Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. Announces 2026 First Quarter Results

OPELOUSAS, La., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: "CLST") (the "Company"), the parent company for Catalyst Bank (the "Bank") (www.catalystbank.com), reported net income of $558,000, or $0.15 per diluted common share ("diluted EPS"), for the first quarter of 2026, compared to net income of $456,000, or $0.13 diluted EPS, for the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company's net income for the first quarter of 2026 included professional fees of $95,000 (pre-tax) related to our agreement to acquire Lakeside Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary, Lakeside Bank (collectively referred to as "Lakeside").

"Our team is fully engaged in preparing for our growth in Southwest Louisiana through the Lakeside acquisition," said Joe Zanco, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Bank. "At the same time, we remain focused on winning new business organically and expanding existing relationships. As a result of our team's efforts, we continue to see improvement in our financial performance."

Loans

Loans totaled $163.7 million at March 31, 2026, down $6.5 million, or 4%, from December 31, 2025. The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's loan portfolio as of the dates indicated.

The following table presents certain major segments of our commercial real estate, construction and land, and commercial and industrial loan balances as of the dates indicated.

Credit Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses

At March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, non-performing assets ("NPAs") totaled $2.7 million. The ratio of NPAs to total assets was 0.94% and 0.95% at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. Non-performing loans ("NPLs") were 1.64% and 1.55% of total loans at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. During the first quarter of 2026, a $304,000 commercial real estate loan was placed on non-accrual status. At March 31, 2026, 82% of total NPLs were one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, compared to 95% at December 31, 2025.

At March 31, 2026, the allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $2.3 million, or 1.40% of total loans, compared to $2.4 million, or 1.39% of total loans, at December 31, 2025. The Company recorded a $70,000 reversal of provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2026, compared to a $96,000 provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2025. The reversal of expected credit losses recorded in the first quarter of 2026 was primarily driven by declines in commercial and industrial and residential loan balances. Net loan charge-offs totaled $37,000 during the first quarter of 2026, compared to net charge-offs of $42,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025. Net loan charge-offs in 2026 included a $28,000 charge-off of a commercial line of credit.

Investment Securities

Total investment securities were $63.1 million, or 22% of total assets, at March 31, 2026, down $2.3 million, or 3%, compared to December 31, 2025. We did not purchase investment securities in the first quarter of 2026. During the fourth quarter of 2025, we purchased $7.4 million of government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities. The weighted average yield of the securities purchased during the fourth quarter of 2025 was 4.39% at March 31, 2026.

Deposits

Total deposits were $195.4 million at March 31, 2026, up $10.1 million, or 5%, from December 31, 2025. Total deposits averaged $198.2 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared to $181.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2025. The ratio of the Company's total loans to total deposits was 84% and 92% at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's deposits as of the dates indicated.

Total public fund deposits were $29.8 million, or 15% of total deposits, at March 31, 2026, compared to $26.4 million, or 14% of total deposits, at December 31, 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, total public fund deposits averaged $35.6 million, compared to $24.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2025. The increases were largely due to seasonal fluctuations.

Capital and Share Repurchases

At March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, consolidated shareholders' equity totaled $82.2 million, or 28.5% of total assets, and $81.7 million, or 28.9% of total assets, respectively.

The Company repurchased 16,614 shares of its common stock at an average cost per share of $15.71 during the first quarter of 2026, compared to 54,693 shares at an average cost per share of $14.76 during the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company paused share repurchases temporarily during the first quarter of 2026 while conducting due diligence and negotiations related to our agreement to acquire Lakeside.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company announced our sixth share repurchase plan (the "November 2025 Repurchase Plan"). Under the November 2025 Repurchase Plan, the Company may purchase up to 205,000 shares, or approximately 5%, of the Company's outstanding common stock. At March 31, 2026, 172,297 shares of the Company's common stock were available for repurchase under the November 2025 Repurchase Plan. We expect to resume repurchases during the second quarter of 2026.

Since the announcement of our first share repurchase plan on January 26, 2023 and through March 31, 2026, the Company has repurchased a total of 1,231,703 shares of its common stock, or 23% of the common shares originally issued, at an average cost per share of $12.11. At March 31, 2026, the Company had common shares outstanding of 4,058,297.

Net Interest Income

The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2026 was 3.83%, down eight basis points compared to the prior quarter. For the first quarter of 2026, the average yield on interest-earning assets was 5.36%, down 17 basis points from the prior quarter, and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 2.35%, down 15 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2025. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2026 was $2.5 million, up $38,000, or 2%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Total interest income was up $22,000, or 1%, in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the prior quarter largely due to an increase in income on cash and due from banks, which was partially offset by a decline in interest income on loans. The change in interest income was largely the result of an increase in the volume of interest earning cash, which was mainly fueled by deposit growth during first quarter of 2026.

Total interest expense decreased $16,000, or 2%, in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the prior quarter. The decline in interest expense was mainly due to lower borrowings expense. We paid off a short-term Federal Home Loan Bank advance during the first quarter of 2026. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.30% during the first quarter of 2026, down 15 basis points from the prior quarter.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the Company's total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Taxable equivalent ("TE") yields have been calculated using a marginal tax rate of 21%. All average balances are based on daily balances.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $352,000, down $10,000, or 3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, primarily due to a decline in income from service charges on deposit accounts.

Non-interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $2.3 million, up $61,000, or 3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. Professional fees for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $185,000, up $87,000, or 89%, from the prior quarter. The Company incurred $95,000 (pre-tax) of professional fees during the first quarter of 2026 related to our agreement to acquire Lakeside.

About Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLST) is a Louisiana corporation and registered bank holding company for Catalyst Bank, its wholly-owned subsidiary, with $288.5 million in assets at March 31, 2026. Catalyst Bank, formerly St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, has been in operation in the Acadiana region of south-central Louisiana since 1922. With a focus on fueling business and improving lives throughout the region, Catalyst Bank offers commercial and retail banking products through our six full-service branches located in Carencro, Eunice, Lafayette, Opelousas, and Port Barre. To learn more about Catalyst Bancorp and Catalyst Bank, visit www.catalystbank.com, or the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission, www.sec.gov.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release reflects industry conditions, Company performance and financial results and contains "forward-looking statements,' which may include forecasts of our financial results and condition, expectations for our operations and businesses, and our assumptions for those forecasts and expectations. Do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectation expressed in such forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are described under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Supervision and Regulation" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and in other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at the SEC's website and the Company's website, each of which are referenced above. To the extent that statements in this news release relate to future plans, objectives, financial results or performance by the Company, these statements are deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are generally identified by use of words such as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "will," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue" and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements represent management's beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters addressed; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that change over time and could cause actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. All information is as of the date of this news release. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

For more information:
Joe Zanco, President and CEO
(337) 948-3033

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SOURCE Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.