S&P cuts ratings on 15 banks, 20 other left unchanged

On Tuesday Standard & Poor's Ratings Services downgraded ratings of 15 international banks. The downgrade takes place amid new rating methodology implementation. New system incorporates into banks' ratings the degree of government provision. So far, new criteria have affected 37 banks. Among firms that experienced immediate cut were four major US banks: Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Wells Fargo & Co. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.