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Zions Bancorporation, National Association: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarterly earnings and EPS rose: Net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $262 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, up from $221 million and $1.48 in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Full-year earnings and EPS rose: Full-year 2025 net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $895 million, with diluted EPS of $6.01, against $737 million and $4.95 in 2024. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 3.31%: Net interest margin was 3.31%, up from 3.28% in the third quarter and 3.05% a year earlier, helped by a shift in earning assets toward higher-yielding loans. Source
  • Net charge-offs fell sharply: Net loan and lease charge-offs were $7 million, an annualized 0.05% of average loans, down from $56 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Efficiency ratio 62.3% reported: The efficiency ratio was 62.3%, against 62.0% a year earlier. Excluding the donation it was 60.6%, which the company described as positive operating leverage. Source
  • Loans grew 3% year on year: Loans and leases were $60.9 billion, up $615 million from the third quarter. Source
  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.5%: Estimated CET1 capital was $7.9 billion, up 8% from a year earlier. The ratio was 11.3% in the third quarter. Source
  • Tangible book value rose 21%: Tangible book value per common share was $40.79, up from $38.64 in the third quarter, which the company attributed mainly to retained earnings and lower AOCI losses. Source

“We’re pleased with fourth quarter results, with earnings per share rising 31% to $1.76 from the prior year’s quarterly earnings of $1.34.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A $15 million charitable contribution to the Zions Bancorporation Foundation was made in the quarter, recorded in noninterest expense. Source
  • New: Management said the donation funds charitable donations it expects would otherwise have been nondeductible under recent tax law changes effective January 1. Source

Quarter and full-year earnings

  • Quarterly earnings and EPS rose: Net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $262 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, up from $221 million and $1.48 in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Full-year earnings and EPS rose: Full-year 2025 net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $895 million, with diluted EPS of $6.01, against $737 million and $4.95 in 2024. Source
  • Adjusted PPNR below third quarter: Adjusted PPNR was $331 million, against $352 million in the third quarter. Excluding the $15 million contribution, it would have been $346 million. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income up on funding costs: Net interest income was $683 million, up $56 million from the prior year quarter and $11 million from the third quarter. The company attributed the increase primarily to lower funding costs. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 3.31%: Net interest margin was 3.31%, up from 3.28% in the third quarter and 3.05% a year earlier, helped by a shift in earning assets toward higher-yielding loans. Source
  • Asset yields fell with rates: The yield on average interest-earning assets was 5.01%, against 5.13% a year earlier, which the company linked to lower interest rates. Loan yield was 5.76%, down 16 basis points. Source
  • Cost of deposits declined: Total cost of deposits was 1.56%, down from 1.93% a year earlier and 1.67% in the third quarter. Average interest-bearing liabilities fell $2.3 billion from the prior year quarter. Source

“Both loans and deposits grew at a 4.1% annualized rate during the quarter, and the net interest margin continued to improve, reaching 3.31%, up from 3.28% last quarter and 3.05% a year ago.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation

Credit quality and reserves

  • Net charge-offs fell sharply: Net loan and lease charge-offs were $7 million, an annualized 0.05% of average loans, down from $56 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Provision eased to $6 million: The provision for credit losses was $6 million, against $49 million in the third quarter. The allowance for credit losses was $724 million, or 1.19% of loans and leases. Source
  • Nonperforming assets up from prior year: Nonperforming assets were $320 million, or 0.52% of loans and leases and other real estate owned, up from $298 million a year earlier. Source
  • Classified loans declined: Classified loans were $2.4 billion, or 3.91% of loans and leases, down from 4.00% in the third quarter and 4.83% a year earlier. Source

Noninterest expense and efficiency

  • Noninterest expense rose 7%: Noninterest expense was $546 million, up $37 million from the prior year quarter and $19 million from the third quarter. Adjusted noninterest expense was $548 million. Source
  • Donation lifted marketing expense: Marketing and business development expense rose $20 million, mainly from a $15 million donation to the charitable foundation. Source
  • Salaries rose on pay and severance: Salaries and employee benefits rose $14 million, from higher base salaries, severance costs and incentive accruals tied to improved profitability. Source
  • Efficiency ratio 62.3% reported: The efficiency ratio was 62.3%, against 62.0% a year earlier. Excluding the donation it was 60.6%, which the company described as positive operating leverage. Source

