A newly released list of the 25 most profitable banking companies in 2010 includes a $1.28 billion-asset lender in Chicago.

NRBC Holding Corp., the Chicago-based parent of National Republic Bank of Chicago, ranked 10th on a list of the U.S. bank holding companies with the highest return on average assets, according to trade publication SNL Financial. Its ROAA in 2010 was 2.46 percent, down from 3.11 percent in 2009.

The most profitable U.S. bank holding company was United National Corp. of Sioux Falls, S.D., with an ROAA of 16.82 percent.

The industry median is 0.48 percent, SNL said.

Seven of the top 25 banks on SNL’s list are based in Texas. Only three publicly traded banks made the cut.

National Republic, which is privately held,  is headquartered at 1201 W. Harrison St. and has a branch at 2615 W. Devon Ave. in Chicago.

byerak@tribune.com