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FB Financial Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net income and diluted EPS: Net income was $57.0 million, or $1.07 diluted EPS, compared with $0.43 in the third quarter and $0.81 a year earlier. The effective tax rate was 18.4%. Source
  • Loans grew modestly in the quarter: Loans held for investment were $12.38 billion, up from $12.30 billion in the third quarter and $9.60 billion a year earlier. Construction loans fell $6.9 million. Source
  • Margin rose on lower funding costs: Net interest margin was 3.98%, up from 3.95%. Deposit costs fell 13 basis points and loan yields fell 11 basis points. Purchase accounting accretion added 17 basis points. Source
  • Expenses rose on performance pay: Adjusted noninterest expense was $100.4 million, against $93.5 million in the third quarter and $72.7 million a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to performance-based compensation. Source
  • Charge-offs held at a low level: Net charge-offs were $1.4 million, or 0.05% annualised, the same as the third quarter and down from 0.47% a year earlier. The allowance was 1.50% of loans, or $186.0 million. Source
  • About 3% of shares repurchased: The company repurchased 1,717,948 shares in the quarter, against 493,243 in the third quarter. Period-end shares were 51.75 million, down from 53.46 million. Source
  • Entering 2026 with stated flexibility: Management said the company enters 2026 with momentum, flexibility and confidence, ready to act on opportunities. Source

“We closed the year with solid earnings and a balance sheet that underscores strength, stability, and significant growth potential.”

Christopher T. Holmes, President and Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • Ended: The prior release labelled non-GAAP measures as core. This release labels them adjusted.

Earnings and results

  • Fourth-quarter net income and diluted EPS: Net income was $57.0 million, or $1.07 diluted EPS, compared with $0.43 in the third quarter and $0.81 a year earlier. The effective tax rate was 18.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS higher than prior quarter: Adjusted net income was $61.5 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.16, compared with $1.07 in the third quarter and $0.85 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS lower than 2024: Full-year net income was $122.6 million, or $2.45 diluted EPS, against $2.48 in 2024. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.99, against $3.40 in 2024. Source

Loans and balance sheet

  • Loans grew modestly in the quarter: Loans held for investment were $12.38 billion, up from $12.30 billion in the third quarter and $9.60 billion a year earlier. Construction loans fell $6.9 million. Source
  • Noninterest-bearing deposits declined: Noninterest-bearing deposits were $2.63 billion, down from $2.69 billion. Total deposits were $13.91 billion, up from $13.81 billion in the third quarter. Source
  • Loans-to-deposits ratio unchanged: The loans held for investment to deposit ratio was 89.0% in both the fourth and third quarters, up from 85.7% a year earlier. Source

“We also deployed capital during the quarter through a substantial share repurchase that delivered meaningful earnings accretion, demonstrating our confidence in the Company and our commitment to creating long-term value.”

Christopher T. Holmes, President and Chief Executive Officer

Margin and deposit costs

  • Margin rose on lower funding costs: Net interest margin was 3.98%, up from 3.95%. Deposit costs fell 13 basis points and loan yields fell 11 basis points. Purchase accounting accretion added 17 basis points. Source
  • Deposit costs fell with lower rates: Cost of total deposits was 2.40%, down from 2.53%. Management linked the decline to lower indexed deposit expense after the federal funds rate cut. Source
  • Core deposit growth prioritised: Management said it is growing core banking deposits and reducing non-core funds. Brokered deposits rose to $625.6 million from $487.8 million in the third quarter. Source

Fee income and mortgage

  • Adjusted fee income edged higher: Adjusted noninterest income was $27.7 million, against $27.3 million in the third quarter and $24.2 million a year earlier. Reported noninterest income was $28.8 million, including a $1.1 million cash life insurance benefit. Source
  • Mortgage banking income flat on quarter: Mortgage banking income was $13.5 million in both the fourth and third quarters, up from $10.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net interest income topped $150 million: Tax-equivalent net interest income was $150.6 million, up from $148.1 million in the third quarter. Management described it as a standout result. Source

“In managing expenses and capital investments in our core business, our goal is to continuously create additional operating leverage.”

Michael Mettee, Chief Financial Officer

Expenses and efficiency

  • Expenses rose on performance pay: Adjusted noninterest expense was $100.4 million, against $93.5 million in the third quarter and $72.7 million a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to performance-based compensation. Source
  • Adjusted efficiency ratio higher: The GAAP efficiency ratio was 60.2%, against 63.2% in the third quarter. The adjusted efficiency ratio was 56.3%, against 53.3% in the third quarter and 54.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Merger costs eased; severance recorded: Merger and integration costs were $4.6 million, down from $16.1 million in the third quarter. The quarter also included $1.4 million of early retirement and severance costs and $1.1 million of nonrecurring charitable contributions. Source

Credit quality and reserves

  • Provision expense fell sharply: The total provision was $1.2 million, against $34.4 million in the third quarter. The loan provision was $2.4 million, offset by a $1.2 million reversal on unfunded commitments. Source
  • Charge-offs held at a low level: Net charge-offs were $1.4 million, or 0.05% annualised, the same as the third quarter and down from 0.47% a year earlier. The allowance was 1.50% of loans, or $186.0 million. Source
  • Nonperforming loans ratio increased: Nonperforming loans were 0.97% of loans held for investment, up from 0.94% in the third quarter and 0.87% a year earlier. Source

Capital and share repurchases

  • About 3% of shares repurchased: The company repurchased 1,717,948 shares in the quarter, against 493,243 in the third quarter. Period-end shares were 51.75 million, down from 53.46 million. Source
  • Capital ratios lower than third quarter: Preliminary CET1 ratio was 11.4%, against 11.7%. Tangible common equity to tangible assets was 9.84%, against 10.1%. The total risk-based ratio was 13.2%; the comparative column shows 13.6%, while the prior release showed 13.5%. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Book value per common share was $37.64, against $37.00 in the third quarter. Tangible book value per common share was $30.27, against $29.83. Source
  • Conservative capital stance kept: Management said it will keep conservative capital levels while it seeks the right opportunities to drive long-term value. Source

Merger and 2026 positioning

  • Southern States merger closed July: The prior release said the Southern States merger, which closed July 1, 2025, was the main driver of the third-quarter rise in loans and deposits.
  • Balance sheet restructured and talent added: Management cited a strategic combination, a share repurchase, balance sheet restructuring and attracting key talent during 2025. Source
  • Entering 2026 with stated flexibility: Management said the company enters 2026 with momentum, flexibility and confidence, ready to act on opportunities. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.98%
Net interest income Source$150.6 million (tax-equivalent)
Loans Source$12.38 billion (held for investment)
Deposits Source$13.91 billion
Deposit costs Source2.40%
Provision for credit losses Source$1.2 million
Net charge-offs Source0.05% annualised
Nonperforming assets Source0.97% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source11.4% (preliminary)
Efficiency ratio Source60.2% GAAP; 56.3% adjusted

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management tied modest loan growth to large credits paying down late in the year and pipeline credits shifting into 2026. Source
  • Financial: Contractual loan yield fell to 6.34% from 6.45%, and the 11 basis point decrease in loan yield partially offset lower funding costs. Source
  • Financial: Nonperforming assets rose to 0.97% of total assets from 0.89% in the third quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Mettee said adjusted operating expenses tracked as expected, even though performance-related accruals raised adjusted noninterest expense. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected full benefits in the fourth quarter. This release does not attribute the margin change to the redemption.

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.