SNL Financial ranked the Hingham Institution for Savings, along with eight other Massachusetts banks, in its 2013 list of the 100 largest public thrifts in the United States.

Hingham Institution for Savings clocked in at the second position, inching up a spot from the No. 3 position it held in 2012.

President Robert H. Gaughen stated, "We’re honored to learn of Hingham Savings’ top Eastern ranking by SNL Financial. Our measured balance sheet growth, cost discipline and careful capital allocation have produced some of the industry’s strongest returns and a sixth consecutive year of record earnings. We remain committed to the fundamentally conservative strategies that have produced long-term value without undue risk."

In addition to the Hingham Institution for Savings, SNL ranked Meridian Interstate Bancorp, the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank, No. 30 on the list. It ranked 51st the previous year.

West Springfield-based United Financial Bancorp, which last week finalized its merger with Rockville Bank, was ranked No. 38, up from No. 57 in 2012. Hamden Bancorp in Springfield ranked 47th, compared with its previous spot at 53rd. Wellesley Bancorp, which was not ranked in 2012, was ranked last year at No. 53. Chicopee Bancorp ranked No. 63, Westfield Financial ranked No. 70, Peoples Federal Bancshares in Brighton ranked No. 71 and BSB Bancorp in Belmont ranked No. 78.

The ranking is based on six financial performance metrics for the calendar year 2013, including core return on average assets, core return on average tangible common equity, median three-year growth rate in tangible book value per share, efficiency ratio, nonperforming loans to loans ratio and net charge-offs. In its analysis, SNL also noted Hingham Savings for its consistent earnings growth in 2013.