diff --git a/bandit/core/blacklisting.py b/bandit/core/blacklisting.py
index 2f84ae023..440ec2ed0 100644
--- a/bandit/core/blacklisting.py
+++ b/bandit/core/blacklisting.py
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 # Copyright 2016 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-import ast
 import fnmatch
 
 from bandit.core import issue
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 def report_issue(check, name):
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ def blacklist(context, config):
 
     if node_type == "Call":
         func = context.node.func
-        if isinstance(func, ast.Name) and func.id == "__import__":
+        if utils.is_instance(func, "Name") and func.id == "__import__":
             if len(context.node.args):
-                if isinstance(context.node.args[0], ast.Str):
+                if utils.is_instance(context.node.args[0], "Str"):
                     name = context.node.args[0].s
                 else:
                     # TODO(??): import through a variable, need symbol tab
diff --git a/bandit/core/context.py b/bandit/core/context.py
index 801b36466..a02eb961e 100644
--- a/bandit/core/context.py
+++ b/bandit/core/context.py
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 # Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-import ast
-
 from bandit.core import utils
 
 
@@ -178,44 +176,44 @@ def _get_literal_value(self, literal):
         :param literal: The AST literal to convert
         :return: The value of the AST literal
         """
-        if isinstance(literal, ast.Num):
+        if utils.is_instance(literal, "Num"):
             literal_value = literal.n
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Str):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Str"):
             literal_value = literal.s
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.List):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "List"):
             return_list = list()
             for li in literal.elts:
                 return_list.append(self._get_literal_value(li))
             literal_value = return_list
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Tuple):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Tuple"):
             return_tuple = tuple()
             for ti in literal.elts:
                 return_tuple = return_tuple + (self._get_literal_value(ti),)
             literal_value = return_tuple
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Set):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Set"):
             return_set = set()
             for si in literal.elts:
                 return_set.add(self._get_literal_value(si))
             literal_value = return_set
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Dict):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Dict"):
             literal_value = dict(zip(literal.keys, literal.values))
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Ellipsis):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Ellipsis"):
             # what do we want to do with this?
             literal_value = None
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Name):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Name"):
             literal_value = literal.id
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.NameConstant):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "NameConstant"):
             literal_value = str(literal.value)
 
-        elif isinstance(literal, ast.Bytes):
+        elif utils.is_instance(literal, "Bytes"):
             literal_value = literal.s
 
         else:
diff --git a/bandit/core/utils.py b/bandit/core/utils.py
index 3ac78f54f..307e7f32f 100644
--- a/bandit/core/utils.py
+++ b/bandit/core/utils.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import logging
 import os.path
 import sys
+from operator import attrgetter
 
 try:
     import configparser
@@ -370,3 +371,13 @@ def check_ast_node(name):
         pass
 
     raise TypeError("Error: %s is not a valid node type in AST" % name)
+
+
+def is_instance(node, type_name):
+    "Check if the given node is an instance AST type."
+    if isinstance(type_name, tuple):
+        f = attrgetter(*type_name)
+        return isinstance(node, f(ast))
+    else:
+        node_type = getattr(ast, type_name)
+        return isinstance(node, node_type)
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/django_sql_injection.py b/bandit/plugins/django_sql_injection.py
index 4d5df1aaa..f87d99735 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/django_sql_injection.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/django_sql_injection.py
@@ -2,17 +2,16 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2018 [Victor Torre](https://github.com/ehooo)
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-import ast
-
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 def keywords2dict(keywords):
     kwargs = {}
     for node in keywords:
-        if isinstance(node, ast.keyword):
+        if utils.is_instance(node, "keyword"):
             kwargs[node.arg] = node.value
     return kwargs
 
