Mission Bancorp Reports First Quarter Earnings of $7.7 Million, a 7% Increase Year Over Year, and Annual Loan Growth of 14.5%. Announces Extension of Stock Repurchase Plan and Declares 5.00% Annual Stock Dividend.

Notable variances compared to the linked quarter include an increase in non-interest expense and a decrease in net interest income, which were partially offset by decreases in credit loss expense and provision for income taxes. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, an increase in net interest income was partially offset by increases in non-interest expense and credit loss expense.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $19.8 million, or 4.39%, of average earning assets ("net interest margin"), for the first quarter of 2026, compared with $17.8 million, or a net interest margin of 4.06%, for the same prior year period, and $20.2 million, or a net interest margin of 4.31%, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.

Net interest income increased by $1.9 million, or 10.8%, compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to growth in the Company's loan portfolio coupled with relatively stable loan yields, and lower funding costs. Loan interest income and fee accretion increased by $2.5 million compared to the first quarter of 2025, partially offset by $1.4 million lower interest income on interest earning deposits in other banks and $0.3 million lower interest income on investment securities. Additionally, interest expense declined $1.0 million compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to lower deposit costs, and lower average balances and rates paid for subordinated debentures.

Net interest income decreased by $0.5 million, or 2.4%, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to the linked quarter, primarily reflecting a lower number of days in the period, along with lower yields on certain interest earning assets, particularly interest earning deposits in other banks and investment securities, which were partially offset by a favorable shift in earning-asset mix toward higher yielding loans and reduced deposit costs. Interest income on interest earning deposits in other banks declined $0.8 million, primarily due to lower average balances and rates, and interest income on investment securities declined $0.2 million, reflecting lower yields, while interest income on loans rose $0.1 million, driven by higher average balances that offset lower loan yields. Interest expense declined $0.4 million compared to the linked quarter, primarily due to lower deposit costs and lower average balances on interest-bearing deposits.

The net interest margin was 4.39% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to 4.06% for the same prior year period, and 4.31% for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2025. During the past year, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities declined 43 basis points, while a continued shift in earning-asset mix toward higher yielding loans offset lower yields on other earning assets, resulting in relatively stable earning asset yield and a 33 basis point year-over-year expansion in the quarterly net interest margin. The Federal Reserve began lowering rates in the latter half of 2024, lowering the federal funds rate 175 basis points from its peak range, impacting the shorter end of the yield curve and reducing yields on interest-bearing deposits in other banks, as well as the Company's variable rate loans and investment securities. These rate reductions also resulted in lower deposit costs, which, combined with robust loan growth, supported earning asset yields resulting in net interest margin expansion.

The 8 basis point increase in the net interest margin for the first quarter of 2026, compared to the linked quarter, primarily reflects a modest increase in earning asset yields, combined with a continued favorable shift in the earning-asset mix toward higher yielding loans. These benefits were further supported by a decline in interest bearing deposit costs.

The yield on loans, interest earning deposits in other banks, and investment securities decreased by 4 basis points to 6.37%, 70 basis points to 3.70%, and 50 basis points to 3.42%, respectively, compared to the same prior year period. Additionally, average balances on loans increased $169.7 million, or 13.1%, average balances on interest earning deposits in other banks decreased $128.4 million, or 55.3%, and average balances on investment securities were relatively unchanged. The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 41 basis points to 2.59%, while the average balances of interest-bearing deposits increased $8.7 million, or 0.86%. The cost of subordinated debentures decreased 76 basis points to 4.19%, and average balances decreased $9.9 million, or 45.3%.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the yield on loans, interest bearing deposits in other banks, and investment securities decreased by 6 basis points to 6.37%, 28 basis points to 3.70%, and 12 basis points to 3.42%, respectively, compared to the linked quarter. Average balances on loans increased $50.7 million, or 3.57%, average balances on interest earning deposits in other banks and investment securities decreased $82.0 million, or 44.2%, and $4.8 million, or 1.96%, respectively. The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 6 basis points to 2.59%, and average balances on interest-bearing deposits decreased $15.1 million, or 1.47%.

The cost of funds was 1.61% for the quarter ending March 31, 2026, a decrease of 28 basis points compared to 1.89%, for the same prior year period, and a 2 basis point decrease compared to 1.63%, for the linked quarter ending December 31, 2025. The decrease in the Company's cost of funds is generally attributable to recent Federal Reserve rate cuts, which has provided some relief in deposit cost pressures. The Bank has continued to grow its total deposit accounts through both new customer acquisition and the expansion of existing relationships over the past year. At the same time, some rate-sensitive clients have opted for higher yielding investment options.

The Company holds two pay-fixed, receive floating, interest rate swap contracts, with notional balances totaling $108 million, to hedge against rising rates on a portion of its fixed rate loan and investment securities portfolios. Combined, interest rate swap contracts contributed $0.1 million of interest expense for the first quarter of 2026, compared to a nominal amount for the linked quarter, and $0.1 million interest income for the first quarter of the prior year.

