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NBT Bancorp 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 rose from first quarter 2025: Net income was $51.1 million, or $0.98 diluted EPS, against $36.7 million, or $0.77, a year earlier. Operating diluted EPS was $0.97 versus $0.80. The Evans acquisition affects the comparison. Source
  • Net interest margin rose 7 basis points: NIM on an FTE basis was 3.72%, up from 3.65%. Cost of funds fell 9 bps to 1.42%, while earning asset yields eased 2 bps to 5.06%. Source
  • Loans slipped on payoffs and run-off: Period-end loans were $11.55 billion, down $50.9 million from December 31, 2025, and up from $9.98 billion a year earlier. The decline included run-off in consumer and residential solar portfolios. Source
  • Expenses rose 13.7% year over year: Noninterest expense was $112.2 million, up from $111.7 million in the fourth quarter and $99.9 million a year earlier. Excluding $1.2 million of prior-year acquisition costs, the rise was 13.7%. Source
  • Provision rose to $5.6 million: Provision expense was $5.6 million, up from $3.8 million in the fourth quarter, on higher net charge-offs and a higher allowance. The allowance was $138.6 million, or 1.20% of loans. Source
  • Nonaccrual commercial loans lifted NPAs: Nonperforming assets were 0.38% of total assets, up from 0.33% at year-end, mainly from additional commercial relationships placed on nonaccrual status in the quarter. Source
  • CET1 ratio rose to 12.34%: CET1 ratio was 12.34%, leverage ratio 9.70%, and total risk-based capital ratio 14.52%. Tangible book value per share rose from $26.54 at year-end to $27.05. Source

“We delivered solid first quarter results that reflect disciplined execution across our franchise and provided meaningful improvement in profitability compared to the first quarter of 2025”

NBT President and CEO Scott Kingsley

Earnings and net income

  • Net income rose from first quarter 2025: Net income was $51.1 million, or $0.98 diluted EPS, against $36.7 million, or $0.77, a year earlier. Operating diluted EPS was $0.97 versus $0.80. The Evans acquisition affects the comparison. Source
  • Earnings slightly below fourth quarter: Compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, net income was $4.4 million lower and diluted EPS was $0.08 lower. Operating diluted EPS was $1.05 in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Net interest income up year on year: Net interest income was $134.3 million, down 0.8% sequentially on two fewer days and lower earning asset yields. It was up 25.3% from the first quarter of 2025 on margin gains, Evans and organic growth. Source

Net interest margin and yields

  • Net interest margin rose 7 basis points: NIM on an FTE basis was 3.72%, up from 3.65%. Cost of funds fell 9 bps to 1.42%, while earning asset yields eased 2 bps to 5.06%. Source
  • Loan yields eased on Fed cuts: Loan yields fell 4 bps to 5.66%, reflecting Federal Reserve rate cuts in the fourth quarter, partly offset by new loans priced above portfolio yields. Source
  • Deposit costs fell on time deposits: Total cost of deposits, including noninterest-bearing deposits, was 1.34%. That was down 10 bps from the prior quarter, mainly on time and money market deposits, and down 15 bps from a year earlier. Source
  • Earning asset yields up year over year: Earning asset yields were 11 bps higher than a year earlier, from newer assets priced above portfolio yields and higher acquisition-related net accretion. Source

“Net interest margin expanded during the quarter while deposit growth across all major customer segments reflected the strength of our franchise”

NBT President and CEO Scott Kingsley

Fee income and business lines

  • Noninterest income held steady: Noninterest income excluding securities gains was $49.7 million, or 27% of total revenues. It was consistent with the fourth quarter and up $2.1 million, or 4.5%, from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Retirement fees rose on organic growth: Retirement plan administration fees rose $2.5 million, or 17.5%, from the fourth quarter. The company cited activity-based fees, higher asset values and new customer relationships. Source
  • Wealth fees fell sequentially: Wealth management fees fell 7.4% from the fourth quarter, when higher seasonal fees were recognized. They were flat against the first quarter of 2025. Insurance revenue rose $0.6 million on organic growth. Source
  • Service charges rose with Evans: Service charges on deposit accounts were flat sequentially and higher than a year earlier, mainly from the Evans acquisition and new account growth. Source

