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Columbia Banking System, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported diluted EPS fell to $0.40: Net income was $96 million, or $0.40 diluted EPS, versus $152 million and $0.73 in the second quarter. Operating net income was $204 million, or $0.85 diluted EPS. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 3.84%: Net interest margin was 3.84%, up 9 basis points. The company attributed the increase to lower funding costs from higher customer deposits and a reduction in higher-cost funding sources. Source
  • Merger costs drove expense increase: Non-interest expense was $393 million, up $115 million. The increase was mainly merger and restructuring expense of $87 million and one month of the combined company. Source
  • Deposits rose $14.0 billion: Total deposits were $55.8 billion, up $14.0 billion, from Pacific Premier and organic customer growth, partly offset by lower brokered deposits. Source
  • Provision rose on acquisition accounting: Provision was $70 million, driven by Pacific Premier. It included an initial provision on acquired non-PCD loans and unfunded commitments; excluding these items, provision expense was $0. Source
  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.6%: Estimated CET1 ratio was 11.6% and total risk-based capital ratio was 13.4%, up from 10.8% and 13.0% at June 30, 2025. The company said it remains above well-capitalized minimums. Source
  • Pacific Premier closed August 31: Columbia closed the Pacific Premier acquisition on August 31, 2025. Management said the deal completes its Western footprint. Source

“Our third quarter performance reflects meaningful progress and growing momentum,”

Clint Stein, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Share repurchase authorization Sourcethrough November 30, 2026up to $700 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Pacific Premier acquisition closed August 31, 2025. The second-quarter release had anticipated closing as soon as September 1, 2025. Source
  • New: Columbia Bank began serving customers under a unified name and brand on September 1, 2025. The second-quarter release described the bank as Columbia Bank (dba: Umpqua Bank). Source
  • New guidance: A share repurchase authorization of up to $700 million was started, expiring November 30, 2026. Source

Earnings and reported results

  • Reported diluted EPS fell to $0.40: Net income was $96 million, or $0.40 diluted EPS, versus $152 million and $0.73 in the second quarter. Operating net income was $204 million, or $0.85 diluted EPS. Source
  • Operating pre-provision revenue rose: Operating pre-provision net revenue was $270 million, up from $242 million in the second quarter. The non-GAAP measure adds back non-interest expense adjustments, including merger and restructuring expense. Source
  • Pre-provision net revenue declined: Reported pre-provision net revenue was $189 million, down from $233 million in the second quarter and $225 million a year earlier. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest margin rose to 3.84%: Net interest margin was 3.84%, up 9 basis points. The company attributed the increase to lower funding costs from higher customer deposits and a reduction in higher-cost funding sources. Source
  • Net interest income rose $59 million: Net interest income was $505 million, up $59 million, largely from one month operating as a combined company. A shift to lower-cost funding also contributed. Source
  • Deposit cost fell 9 basis points: Cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.43%, down 9 basis points. It was 2.20% as of September 30, 2025, after the 25-basis-point federal funds rate cut in mid-September. Source
  • Premium amortization aided September deposit cost: Amortization of a Pacific Premier time-deposit premium added $4 million to September net interest income. Excluding this, the September cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.41%. Source

“Customer deposit growth supported balance sheet optimization, as we organically reduced transactional loans and non-core funding.”

Clint Stein, President and CEO

Non-interest income and expense

  • Fair value swings lifted fee income: Non-interest income was $77 million, up $12 million. Fair value and hedge items moved to a net $5 million gain from a $1 million loss, and underlying income rose $6 million. Source
  • Merger costs drove expense increase: Non-interest expense was $393 million, up $115 million. The increase was mainly merger and restructuring expense of $87 million and one month of the combined company. Source
  • Underlying expense rose $37 million: Excluding merger costs and a $1 million FDIC reversal, non-interest expense was $307 million, up $37 million. Pacific Premier added $34 million to the run rate. Source
  • Franchise reinvestment lifts other costs: Management said other miscellaneous expenses rose as prior cost savings were reinvested in the franchise. Source

