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Bank First Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on Centre scale: Net income was $20.0 million, or $1.78 per share, against $18.2 million, or $1.82 per share, in the prior-year first quarter. Source
  • Adjusted earnings excluded acquisition costs: Adjusted net income was $25.1 million, or $2.24 per share, after removing $6.5 million of Centre acquisition expenses and $0.2 million of net asset-sale gains. Source
  • Net interest income rose to $53.2 million: Net interest income was $53.2 million, up $13.1 million from the prior quarter and up $16.7 million from the prior-year first quarter. Source
  • Noninterest expense included acquisition costs: Noninterest expense was $39.1 million, including $6.5 million of Centre acquisition expenses in personnel, outside services and data processing. Source
  • Nonperforming assets rose to $30.0 million: Nonperforming assets were $30.0 million, up from $9.0 million at year-end 2025. Source
  • Tangible book value growth annualized 9.1%: Tangible book value per share was $47.04 at March 31, 2026, up from $46.01; annualized growth in tangible book value was 9.1%. Source

“This acquisition marked another milestone in Bank First’s long-term growth strategy and established our new Stateline Region.”

Mike Molepske, Chairman and CEO of Bank First Corporation

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly cash dividend per share SourceDividend payable July 8, 2026$0.55Raised from $0.50

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Centre acquisition increased total assets of Bank First by 33%, with Centre having $1.48 billion in assets at closing. Source
  • New: Trust and Wealth Management became a new business line from the Centre acquisition, producing $1.6 million of noninterest income. Source
  • New: Management plans to build new offices in Walworth, Delavan and Monroe. Source
  • Ended: Six overlapping First National Bank and Trust branches were permanently closed when the acquisition completed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on Centre scale: Net income was $20.0 million, or $1.78 per share, against $18.2 million, or $1.82 per share, in the prior-year first quarter. Source
  • Adjusted earnings excluded acquisition costs: Adjusted net income was $25.1 million, or $2.24 per share, after removing $6.5 million of Centre acquisition expenses and $0.2 million of net asset-sale gains. Source
  • Centre added scale across results: Management said the added operating scale from the Centre transaction significantly affected nearly every aspect of results. Source

Stateline Region and Centre integration

  • Loan contraction centered in Stateline: Loans contracted during the quarter, mainly in the Stateline region, as the Bank exited balances not consistent with its lending philosophy. Source
  • Trust and Wealth team added: Management said the acquisition added experienced Trust and Wealth Management, Fraud and Treasury Management teams. Source
  • Centre loans reduced after closing: Loans acquired from Centre totaled about $981.5 million and were reduced to $936.7 million by March 31, 2026. Source

“The integration of these specialized services is already enhancing our ability to deliver comprehensive financial solutions across our legacy markets,”

Mike Molepske, Chairman and CEO of Bank First Corporation

Net interest margin and purchase accounting

  • Net interest income rose to $53.2 million: Net interest income was $53.2 million, up $13.1 million from the prior quarter and up $16.7 million from the prior-year first quarter. Source
  • Net interest margin declined to 3.96%: Net interest margin was 3.96%, compared with 4.01% in the prior quarter and 3.65% in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Purchase accounting lifted margin: Purchase accounting raised NIM by 0.20% this quarter, against 0.05% in the prior quarter and 0.10% a year earlier. Source
  • FHLB borrowings repaid early: Early repayment of $65.0 million of assumed FHLB borrowings reduced interest expense through a $1.3 million fair value adjustment. Source

Noninterest income and expense

  • Noninterest income rose with Centre: Noninterest income was $10.5 million, compared with $4.8 million in the prior quarter and $6.6 million in the prior-year first quarter. Source
  • Service charges and Trust income rose: Service charge income was $4.7 million, against $2.3 million in the prior quarter, and Trust and Wealth Management added $1.6 million. Source
  • Noninterest expense included acquisition costs: Noninterest expense was $39.1 million, including $6.5 million of Centre acquisition expenses in personnel, outside services and data processing. Source
  • Core deposit amortization raised expense: A $31.9 million core deposit intangible from Centre, amortized over 10 years, drove higher amortization expense this quarter. Source

Loans, deposits and funding

  • Loans reached $4.52 billion: Total loans were $4.52 billion, up $911.0 million from year-end, including loans acquired from Centre. Source
  • Deposits reached $5.09 billion: Total deposits were $5.09 billion, up $1.39 billion, with about $1.38 billion acquired from Centre; nearly all remain core deposits. Source
  • Noninterest-bearing share rose to 29.4%: Noninterest-bearing demand deposits were 29.4% of total deposits, up from 27.1% at the end of 2025. Source
  • Investments rose with Centre portfolio: Investments rose to $601.2 million, with $333.1 million acquired from Centre, lifting the portfolio to 9.9% of total assets. Source

Asset quality

  • Nonperforming assets rose to $30.0 million: Nonperforming assets were $30.0 million, up from $9.0 million at year-end 2025. Source
  • Nonperforming assets ratio reached 0.50%: Nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.50%, up from 0.20%, which management described as manageable. Source
  • No provision, Centre reserve entries: No provision for credit losses was recorded this quarter; Centre accounting entries had added $12.8 million to the allowance on January 1. Source
  • Other real estate and nonaccrual loans: Other real estate owned of $3.2 million consists of former Centre properties not to be used, and $3.5 million of acquired loans are on nonaccrual. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Stockholders' equity rose to $819.9 million: Equity was $819.9 million, up $176.0 million, including a $168.5 million positive capital impact from the Centre acquisition. Source
  • Tangible book value growth annualized 9.1%: Tangible book value per share was $47.04 at March 31, 2026, up from $46.01; annualized growth in tangible book value was 9.1%. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends reduced equity: Bank First repurchased 16,000 shares for $2.4 million and paid $5.6 million of dividends during the quarter. Source

Footprint, staffing and branch plans

  • Services across 38 locations: Bank First offers loan, deposit, treasury management, trust and wealth services at 38 banking locations in Wisconsin and Illinois. Source
  • Six branches closed at completion: Six overlapping First National Bank and Trust branches were permanently closed when the acquisition completed. Source
  • Staffing of about 546 employees: Bank First employs about 546 full-time equivalent staff, against roughly 500 stated in the prior quarter's release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 16 April 2026

  • Core system conversion in Q2 2026: Centre core data processing system is scheduled to move onto Bank First’s platform, with completion in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Wealth platform build-out continues: Management is continuing to invest in building out the Wealth Management platform across the footprint. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.96%
Net interest income Source$53.2 million
Loans Source$4.52 billion
Deposits Source$5.09 billion
Interest-bearing deposit cost Source2.26%
Provision for credit losses Sourcenone recorded
Net loan charge-offs to average loans Source0.01%
Nonperforming assets to total assets Source0.50%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: A single relationship of $12.9 million was moved to nonaccrual status, and was the largest contributor to the rise in nonperforming assets. Source
  • Operational: Until the core system conversion, some operational areas have redundancies, and full expected cost savings will come in later quarters. Source
  • Financial: The early FHLB repayment carried a $1.1 million prepayment penalty, recorded in other noninterest expense. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the Centre acquisition was completed on January 1, 2026. Source
  • Met: The six overlapping branches were closed when the acquisition completed, as management states. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.