@@ -66,23 +65,23 @@ def django_extra_used(context):
         insecure = False
         for key in ["where", "tables"]:
             if key in kwargs:
-                if isinstance(kwargs[key], ast.List):
+                if utils.is_instance(kwargs[key], "List"):
                     for val in kwargs[key].elts:
-                        if not isinstance(val, ast.Str):
+                        if not utils.is_instance(val, "Str"):
                             insecure = True
                             break
                 else:
                     insecure = True
                     break
         if not insecure and "select" in kwargs:
-            if isinstance(kwargs["select"], ast.Dict):
+            if utils.is_instance(kwargs["select"], "Dict"):
                 for k in kwargs["select"].keys:
-                    if not isinstance(k, ast.Str):
+                    if not utils.is_instance(k, "Str"):
                         insecure = True
                         break
                 if not insecure:
                     for v in kwargs["select"].values:
-                        if not isinstance(v, ast.Str):
+                        if not utils.is_instance(v, "Str"):
                             insecure = True
                             break
             else:
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ def django_rawsql_used(context):
     if context.is_module_imported_like("django.db.models"):
         if context.call_function_name == "RawSQL":
             sql = context.node.args[0]
-            if not isinstance(sql, ast.Str):
+            if not utils.is_instance(sql, "Str"):
                 return bandit.Issue(
                     severity=bandit.MEDIUM,
                     confidence=bandit.MEDIUM,
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/django_xss.py b/bandit/plugins/django_xss.py
index 63a8782b7..a7556b1d6 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/django_xss.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/django_xss.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 class DeepAssignation:
@@ -32,45 +33,45 @@ def is_assigned(self, node):
                 if isinstance(node, self.ignore_nodes):
                     return assigned
 
-        if isinstance(node, ast.Expr):
+        if utils.is_instance(node, "Expr"):
             assigned = self.is_assigned(node.value)
-        elif isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef):
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, "FunctionDef"):
             for name in node.args.args:
-                if isinstance(name, ast.Name):
+                if utils.is_instance(name, "Name"):
                     if name.id == self.var_name.id:
                         # If is param the assignations are not affected
                         return assigned
             assigned = self.is_assigned_in(node.body)
-        elif isinstance(node, ast.With):
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, "With"):
             for withitem in node.items:
                 var_id = getattr(withitem.optional_vars, "id", None)
                 if var_id == self.var_name.id:
                     assigned = node
                 else:
                     assigned = self.is_assigned_in(node.body)
-        elif isinstance(node, ast.Try):
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, "Try"):
             assigned = []
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.body))
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.handlers))
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.orelse))
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.finalbody))
-        elif isinstance(node, ast.ExceptHandler):
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, "ExceptHandler"):
             assigned = []
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.body))
-        elif isinstance(node, (ast.If, ast.For, ast.While)):
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, ("If", "For", "While")):
             assigned = []
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.body))
             assigned.extend(self.is_assigned_in(node.orelse))
-        elif isinstance(node, ast.AugAssign):
-            if isinstance(node.target, ast.Name):
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, "AugAssign"):
+            if utils.is_instance(node.target, "Name"):
                 if node.target.id == self.var_name.id:
                     assigned = node.value
-        elif isinstance(node, ast.Assign) and node.targets:
+        elif utils.is_instance(node, "Assign") and node.targets:
             target = node.targets[0]
-            if isinstance(target, ast.Name):
+            if utils.is_instance(target, "Name"):
                 if target.id == self.var_name.id:
                     assigned = node.value
-            elif isinstance(target, ast.Tuple):
+            elif utils.is_instance(target, "Tuple"):
                 pos = 0
                 for name in target.elts:
                     if name.id == self.var_name.id:
@@ -82,8 +83,8 @@ def is_assigned(self, node):
 