Provision for Credit Losses

A $0.7 million provision for credit losses was recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $1.2 million for the linked quarter, and $0.2 million for the same prior year period. The Company's quarterly credit loss provisions over the past year have been recorded primarily to account for loan growth and changes in macro-economic conditions, which impact the calculated ACL under the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model, rather than in response to changing conditions in the Company's loan portfolio, which has remained stable, demonstrating a low credit risk profile during the past twelve months. During the first quarter, certain loans for which specific reserves were recorded in prior quarters were charged off, consistent with the Company's established credit risk management framework.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income increased $0.1 million, or 4.9%, to $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $1.5 million for the linked quarter, and was relatively unchanged compared to the same prior year period. Compared to the linked quarter, increases in SBA servicing fees and gain on sale of loans were partially offset by lower service charges, fees and other income, as well as a decline in Farmer Mac referral and servicing fee income. When compared to the same prior year period, increases in SBA servicing fees and gain on sale of loans and Farmer Mac referral and servicing fee income were largely offset by a decline in service charges, fees and other income. SBA sales activity during the prior quarter was partially impacted by the federal government shutdown.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased by $0.9 million, or 10.3%, to $10.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $9.1 million for the linked quarter, and increased by $0.8 million, or 8.6%, compared to $9.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

The increase in non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2026, compared to the linked quarter, was primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in salaries and benefits expense, driven by higher beginning-of-year payroll taxes, increased stock-based compensation, and other compensation accruals. Additionally, base compensation and benefits costs attributable to new hires in our North San Luis Obispo County office, contributed to the increase in non-interest expense.

The increase in non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same prior year period was primarily due to an $0.8 million increase in salaries and benefits expense attributable to new hires, including the North San Luis Obispo County team, net of terminations, along with higher incentive compensation, equity compensation, and related payroll taxes and benefit expenses.

Operating Efficiency

The Company's operating efficiency ratio decreased to 46.9% for the first quarter of 2026, compared to 47.5% for the first quarter of 2025, and increased compared to 41.8% for the linked quarter. Total non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets, another measure of the Company's efficiency, was 2.13% for the first quarter of 2026, compared to 2.01% for the first quarter of 2025, and 1.86% compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2025.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $3.0 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $2.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and $3.4 million for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2025. The Company's effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2026 was 27.9%, compared to 28.8% for the same prior year period, and 29.1% for the quarter ending December 31, 2025. 

Asset and Equity Returns

The return on average equity for the first quarter of 2026 was 13.8%, down from 15.0% for the same prior year period, and down from 14.9% for the linked quarter. The quarterly return on average assets for the first quarter of 2026 was 1.63%, up from 1.56% from the same prior year period, and down from 1.66% for the linked quarter.

The decline in the quarterly return on average equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to the same prior year period, is primarily attributable to the growth in average equity outpacing the growth in quarterly net income, while the rise in quarterly return on average assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, is primarily attributable to growth in quarterly net income outpacing average asset growth. Compared to the same prior year period, average equity grew 16.7%, quarterly net income grew 7.0%, and average assets grew 2.11%.

The decline in quarterly returns on both average equity and average assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to the linked quarter, is primarily attributable to the marginal decline in quarterly net income, combined with growth in quarterly average equity and a reduction in quarterly average assets.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased by $37.0 million, or 2.0%, to $1.92 billion as of March 31, 2026, compared to March 31, 2025, and increased by $20.8 million, or 1.1%, compared to December 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $150.9 million, or 50.2%, to $149.7 million as of March 31, 2026, compared to the same prior year period, and decreased by $3.6 million, or 2.4%, compared to December 31, 2025.

The decrease in the Company's cash position over the past year reflects robust loan growth, which outpaced deposit growth, along with the repayment of subordinated debentures. The decrease in the Company's cash position over the past quarter reflects continued strong lending activity, which outpaced deposit growth.

Investment securities decreased by $3.2 million or 1.3%, to $238.7 million as of March 31, 2026, compared to $241.9 million as of March 31, 2025, and decreased by $3.9 million, or 1.6%, compared to $242.7 million as of December 31, 2025. The decline in the investment securities portfolio over the past year primarily reflects normal repayment and amortization of the bond portfolio, net of a decline in unrealized losses on the investment securities portfolio attributable to market rate changes. During the year, the Company continued to selectively deploy excess liquidity into higher yielding investment securities. The decrease in the investment portfolio during the first quarter of 2026, compared to the linked quarter, reflected normal repayment and amortization of the bond portfolio and a marginal decline in unrealized losses on the investment securities portfolio attributable to market rate changes during the quarter.

Loans increased by $188.9 million, or 14.5%, to $1.49 billion as of March 31, 2026, compared to March 31, 2025, and increased by $27.0 million, or 1.8%, compared to December 31, 2025. Loan growth during the last year reflected a diversified mix across almost every loan category, offset only by contraction in agricultural production loans. Loan growth during the last quarter was concentrated in construction and land development, commercial real estate, and loans secured by farmland, with notable contractions in agricultural production and residential 1 to 4 family loans.

