2 Assessment of asset quality is an integral part of any examination; however, under certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to give the individual asset quality rating compo-nent greater or lesser weight in arriving at an overall compos-ite rating.  In ensuring the protection of branch creditors, an important factor is the strength of the FBO.  As the financial strength of the FBO weakens, it becomes increasingly impor-tant to look to the quality of the assets booked in the United States as the source of protection for local creditors, and, at a certain point, asset maintenance should be imposed.  Similarly, where the FBO is strong, and the need to look to local assets for protection of creditors seems remote, the relative weighing of the asset quality component in the overall evaluation diminishes.