 def evaluate_var(xss_var, parent, until, ignore_nodes=None):
     secure = False
-    if isinstance(xss_var, ast.Name):
-        if isinstance(parent, ast.FunctionDef):
+    if utils.is_instance(xss_var, "Name"):
+        if utils.is_instance(parent, "FunctionDef"):
             for name in parent.args.args:
                 if name.arg == xss_var.id:
                     return False  # Params are not secure
@@ -94,18 +95,18 @@ def evaluate_var(xss_var, parent, until, ignore_nodes=None):
                 break
             to = analyser.is_assigned(node)
             if to:
-                if isinstance(to, ast.Str):
+                if utils.is_instance(to, "Str"):
                     secure = True
-                elif isinstance(to, ast.Name):
+                elif utils.is_instance(to, "Name"):
                     secure = evaluate_var(to, parent, to.lineno, ignore_nodes)
-                elif isinstance(to, ast.Call):
+                elif utils.is_instance(to, "Call"):
                     secure = evaluate_call(to, parent, ignore_nodes)
                 elif isinstance(to, (list, tuple)):
                     num_secure = 0
                     for some_to in to:
-                        if isinstance(some_to, ast.Str):
+                        if utils.is_instance(some_to, "Str"):
                             num_secure += 1
-                        elif isinstance(some_to, ast.Name):
+                        elif utils.is_instance(some_to, "Name"):
                             if evaluate_var(
                                 some_to, parent, node.lineno, ignore_nodes
                             ):
@@ -128,8 +129,13 @@ def evaluate_var(xss_var, parent, until, ignore_nodes=None):
 def evaluate_call(call, parent, ignore_nodes=None):
     secure = False
     evaluate = False
-    if isinstance(call, ast.Call) and isinstance(call.func, ast.Attribute):
-        if isinstance(call.func.value, ast.Str) and call.func.attr == "format":
+    if utils.is_instance(call, "Call") and utils.is_instance(
+        call.func, "Attribute"
+    ):
+        if (
+            utils.is_instance(call.func.value, "Str")
+            and call.func.attr == "format"
+        ):
             evaluate = True
             if call.keywords:
                 evaluate = False  # TODO(??) get support for this
@@ -138,20 +144,20 @@ def evaluate_call(call, parent, ignore_nodes=None):
         args = list(call.args)
         num_secure = 0
         for arg in args:
-            if isinstance(arg, ast.Str):
+            if utils.is_instance(arg, "Str"):
                 num_secure += 1
-            elif isinstance(arg, ast.Name):
+            elif utils.is_instance(arg, "Name"):
                 if evaluate_var(arg, parent, call.lineno, ignore_nodes):
                     num_secure += 1
                 else:
                     break
-            elif isinstance(arg, ast.Call):
+            elif utils.is_instance(arg, "Call"):
                 if evaluate_call(arg, parent, ignore_nodes):
                     num_secure += 1
                 else:
                     break
-            elif isinstance(arg, ast.Starred) and isinstance(
-                arg.value, (ast.List, ast.Tuple)
+            elif utils.is_instance(arg, "Starred") and utils.is_instance(
+                arg.value, ("List", "Tuple")
             ):
                 args.extend(arg.value.elts)
                 num_secure += 1
@@ -163,9 +169,9 @@ def evaluate_call(call, parent, ignore_nodes=None):
 
 
 def transform2call(var):
-    if isinstance(var, ast.BinOp):
-        is_mod = isinstance(var.op, ast.Mod)
-        is_left_str = isinstance(var.left, ast.Str)
+    if utils.is_instance(var, "BinOp"):
+        is_mod = utils.is_instance(var.op, "Mod")
+        is_left_str = utils.is_instance(var.left, "Str")
         if is_mod and is_left_str:
             new_call = ast.Call()
             new_call.args = []
@@ -175,7 +181,7 @@ def transform2call(var):
             new_call.func = ast.Attribute()
             new_call.func.value = var.left
             new_call.func.attr = "format"
-            if isinstance(var.right, ast.Tuple):
+            if utils.is_instance(var.right, "Tuple"):
                 new_call.args = var.right.elts
             else:
                 new_call.args = [var.right]
@@ -188,14 +194,14 @@ def check_risk(node):
 
     secure = False
 
-    if isinstance(xss_var, ast.Name):
+    if utils.is_instance(xss_var, "Name"):
         # Check if the var are secure
         parent = node._bandit_parent
-        while not isinstance(parent, (ast.Module, ast.FunctionDef)):
+        while not utils.is_instance(parent, ("Module", "FunctionDef")):
             parent = parent._bandit_parent
 