Loans, deposits and customer activity

  • Deposits rose $14.0 billion: Total deposits were $55.8 billion, up $14.0 billion, from Pacific Premier and organic customer growth, partly offset by lower brokered deposits. Source
  • Organic deposit growth near $800 million: Merrywell said organic customer deposit growth approached $800 million in the quarter, from new customer activity and a seasonal lift in balances. Source
  • Loans rose $10.8 billion with acquisition: Gross loans were $48.5 billion, up $10.8 billion, mainly from Pacific Premier. Excluding acquisition and run-off factors, the loan portfolio was essentially unchanged. Source
  • New loan originations up 19%: Merrywell said new loan originations rose 19% from the prior quarter, as teams focused on new client acquisition and relationship-building. Source
  • Brokered funding reduced $1.9 billion: Brokered deposits and borrowings were $4.8 billion, down $1.9 billion from June 30, 2025. Source
  • Campaign brought $1.1 billion deposits: A small business and retail campaign, labelled third of 2026 in the document, was ongoing. Through mid-October it had brought about $1.1 billion in new deposits. Source

“We continue to prioritize balance sheet optimization and profitability, as we reduce our exposure to non-relationship loans.”

Chris Merrywell, President of Columbia Bank

Credit quality

  • Net charge-offs fell to 0.22%: Net charge-offs were 0.22% of average loans and leases, annualized, versus 0.31%. Excluding FinPac, net charge-offs were $6 million, against $15 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Provision rose on acquisition accounting: Provision was $70 million, driven by Pacific Premier. It included an initial provision on acquired non-PCD loans and unfunded commitments; excluding these items, provision expense was $0. Source
  • Non-performing assets rose in dollars: Non-performing assets were $199 million, or 0.29% of total assets, versus $180 million and 0.35% at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Allowance rose to $492 million: The ACL was $492 million, or 1.01% of loans, versus $439 million and 1.17%. The $53 million increase included $5 million of purchased credit deteriorated loans booked at closing. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.6%: Estimated CET1 ratio was 11.6% and total risk-based capital ratio was 13.4%, up from 10.8% and 13.0% at June 30, 2025. The company said it remains above well-capitalized minimums. Source
  • Book value per share reached $26.04: Book value per common share was $26.04, up from $25.41. The increase reflects shares issued and exchanged for the acquisition and net capital generation. Source
  • Tangible book value dilution offset: Tangible book value per common share was $18.57, up from $18.47. Management said the items discussed offset 1.7% dilution from the Pacific Premier acquisition. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.36: A quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per common share was declared on August 15, 2025 and paid on September 15, 2025. Source

Acquisition and combined company

  • Pacific Premier closed August 31: Columbia closed the Pacific Premier acquisition on August 31, 2025. Management said the deal completes its Western footprint. Source
  • Purchase price and goodwill: Consideration in common shares was $2,355 million, with goodwill of $452 million. Management said these estimates are preliminary and subject to adjustment for up to one year. Source
  • Acquired loans at closing: Pacific Premier's acquired loans and leases were $11,382 million at fair value, per the preliminary purchase price allocation. Source

Liquidity and balance sheet

  • Total assets rose to $67.5 billion: Total assets were $67.5 billion, up from $51.9 billion, due to Pacific Premier, partly offset by balance sheet optimization in the quarter. Source
  • Available liquidity reached $26.7 billion: Total available liquidity, including secured off-balance sheet lines, was $26.7 billion. That equals 40% of total assets, 48% of total deposits and 130% of uninsured deposits. Source
  • Securities portfolio grew $2.4 billion: Available-for-sale securities were $11.0 billion, up $2.4 billion, from acquired securities and fair value gains, partly offset by net sales. Source
  • Cash rose to $2.3 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $2.3 billion, up from $1.9 billion at June 30, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2025

  • Capital generation over coming quarters: Management expects exceptional profitability to produce meaningful capital generation over the coming quarters. Source
  • Organic balance sheet optimization continues: Management said it will keep driving organic growth while optimizing the balance sheet, alongside an expanded capital return platform. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.84%
Net interest income Source$505 million
Loans and leases Source$48.5 billion
Deposits Source$55.8 billion
Cost of interest-bearing deposits Source2.43%
Provision for credit losses Source$70 million
Net charge-offs Source0.22% of average loans and leases (annualized)
Non-performing assets Source$199 million, 0.29% of total assets
CET1 risk-based capital ratio Source11.6%
Efficiency ratio Source67.29%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management described its deposit-rate actions as taken ahead of and following the mid-September federal funds rate cut. Source
  • Regulatory: The company said its September 30 regulatory capital ratios are estimates, pending completion and filing of regulatory reports. Source
  • Financial: FinPac portfolio net charge-offs were $16 million, up from $14 million in the second quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter release expected closing as soon as September 1, 2025. This release says the transaction closed August 31, 2025.
  • On track: Management said integration is progressing smoothly and it remains on track to integrate systems in the first quarter of 2026. 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.