Net Interest Margin Expansion and Net Interest Income Growth
NIM expanded 17 basis points quarter-over-quarter to 2.71% (≈+26 bps year-over-year). Net interest income increased 5.6% from the prior quarter and 21.7% versus Q4 2024, driving the primary revenue improvement.
Revenue and Profitability Improvement
Gross revenue rose 1.5% quarter-over-quarter and 12.2% year-over-year. The company generated net income of $3.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share in Q4, and reported a normalized operating run rate equivalent to roughly $2.00 per share annualized when adjusting for the one-time OREO write-down.
Strong Loan Production and Loan Growth
New loan production was $146 million in Q4 and loans held for investment increased by $59 million quarter-over-quarter. Management expects loan growth in 2026 similar to 2025, driven by diversified origination across markets and loan types and about $250 million of fixed-rate loans repricing over the next year (avg yield in low-5% range).
Deposit Growth and Balance Sheet Optimization
Total deposits increased $102 million quarter-over-quarter and average deposits increased 10% versus Q4 2024. Management reduced high-cost deposits, lowering cost of funds (spot deposit rate at year-end ~2.86%) and reported a deposit beta of ~54% in the quarter that management believes is sustainable.
Asset Quality Stability
Loan portfolio showed generally stable trends with decreases in nonaccrual loans and NPAs, minimal net charge-offs in the quarter, and allowance coverage unchanged at 81 basis points of total loans. Remaining OREO is under contract with expected close in Q1.
Strategic Talent and Business Build — Mortgage and Wealth
Mortgage production capability increased via hiring: eight new MLOs in 2025 (≈45% increase year-over-year). Wealth/Trust restructuring and shift toward fiduciary/planning and a new B2B offering are underway with management expecting improved fee income results into 2026.