         is_param = False
-        if isinstance(parent, ast.FunctionDef):
+        if utils.is_instance(parent, "FunctionDef"):
             for name in parent.args.args:
                 if name.arg == xss_var.id:
                     is_param = True
@@ -203,17 +209,17 @@ def check_risk(node):
 
         if not is_param:
             secure = evaluate_var(xss_var, parent, node.lineno)
-    elif isinstance(xss_var, ast.Call):
+    elif utils.is_instance(xss_var, "Call"):
         parent = node._bandit_parent
-        while not isinstance(parent, (ast.Module, ast.FunctionDef)):
+        while not utils.is_instance(parent, ("Module", "FunctionDef")):
             parent = parent._bandit_parent
         secure = evaluate_call(xss_var, parent)
-    elif isinstance(xss_var, ast.BinOp):
-        is_mod = isinstance(xss_var.op, ast.Mod)
-        is_left_str = isinstance(xss_var.left, ast.Str)
+    elif utils.is_instance(xss_var, "BinOp"):
+        is_mod = utils.is_instance(xss_var.op, "Mod")
+        is_left_str = utils.is_instance(xss_var.left, "Str")
         if is_mod and is_left_str:
             parent = node._bandit_parent
-            while not isinstance(parent, (ast.Module, ast.FunctionDef)):
+            while not utils.is_instance(parent, ("Module", "FunctionDef")):
                 parent = parent._bandit_parent
             new_call = transform2call(xss_var)
             secure = evaluate_call(new_call, parent)
@@ -270,5 +276,5 @@ def django_mark_safe(context):
         ]
         if context.call_function_name in affected_functions:
             xss = context.node.args[0]
-            if not isinstance(xss, ast.Str):
+            if not utils.is_instance(xss, "Str"):
                 return check_risk(context.node)
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/general_hardcoded_password.py b/bandit/plugins/general_hardcoded_password.py
index 9a162b485..508099753 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/general_hardcoded_password.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/general_hardcoded_password.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 # Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-import ast
 import re
 
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 RE_WORDS = "(pas+wo?r?d|pass(phrase)?|pwd|token|secrete?)"
@@ -80,48 +80,50 @@ def hardcoded_password_string(context):
 
     """
     node = context.node
-    if isinstance(node._bandit_parent, ast.Assign):
+    if utils.is_instance(node._bandit_parent, "Assign"):
         # looks for "candidate='some_string'"
         for targ in node._bandit_parent.targets:
-            if isinstance(targ, ast.Name) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(targ.id):
+            if utils.is_instance(targ, "Name") and RE_CANDIDATES.search(
+                targ.id
+            ):
                 return _report(node.s)
-            elif isinstance(targ, ast.Attribute) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(
+            elif utils.is_instance(targ, "Attribute") and RE_CANDIDATES.search(
                 targ.attr
             ):
                 return _report(node.s)
 
-    elif isinstance(
-        node._bandit_parent, ast.Subscript
+    elif utils.is_instance(
+        node._bandit_parent, "Subscript"
     ) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(node.s):
         # Py39+: looks for "dict[candidate]='some_string'"
         # subscript -> index -> string
         assign = node._bandit_parent._bandit_parent
-        if isinstance(assign, ast.Assign) and isinstance(
-            assign.value, ast.Str
+        if utils.is_instance(assign, "Assign") and utils.is_instance(
+            assign.value, "Str"
         ):
             return _report(assign.value.s)
 
-    elif isinstance(node._bandit_parent, ast.Index) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(
-        node.s
-    ):
+    elif utils.is_instance(
+        node._bandit_parent, "Index"
+    ) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(node.s):
         # looks for "dict[candidate]='some_string'"
         # assign -> subscript -> index -> string
         assign = node._bandit_parent._bandit_parent._bandit_parent
-        if isinstance(assign, ast.Assign) and isinstance(
-            assign.value, ast.Str
+        if utils.is_instance(assign, "Assign") and utils.is_instance(
+            assign.value, "Str"
         ):
             return _report(assign.value.s)
 