Total deposits increased by $15.8 million, or 1.0%, to $1.67 billion as of March 31, 2026, from $1.65 billion as of March 31, 2025, and increased by $11.7 million, or 0.7%, compared to December 31, 2025. Non-interest-bearing deposits increased by $20.3 million, or 3.2%, during the last year, and decreased by $15.8 million, or 2.4%, since December 31, 2025. The increase in deposits over the past year reflects an increase in average balances among existing customers, a declining account closure ratio, and stable new account openings. Non-interest-bearing deposits represented 38.8% of total deposits on March 31, 2026.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2025, the Company repaid $10 million of subordinated debentures at the end of their fixed term, resulting in a year over year decline in subordinated debentures.

Total shareholders' equity was $228.9 million as of March 31, 2026, an increase of $31.2 million, or 15.8%, compared to March 31, 2025, and an increase of $8.6 million, or 3.9%, compared to December 31, 2025, primarily due to quarterly earnings, net of changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of equity decreased by $3.7 million during the year, primarily reflecting a $5.3 million decline in unrealized losses on the investment securities portfolio. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of equity decreased by $0.4 million during the quarter due to a decline in the unrealized losses on the interest rate swap contracts.

Allowance for Credit Losses and Credit Quality

The ACL as a percentage of gross loans decreased to 1.35% as of March 31, 2026, from 1.50% as of December 31, 2025, and 1.51% from March 31, 2025. The ACL as a percentage of gross loans decreased during the quarter, due to charge-offs of previously established specific reserves on individually analyzed loans, while the overall credit profile of the loan portfolio has remained stable over the past twelve months.

Nonperforming assets were $0.1 million as of March 31, 2026, down from $2.6 million as of December 31, 2025, and down from $0.9 million as of March 31, 2025. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.01% as of March 31, 2026, down from 0.14% as of December 31, 2025, and down from 0.05% as of March 31, 2025.

Regulatory Capital

The Bank's reported regulatory capital ratio exceeded the ratio generally required to be considered a "well capitalized" financial institution for regulatory purposes. The Community Bank Leverage Ratio for the Bank was 12.19%, as of March 31, 2026, compared with the requirement of 9.00% to generally be considered a "well capitalized" financial institution for regulatory purposes. The Bank's Community Bank Leverage ratio has increased by 72 and 58 basis points, from 11.47% and 11.61%, as of the periods ended March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2025, respectively. During the past year, earnings growth outpaced the combined impact of growth in average assets and dividends paid by the Bank to the Company, resulting in an increase in the Bank's Community Bank Leverage ratio compared to the prior year.

Stock Repurchase Program and Stock Dividend

On October 27, 2025, the Company announced the extension of its plan Rule 10b5-1 (the "2022 10b5-1 Plan") to facilitate the repurchase of its common stock. Pursuant to the 2022 10b5-1 Plan, a maximum of $3.0 million of the Company's common stock may be repurchased by the Company. The 2022 10b5-1 Plan was set to expire on April 23, 2026, and has been extended for an additional 6 months through October 22, 2026. In connection with the extension, the Company has increased the Plan's authorized common stock repurchase amount by $1.95 million, bringing the total authorized repurchase to a maximum of $4.95 million. Remaining funds associated with the prior authorization will be removed from the Plan and the Company may suspend or discontinue the Plan at any time. Hilltop Securities, Inc. is acting as the Company's agent to purchase its shares on pre-arranged terms pursuant to the 2022 10b5-1 Plan. During the first quarter of 2026 the Company repurchased 1,650 shares under the 2022 10b5-1 Plan at an average price of $94.50. Since Plan inception the Company has repurchased 34,576 shares at an average price of $92.28.

Recognizing another year of strong performance and execution, the Company has declared a 5.00% stock dividend, which will be issued on June 1, 2026 ("the Effective Date"), to shareholders of record as of May 18, 2026 ("the Record Date"). The financial results, including earnings per share, and book value per share, reported in this press release have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the 5% stock dividend.

About Mission Bancorp and Mission Bank

With $1.9 billion in assets, Mission Bancorp is headquartered in Bakersfield, California and is the holding company of three wholly owned subsidiaries, Mission Bank, Mission 1031 Exchange, LLC, and Mission Community Development, LLC. Mission Bank has seven Business Banking Centers, serving the greater areas of Bakersfield, Lancaster, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Visalia, California. Visit Mission Bank online at www.missionbank.bank. By including the foregoing website address, Mission Bancorp does not intend to and shall not be deemed to incorporate by reference any material contained therein.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements," as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of the Company's directors and executive officers (collectively, "Management"), as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's Management. All statements regarding the Company's business strategy and plans and objectives of Management of the Company for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" and "intend" and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to the Company or the Company's Management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations ("cautionary statements") are loan losses, rapid and unanticipated deposit withdrawals, unavailability of sources of liquidity, additional regulatory requirements that may be imposed on community banks or banks generally, changes in interest rates, loss of key personnel, lower lending limits and capital than competitors, regulatory restrictions and oversight of the Company, the secure and effective implementation of technology, risks related to the local and national economy, changes in real estate values, the Company's implementation of its business plans and management of growth, loan performance, interest rates, and regulatory matters, the effects of trade, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation, and changes in accounting policies and practices. Based upon changing conditions, if any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, or intended. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Mission Bank