In the following video, Motley Fool financial analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer discuss a balanced approach to valuing bank equities.

David compares Bank of America's (BAC 0.28%) relatively cheap stock price and current low returns on equity with US Bancorp (USB 0.11%), a stock currently trading at a much higher valuation compared to tangible book value.

David also explains how Citigroup (C 0.18%) and Bank of America's current low valuations may represent a longer-term opportunity for investors, and he looks at Wells Fargo (WFC +0.58%) as an example of how a bank stock might provide great returns to investors in the future, despite a relatively high current valuation.