-    elif isinstance(node._bandit_parent, ast.Compare):
+    elif utils.is_instance(node._bandit_parent, "Compare"):
         # looks for "candidate == 'some_string'"
         comp = node._bandit_parent
-        if isinstance(comp.left, ast.Name):
+        if utils.is_instance(comp.left, "Name"):
             if RE_CANDIDATES.search(comp.left.id):
-                if isinstance(comp.comparators[0], ast.Str):
+                if utils.is_instance(comp.comparators[0], "Str"):
                     return _report(comp.comparators[0].s)
-        elif isinstance(comp.left, ast.Attribute):
+        elif utils.is_instance(comp.left, "Attribute"):
             if RE_CANDIDATES.search(comp.left.attr):
-                if isinstance(comp.comparators[0], ast.Str):
+                if utils.is_instance(comp.comparators[0], "Str"):
                     return _report(comp.comparators[0].s)
 
 
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ def hardcoded_password_funcarg(context):
     """
     # looks for "function(candidate='some_string')"
     for kw in context.node.keywords:
-        if isinstance(kw.value, ast.Str) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(kw.arg):
+        if utils.is_instance(kw.value, "Str") and RE_CANDIDATES.search(kw.arg):
             return _report(kw.value.s)
 
 
@@ -242,6 +244,6 @@ def hardcoded_password_default(context):
 
     # go through all (param, value)s and look for candidates
     for key, val in zip(context.node.args.args, defs):
-        if isinstance(key, (ast.Name, ast.arg)):
-            if isinstance(val, ast.Str) and RE_CANDIDATES.search(key.arg):
+        if utils.is_instance(key, ("Name", "arg")):
+            if utils.is_instance(val, "Str") and RE_CANDIDATES.search(key.arg):
                 return _report(val.s)
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/injection_shell.py b/bandit/plugins/injection_shell.py
index 19c31d209..a741bb73a 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/injection_shell.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/injection_shell.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 # Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-import ast
 import re
 
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 # yuck, regex: starts with a windows drive letter (eg C:)
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 
 def _evaluate_shell_call(context):
-    no_formatting = isinstance(context.node.args[0], ast.Str)
+    no_formatting = utils.is_instance(context.node.args[0], "Str")
 
     if no_formatting:
         return bandit.LOW
@@ -82,15 +82,18 @@ def has_shell(context):
         for key in keywords:
             if key.arg == "shell":
                 val = key.value
-                if isinstance(val, ast.Num):
+                if utils.is_instance(val, "Num"):
                     result = bool(val.n)
-                elif isinstance(val, ast.List):
+                elif utils.is_instance(val, "List"):
                     result = bool(val.elts)
-                elif isinstance(val, ast.Dict):
+                elif utils.is_instance(val, "Dict"):
                     result = bool(val.keys)
-                elif isinstance(val, ast.Name) and val.id in ["False", "None"]:
+                elif utils.is_instance(val, "Name") and val.id in [
+                    "False",
+                    "None",
+                ]:
                     result = False
-                elif isinstance(val, ast.NameConstant):
+                elif utils.is_instance(val, "NameConstant"):
                     result = val.value
                 else:
                     result = True
@@ -681,11 +684,13 @@ def start_process_with_partial_path(context, config):
 
             node = context.node.args[0]
             # some calls take an arg list, check the first part
-            if isinstance(node, ast.List):
+            if utils.is_instance(node, "List"):
                 node = node.elts[0]
 
             # make sure the param is a string literal and not a var name
-            if isinstance(node, ast.Str) and not full_path_match.match(node.s):
+            if utils.is_instance(node, "Str") and not full_path_match.match(
+                node.s
+            ):
                 return bandit.Issue(
                     severity=bandit.LOW,
                     confidence=bandit.HIGH,
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/injection_sql.py b/bandit/plugins/injection_sql.py
index c69750ca1..cee419f2a 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/injection_sql.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/injection_sql.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
     CWE information added
 
