:GMA): Not our fault

Almost immediately after the results were in, Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:GMA) released a statement opining that the Fed’s methodology was faulty, and stating that, among other things, Ally’s capital levels are just fine and dandy. Was the Fed unfair to poor Ally?

Of course, Ally wasn’t the only institution flagged by the Fed. Both JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) were told that their capital plans didn’t meet specifications, and they must resubmit new and improved proposals before the end of the third quarter.

More surprisingly, regional heavyweight BB&T Corporation (NYSE:BBT) , like Ally, had its plan rejected despite its stellar performance on the stress test. This is likely because of some changes the bank made to its risk-weighted asset calculation, however, and not because of some other, more serious problem.

Government would like to shed the Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:GMA) albatross
Ally complained about being ill-used by the stress test last year, so it’s really no surprise that it would do so this year, as well. Of course, going into the test with a Tier 1 common ratio of 7.3%, the lowest of any institution tested, could have something to do with the results. In addition, the Fed was clear about Ally still being considered responsible for liabilities tied to Residential Capital, its bankrupt mortgage loan subsidiary.

Also, like American Express (NYSE:AXP) , Ally was allowed to submit a spanking-new capital plan after the Fed gave the original entry an early thumbs-down. American Express emerged triumphant — but even with that boost, Ally failed. The mulligan also made Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:GMA) look less than astute, since the original plan would have left them with a slightly higher, albeit still failing, score.

Just as it did with AIG, the government seems keen to sell off its 74% interest in Ally, possibly this year. This probably won’t happen until Ally Financial Inc (NYSE:GMA) looks healthier, and sheds more mortgage-related assets, such as the mortgage servicing rights it recently sold to Quicken Loans.

Certainly, then, the government would want to make Ally look better, not worse. It seems, however, that this was not possible, and Ally has only itself to blame.

The article Ally Financial’s Woeful Performance originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Amanda Alix.

Fool contributor Amanda Alix has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends American Express, General Motors, and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS). The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM).

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