Overview
- Regional lenders reporting Wednesday and Thursday posted resilient first‑quarter results with growth in loans, deposits, and fees, and many set 2026 plans that assume no Federal Reserve rate cuts as credit metrics held steady.
- Banks boosted margins by reshaping bond and securities portfolios, including sales by Bridgewater Bancshares and Cathay General and a January bond restructuring at Hancock Whitney that lifted yields.
- Funding costs eased as deposits stabilized late in the quarter, with Orrstown reversing early seasonal outflows by growing deposits and paying down borrowings, while Civista added core deposits and reduced brokered funding.
- Capital returns gained traction as firms raised dividends, repurchased shares, or initiated payouts, and several completed integrations or conversions tied to recent deals, including Civista, Columbia Banking System, and First Financial.
- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, a key liquidity backstop for member institutions, reported $236 million in first‑quarter net income Friday and kept its quarterly dividend rates, with average advances near $128 billion.