 """  # noqa: E501
-import ast
 import re
 
 import bandit
@@ -61,6 +60,7 @@
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
 from bandit.core import utils
 
+
 SIMPLE_SQL_RE = re.compile(
     r"(select\s.*from\s|"
     r"delete\s+from\s|"
@@ -78,24 +78,24 @@ def _evaluate_ast(node):
     wrapper = None
     statement = ""
 
-    if isinstance(node._bandit_parent, ast.BinOp):
+    if utils.is_instance(node._bandit_parent, "BinOp"):
         out = utils.concat_string(node, node._bandit_parent)
         wrapper = out[0]._bandit_parent
         statement = out[1]
     elif (
-        isinstance(node._bandit_parent, ast.Attribute)
+        utils.is_instance(node._bandit_parent, "Attribute")
         and node._bandit_parent.attr == "format"
     ):
         statement = node.s
         # Hierarchy for "".format() is Wrapper -> Call -> Attribute -> Str
         wrapper = node._bandit_parent._bandit_parent._bandit_parent
-    elif hasattr(ast, "JoinedStr") and isinstance(
-        node._bandit_parent, ast.JoinedStr
+    elif utils.check_ast_node("JoinedStr") and utils.is_instance(
+        node._bandit_parent, "JoinedStr"
     ):
         statement = node.s
         wrapper = node._bandit_parent._bandit_parent
 
-    if isinstance(wrapper, ast.Call):  # wrapped in "execute" call?
+    if utils.is_instance(wrapper, "Call"):  # wrapped in "execute" call?
         names = ["execute", "executemany"]
         name = utils.get_called_name(wrapper)
         return (name in names, statement)
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/jinja2_templates.py b/bandit/plugins/jinja2_templates.py
index f0b23e03b..2e05d14a6 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/jinja2_templates.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/jinja2_templates.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 @test.checks("Call")
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ def jinja2_autoescape_false(context):
         func = qualname_list[-1]
         if "jinja2" in qualname_list and func == "Environment":
             for node in ast.walk(context.node):
-                if isinstance(node, ast.keyword):
+                if utils.is_instance(node, "keyword"):
                     # definite autoescape = False
                     if getattr(node, "arg", None) == "autoescape" and (
                         getattr(node.value, "id", None) == "False"
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def jinja2_autoescape_false(context):
                             return
                         # Check if select_autoescape function is used.
                         elif (
-                            isinstance(value, ast.Call)
+                            utils.is_instance(value, "Call")
                             and getattr(value.func, "id", None)
                             == "select_autoescape"
                         ):
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/try_except_continue.py b/bandit/plugins/try_except_continue.py
index c2e3ad493..6d0c5682b 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/try_except_continue.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/try_except_continue.py
@@ -74,11 +74,10 @@ class (or no type). To accommodate this, the test may be configured to ignore
     CWE information added
 
 """
-import ast
-
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 def gen_config(name):
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ def try_except_continue(context, config):
         ):
             return
 
-        if isinstance(node.body[0], ast.Continue):
+        if utils.is_instance(node.body[0], "Continue"):
             return bandit.Issue(
                 severity=bandit.LOW,
                 confidence=bandit.HIGH,
diff --git a/bandit/plugins/try_except_pass.py b/bandit/plugins/try_except_pass.py
index eda0ef800..091557b0c 100644
--- a/bandit/plugins/try_except_pass.py
+++ b/bandit/plugins/try_except_pass.py
@@ -72,11 +72,10 @@ class (or no type). To accommodate this, the test may be configured to ignore
     CWE information added
 
 """
-import ast
-
 import bandit
 from bandit.core import issue
 from bandit.core import test_properties as test
+from bandit.core import utils
 
 
 def gen_config(name):
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ def try_except_pass(context, config):
         ):
             return
 
-        if isinstance(node.body[0], ast.Pass):
+        if utils.is_instance(node.body[0], "Pass"):
             return bandit.Issue(
                 severity=bandit.LOW,
                 confidence=bandit.HIGH,