“Excluding this donation, adjusted operating expenses would have increased 4.7%, resulting in positive operating leverage during the quarter of 2.4%, and an efficiency ratio of 60.6%.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation

Noninterest income and fees

  • Customer fees flat year on year: Customer-related noninterest income was $177 million, up 1% from the prior year quarter and up 4% for 2025, compared with $163 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Capital markets fees lower year on year: Capital markets fees and income were $37 million, up from $24 million in the third quarter but down $3 million from a year earlier. Source
  • Retail fees rose on overdraft: Retail and business banking fees rose $3 million from the prior year quarter, driven by overdraft and deposit service fees. Source
  • Securities gains lifted noncustomer income: Noncustomer income rose mainly from a $13 million increase in net securities gains, attributed to valuation adjustments in the SBIC investment portfolio. Source

Loans, deposits and borrowings

  • Loans grew 3% year on year: Loans and leases were $60.9 billion, up $615 million from the third quarter. Source
  • Consumer loans led the growth: Growth came mainly from consumer loans, chiefly 1-4 family residential. Commercial loans rose $731 million, largely commercial and industrial, while commercial real estate fell $81 million. Source
  • Brokered deposits reduced interest-bearing: Interest-bearing deposits fell as brokered balances declined. Total deposits were $75.6 billion, down 1% from the prior year quarter. Source
  • Noninterest-bearing deposits grew: Noninterest-bearing demand deposits rose $1.1 billion year on year. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 81%, compared with 78% a year earlier. Source
  • Borrowed funds fell from prior year: Borrowed funds totalled $4.6 billion, down 4% from a year earlier. Short-term borrowings were $3.1 billion, down 19%. Source

Capital and book value

  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.5%: Estimated CET1 capital was $7.9 billion, up 8% from a year earlier. The ratio was 11.3% in the third quarter. Source
  • Tangible book value rose 21%: Tangible book value per common share was $40.79, up from $38.64 in the third quarter, which the company attributed mainly to retained earnings and lower AOCI losses. Source
  • AOCI loss narrowed year on year: AOCI was a net loss of $1.9 billion at year end, improved by $439 million from a year earlier. About $1.6 billion of unrealized losses relate to securities moved from AFS to HTM. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.45: The common stock dividend was $0.45 per share, up from $0.43 a year earlier. Common dividends paid were $67 million, flat from the third quarter. Source
  • No plan to sell loss securities: Management stated that it does not intend to sell securities with unrealized losses. Source

Full-year results and management view

  • Full-year EPS and expense growth: Full-year EPS rose 21%. Adjusted taxable-equivalent revenue rose 7.4% and adjusted operating expenses rose 4.8%, or 4.0% excluding the donation. Source
  • Management cites 2025 strengthening: Management said 2025 results continued to strengthen relative to 2024. Source
  • Headcount lower than prior year: Full-time equivalent employees were 9,195, down from 9,286 in the third quarter and 9,406 a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 20 January 2026

  • Donation to be used over three years: The $15 million donation will be used over the coming three years for charitable donations. Source
  • Continued prudent growth expected: Management said it is looking forward to continued prudent growth in the coming year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.31%
Net interest income Source$683 million
Loans and loan growth Source$60.9 billion
Deposits Source$75.6 billion
Deposit costs Source1.56%
Provision for credit losses Source$6 million
Net charge-offs Source0.05% annualized, $7 million
Nonperforming assets Source$320 million, 0.52%
CET1 ratio Source11.5%
Efficiency ratio Source62.3%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Nonperforming assets stayed concentrated in commercial and industrial, term CRE and consumer 1-4 family residential loan portfolios. Source
  • Financial: The AOCI net loss reflects rate-driven declines in fixed-rate available-for-sale securities. These unrealized losses are excluded from regulatory capital. Source
  • Regulatory: Deposit insurance and regulatory expense depends on FDIC special assessment estimates. An updated estimate lowered this line by $11 million, including a $9 million accrual reversal this quarter. 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.