Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization (NRSRO) founded in 2010 in response to the methodological failures exposed by the financial crisis. Its stated mission is to restore confidence in credit ratings through more rigorous risk assessment and transparent methodology. The agency operates globally, with offices in New York, London, Dublin, Tokyo, and multiple locations across the United States.
KBRA provides independent credit ratings and research across a broad range of asset classes and issuer types, including:
- Asset-backed securities (ABS)
- Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)
- Corporate credit
- Financial institutions
- Insurance
- Public finance
Alongside ratings and research, KBRA develops analytical tools designed to support investment decision-making. The agency places particular emphasis on methodology disclosure - publishing its analytical frameworks and communicating its reasoning clearly - as a deliberate departure from practices it views as contributing to pre-crisis rating failures.
KBRA's work is carried out by a team of analysts who cover both structured and unstructured credit markets. The agency positions integrity and thoroughness as organisational principles, asserting that it does not compromise on the depth of its research.