Loans and deposits

  • Loans slipped on payoffs and run-off: Period-end loans were $11.55 billion, down $50.9 million from December 31, 2025, and up from $9.98 billion a year earlier. The decline included run-off in consumer and residential solar portfolios. Source
  • Commercial payoffs stayed elevated: Commercial loan payoffs remained at levels similar to each of the prior two quarters, reducing loan balances during the period. Source
  • Deposits grew across all business lines: Total deposits reached $13.74 billion, up from $13.50 billion at year-end. The company said all business lines grew during the quarter. Source
  • Loan-to-deposit ratio declined: The loan-to-deposit ratio was 84.0%, compared with 85.9% at year-end and 85.2% a year earlier. Source

“Retirement plan administration fees also increased, driven by productive organic growth activities, highlighting the benefits of our diversified business mix”

NBT President and CEO Scott Kingsley

Expenses and taxes

  • Expenses rose 13.7% year over year: Noninterest expense was $112.2 million, up from $111.7 million in the fourth quarter and $99.9 million a year earlier. Excluding $1.2 million of prior-year acquisition costs, the rise was 13.7%. Source
  • Salaries rose on payroll taxes: Salaries and benefits rose 4.2% from the fourth quarter on seasonally higher payroll taxes and about $3 million of stock-based compensation, partly offset by lower medical expenses. Source
  • Occupancy rose with winter costs: Occupancy costs rose $1.7 million from the fourth quarter on seasonal maintenance and utilities. Against the first quarter of 2025, occupancy was up $2.0 million, including Evans and new branch facilities. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 23.3%: The effective tax rate was 23.3%, up from 20.3% in the fourth quarter, which had reflected finalizing merger-expense deductibility, and from 22.2% a year earlier on higher taxable income. Source

Credit quality and provision

  • Provision rose to $5.6 million: Provision expense was $5.6 million, up from $3.8 million in the fourth quarter, on higher net charge-offs and a higher allowance. The allowance was $138.6 million, or 1.20% of loans. Source
  • Net charge-offs edged up: Net charge-offs were 0.17% of average loans, up from 0.16%, on higher commercial net charge-offs. Total loan net charge-offs were $5.0 million, against $4.8 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Nonaccrual commercial loans lifted NPAs: Nonperforming assets were 0.38% of total assets, up from 0.33% at year-end, mainly from additional commercial relationships placed on nonaccrual status in the quarter. Source
  • Allowance rose on one relationship: The allowance rose to $138.6 million, or 1.20% of loans, mainly from specific reserves on one commercial relationship moved to nonaccrual. Solar and consumer run-off and loss model improvements partly offset it. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio rose to 12.34%: CET1 ratio was 12.34%, leverage ratio 9.70%, and total risk-based capital ratio 14.52%. Tangible book value per share rose from $26.54 at year-end to $27.05. Source
  • Equity rose $18.2 million: Stockholders' equity reached $1.91 billion, up $18.2 million. Net income of $51.1 million was partly offset by $19.2 million of dividends declared, $11.0 million of buybacks and a $4.7 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Source
  • Bought back 250,000 shares: The company bought 250,000 shares for $11.0 million at an average price of $44.06, the same share count as the prior quarter. 1,500,000 shares remain available under the plan. Source

Evans, investment and footprint

  • Evans added Western New York scale: Evans, acquired May 2, 2025, added 200 employees and 18 banking locations in Western New York. It continues to affect year-over-year comparisons. Source
  • Continued investment in people and platform: Management said it remains focused on disciplined balance sheet management and continued investment in people, markets and platform. Source
  • Footprint and fee businesses: NBT Bank operates 176 banking locations across seven states, alongside EPIC Retirement Plan Services and NBT Insurance Agency. Total assets were $16.20 billion at March 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.72%
Net interest income Source$134.3 million
Loans Source$11.55 billion
Deposits Source$13.74 billion
Provision for loan losses Source$5.6 million
Net charge-offs Source0.17%
Nonperforming assets Source0.38% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source12.34%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Elevated commercial loan payoffs continued in the quarter, similar to the prior two quarters, reducing loan balances. Source
  • Financial: Additional commercial relationships moved to nonaccrual status, raising nonperforming assets and specific reserves in the quarter. Source
  • External: Federal Reserve rate cuts in the fourth quarter lowered loan yields, partly offset by newer loans priced at higher rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said first quarter results were consistent with its seasonal expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the other consumer and residential solar portfolios as being in a planned run-off. 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.