This page summarizes what each MCP tool is for and when to use it.

Search And Lookup Tools

Tool	Use It When	Notes
fdic_search_institutions	You need institution search results by name, state, status, asset size, or other institution details	Good default entry point for bank discovery
fdic_get_institution	You already know the FDIC CERT and need one institution record	Best for direct bank lookup
fdic_search_failures	You need failed-bank records, failure dates, costs, or resolution details	Use this when the question is specifically about bank failures
fdic_get_institution_failure	You already know the failed institution CERT and want a direct lookup	Best for one failed-bank record
fdic_search_locations	You need branch or office locations for one bank or a geography	Useful for office-level footprint questions
fdic_search_history	You need structural-change records such as mergers or name changes	Use when the question is about institution history

Financial And Deposit Datasets

Tool	Use It When	Notes
fdic_search_financials	You need quarterly Call Report data	Best for balance sheet, income, and ratio questions by quarter
fdic_search_summary	You need annual summary data	Different from branch-level SOD data
fdic_search_sod	You need Summary of Deposits branch-level deposit data	Annual data as of June 30
fdic_search_demographics	You need quarterly demographics or market-structure fields, including office counts	Useful for office-count comparisons and geography context

Analysis Tools

Tool	Use It When	Notes
fdic_compare_bank_snapshots	You want to compare multiple banks across two quarterly report dates or over a quarterly time series	Best for growth, profitability, branch-count, and trend analysis
fdic_peer_group_analysis	You want to benchmark one institution against a peer group at a single report date	Best for ranking a bank against comparable institutions

Choosing The Right Tool

• Use search tools when you want raw records.
• Use lookup tools when you already know the CERT.
• Use fdic_compare_bank_snapshots when the question compares banks across time.
• Use fdic_peer_group_analysis when the question is “How does this bank rank against peers right now?”

Data Basis Reminder

• Financials and demographics update quarterly.
• Summary data is annual.
• SOD is annual branch-level data as of June 30.