greeksoup/ stock research

Columbia Banking System, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and diluted EPS fell: Net income was $192 million, down 11% from $215 million in the fourth quarter. Diluted EPS was $0.66 against $0.72. Operating net income was $209 million against $243 million. Source
  • Margin down 10 basis points: Net interest margin was 3.96%, down 10 basis points. The fourth quarter included 8 basis points from acquired time deposit premium amortization and 3 basis points from an accelerated loan repayment. Otherwise the margin was consistent between periods. Source
  • Expense fell on lower merger costs: Non-interest expense was $394 million, down $18 million, mainly from lower merger expense. Excluding merger, restructuring and other items, expense was $369 million, down $4 million on Pacific Premier cost savings. Source
  • Deposits fell on brokered reduction: Total deposits were $53.5 billion, against $54.2 billion. Brokered deposits were $1.6 billion, against $2.4 billion, an intentional reduction. Customer deposits rose $110 million. Source
  • Net charge-offs rose to 0.30%: Net charge-offs were 0.30% of average loans, annualized, against 0.25%. FinPac charge-offs were $14 million, unchanged. Charge-offs excluding FinPac were $21 million, against $16 million. Source
  • Non-performing assets rose to 0.40%: Non-performing assets were $264 million, or 0.40% of total assets, against $200 million, or 0.30%. Source
  • Buybacks of $200 million: Repurchased $200 million of common stock under the current plan. The company bought back 6.5 million shares at an average price of $30.74. Source
  • Capital ratios declined modestly: Estimated total risk-based capital ratio was 13.3%, against 13.6%. Estimated CET1 ratio was 11.5%, against 11.8%. Management said both remain above well-capitalized minimums. Source

“Our first quarter results reflect continued execution against the priorities we have previously outlined: delivering sustainable performance, strengthening our balance sheet, and returning excess capital to shareholders”

Clint Stein, Chair, CEO & President

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Chris Merrywell is named as President of Columbia Bank. The fourth quarter release named Tory Nixon in that role. Source

Earnings and profitability

  • Net income and diluted EPS fell: Net income was $192 million, down 11% from $215 million in the fourth quarter. Diluted EPS was $0.66 against $0.72. Operating net income was $209 million against $243 million. Source
  • Operating returns declined: Operating return on average common equity was 10.89% against 12.34% in the fourth quarter. Operating return on average assets was 1.28% against 1.44%. Source
  • Operating pre-provision revenue lower: Operating pre-provision net revenue was $306 million against $342 million in the fourth quarter. Pre-provision net revenue was $283 million against $305 million. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income fell $33 million: Net interest income was $594 million, down $33 million. Management said the remaining decline reflects lower average interest-earning asset balances, partly offset by an improved mix of higher-yielding loans and investment securities. Source
  • Margin down 10 basis points: Net interest margin was 3.96%, down 10 basis points. The fourth quarter included 8 basis points from acquired time deposit premium amortization and 3 basis points from an accelerated loan repayment. Otherwise the margin was consistent between periods. Source
  • Deposit costs eased: Cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.04%, against 2.08%. Management cited active deposit rate management and a lower mix of brokered deposits. The rate was 1.98% as of March 31, 2026. Source
  • Funding cost edged lower: Cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 2.24%, against 2.27%. The rate was 2.19% as of March 31, 2026. Source

“During the quarter, we increased capital returns, reflecting our confidence in earnings durability and ongoing capital generation.”

Clint Stein, Chair, CEO & President

Fee income, expenses and efficiency

  • Non-interest income down $7 million: Non-interest income was $83 million. Excluding fair value and hedge items, which netted to a $2 million gain, it was $81 million. Management cited lower swap, syndication and international banking revenue and a typical first-quarter slowdown in customer activity. Source
  • Mortgage banking revenue higher: Residential mortgage banking revenue was $12 million, against $7 million in the fourth quarter. Closed loan volume for sale was $171 million, against $176 million. Source
  • Expense fell on lower merger costs: Non-interest expense was $394 million, down $18 million, mainly from lower merger expense. Excluding merger, restructuring and other items, expense was $369 million, down $4 million on Pacific Premier cost savings. Source
  • Operating efficiency ratio higher: The operating efficiency ratio, as adjusted, was 53.68% against 51.39%. The reported efficiency ratio was 58.03% against 57.30%. Source

Loans, deposits and funding

  • Loans roughly flat: Gross loans and leases were $47.7 billion, against $47.8 billion. Management attributed the decline to runoff in below-market-rate transactional loans, while commercial loans grew. Source
  • Loan origination volume up 38%: Origination volume was up 38% from the prior-year quarter, with bankers added from Pacific Premier. Source
  • Deposits fell on brokered reduction: Total deposits were $53.5 billion, against $54.2 billion. Brokered deposits were $1.6 billion, against $2.4 billion, an intentional reduction. Customer deposits rose $110 million. Source
  • Borrowings used for funding: Borrowings were $3.4 billion, against $3.2 billion, used to supplement funding needs. Source
  • Liquidity covers uninsured deposits: Total available liquidity was $27.1 billion, equal to 41% of total assets, 51% of total deposits and 129% of uninsured deposits. Source

Credit quality

  • Net charge-offs rose to 0.30%: Net charge-offs were 0.30% of average loans, annualized, against 0.25%. FinPac charge-offs were $14 million, unchanged. Charge-offs excluding FinPac were $21 million, against $16 million. Source
  • Non-performing assets rose to 0.40%: Non-performing assets were $264 million, or 0.40% of total assets, against $200 million, or 0.30%. Source
  • Provision rose to $28 million: Provision for credit losses was $28 million, against $23 million. The allowance was $478 million, or 1.00% of loans, against $485 million, or 1.02%. Source

Capital, returns and balance sheet

  • Buybacks of $200 million: Repurchased $200 million of common stock under the current plan. The company bought back 6.5 million shares at an average price of $30.74. Source
  • Quarterly dividend unchanged at $0.37: The $0.37 per common share dividend was declared February 13, 2026 and paid March 16, 2026, unchanged from the fourth quarter. Source
  • Capital ratios declined modestly: Estimated total risk-based capital ratio was 13.3%, against 13.6%. Estimated CET1 ratio was 11.5%, against 11.8%. Management said both remain above well-capitalized minimums. Source
  • Book value per share little changed: Book value per common share was $26.47, against $26.54. Tangible book value per common share was $19.03, against $19.11. AOCI was $(291) million, against $(233) million. Source
  • Total assets lower on cash reduction: Total assets were $66.0 billion, against $66.8 billion. Cash and cash equivalents were $2.1 billion, against $2.4 billion. Source
  • Securities portfolio slightly lower: Available-for-sale securities were $10.9 billion, against $11.1 billion. The decline reflects paydowns and lower fair value, partly offset by $208 million of purchases. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 April 2026

  • Small business campaign runs through April 30: The campaign has brought nearly $450 million in new deposits through mid-April and has also generated new SBA lending relationships. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.96%
Net interest income Source$594 million
Loans and leases Source$47,697 million
Deposits Source$53,489 million
Cost of interest-bearing deposits Source2.04%
Provision for credit losses Source$28 million
Net charge-offs Source0.30% of average loans and leases, annualized
Non-performing assets Source0.40% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source11.5%
Efficiency ratio Source58.03%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited seasonal deposit pressure during the first quarter as a factor in deposit balances. Source
  • Financial: Higher charge-offs and non-performing assets were tied to one agricultural industry relationship. Source
  • External: Federal funds rate reductions lowered loan and cash yields, which management said were offset by lower deposit costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reports the systems conversion and nine branch consolidations were completed 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.