WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WSFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WSFS), the parent company of WSFS Bank, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026.

Selected financial results and metrics are as follows:

GAAP results for the periods shown include items that are excluded from core results. Below is a summary of the financial effects of these items. In 1Q 2026, these items include restructuring expenses related to a loss on a property sale and a write-down of held-for-sale real estate. For additional detail, refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation in the back of this earnings release.

CEO Commentary and Highlights

Rodger Levenson, Chairman, CEO and President, said, "WSFS performed very well in the first quarter as reflected by a 49% year-over-year increase in core EPS⁽²⁾. Our results included robust deposit growth, solid C&I loan fundings, and strong performance in our Wealth and Trust segment, which delivered double-digit year-over-year fee revenue growth. Additionally, we continued to execute our capital return framework through dividends and share repurchases. We look forward to building on this momentum as we optimize ongoing franchise investments and grow market share across our diversified businesses."

Overall highlights included:

• Core EPS of $1.68 increased 17% and core ROA⁽²⁾ of 1.65% increased 23bps compared to 4Q 2025.
  • Excluding a previously disclosed $15.7 million loan recovery, core EPS⁽²⁾ was $1.45 and core ROA⁽²⁾ was 1.43%.
• Wealth and Trust continued to deliver double-digit fee growth, increasing 25% year-over-year.
  • WSFS Institutional Services^® increased 46% and The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware (BMT of DE) increased 27%.
• Client deposits grew 5% quarter-over-quarter with strong noninterest demand growth of 14% primarily driven by Trust and Commercial.
• C&I loans grew 2% quarter-over-quarter driven by strong fundings.
• The Board approved an 18% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.20 per share, along with an additional share repurchase authorization of 15% of our outstanding shares as of March 31, 2026.
• Repurchased $85.0 million of common stock (2.5% of outstanding shares⁽³⁾) and paid quarterly dividends of $9.0 million, for a total capital return of $94.0 million.

First Quarter 2026 Discussion of Financial Results

Balance Sheet

The following table summarizes loan and lease balances and composition at March 31, 2026 compared to December 31, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

At March 31, 2026, WSFS’ gross loan and lease portfolio increased $10.6 million, or less than 1%, when compared with December 31, 2025. C&I fundings remained strong, resulting in growth of 2% (not annualized), which included 4% growth in Small Business Banking⁽⁵⁾. This growth reflects our continued investment in talent and product offerings, enhancing our ability to win market share and more effectively compete for a broader set of clients. Despite seasonal trends, residential mortgage and home equity generated strong originations and delivered over 1% combined growth. The strong funding momentum was partially offset by elevated payoff and paydown activity in commercial mortgage and residential mortgage as well as the continued runoff of Spring EQ loans.

Gross loans and leases at March 31, 2026 increased 1% when compared with March 31, 2025. Excluding the impacts from the sale of the Upstart portfolio and runoff of Spring EQ, gross loans and leases increased 4%. C&I fundings more than doubled year-over-year, resulting in growth of 4%, while construction loans (19%), residential mortgage (14%), and WSFS-originated consumer loans (15%) also grew. These increases were partially offset by declines in commercial mortgage (3%) and commercial small business leases (8%).

The following table summarizes client deposit balances and composition at March 31, 2026 compared to December 31, 2025 and March 31, 2025:

Total client deposits increased $826.0 million, or 5% (not annualized), when compared with December 31, 2025. Noninterest demand increased 14%, driven by growth in Trust and Commercial, and comprises 34% of total client deposits. Money market grew 3%, while time deposits decreased 4%. End of period deposit balances reflect elevated activity by clients within Trust and Commercial. While some of these transactional deposits are short-term, we continue to see strong deposit growth across our franchise.

Total client deposits increased $1.6 billion, or 9% from March 31, 2025. Noninterest demand grew 29%, driven by Trust and Commercial. Money market grew 8%, driven by Consumer, Trust, and Private Wealth Management, while time deposits decreased 8% as we continued to manage our deposit pricing.

The deposit base remains well-diversified, with 53% of quarterly average client deposits coming from the Commercial, Small Business Banking, and Wealth and Trust businesses. No- and low-cost deposit accounts⁽⁶⁾ represented 57% of average total client deposits with a weighted average cost of 28bps for the quarter. The loan-to-deposit ratio⁽⁷⁾ was 71% at March 31, 2026, providing capacity to fund ongoing loan growth.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income decreased $2.2 million, or 1% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2025, primarily driven by lower loan yields and higher interest expense on debt, partially offset by lower deposit costs and higher average loan balances.

Net interest income increased $9.9 million, or 6%, compared to 1Q 2025, primarily driven by higher cash balances from growth in deposits, lower deposit costs, and higher average loan balances. The increase was partially offset by lower loan yields.

Total loan yields were 6.27%, a decrease of 13bps when compared to 4Q 2025 and a decrease of 40bps when compared to 1Q 2025. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year decreases were primarily driven by the impact of interest rate cuts.

Total client deposit costs were 1.33% and interest-bearing deposit costs were 2.01%, decreases of 12bps and 16bps, respectively, compared to 4Q 2025. Total client deposit costs decreased 38bps and interest-bearing deposit costs decreased 42bps compared to 1Q 2025. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year decreases were driven by deposit repricing actions and a continued shift in the mix of deposits, with higher noninterest balances.

Net interest margin of 3.83% was flat compared to 4Q 2025 as lower deposit costs and loan growth were offset by lower loan yields and the higher debt expense noted above. Net interest margin decreased 5bps from 1Q 2025 primarily due to the impact of the three interest rate cuts that occurred in 2025.

Asset Quality

Problem assets continued to trend downward, with a decrease of $32.0 million compared to December 31, 2025, largely driven by payoffs. Delinquencies decreased $67.7 million, or 51bps of gross loans, compared to December 31, 2025, driven by a significant reduction in commercial mortgage delinquencies. Problem assets decreased 26% and delinquencies decreased 32% compared to March 31, 2025.

Nonperforming assets (NPAs) increased $15.7 million, or 6bps of total assets compared to December 31, 2025. The increase in NPAs was primarily driven by a C&I loan of $11.2 million and a multifamily loan of $6.6 million, both of which are well-secured. NPAs are down 25% compared to March 31, 2025.

During the quarter, the Company transferred $12.7 million to other real estate owned related to a nonperforming land development loan.

As previously disclosed in our 2025 Form 10-K, we received payment for loans charged-off in the first quarter of 2025 to a fund invested in office properties, resulting in a recovery of $15.7 million and the payoff of a $2.5 million nonperforming loan. Net recoveries for the quarter were $3.5 million. Excluding the impacts of the recovery, net charge-offs on loans and leases were $12.2 million, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 8bps (annualized) of average gross loans, and total net credit costs increased by $3.9 million when compared to 4Q 2025. The increase in net credit costs was driven by timing-related loan workout costs and higher unfunded commitment reserves as a result of significant new originations.

The ACL on loans and leases was $180.0 million as of March 31, 2026, an increase of $0.4 million when compared to December 31, 2025, and the ACL coverage ratio was flat at 1.36%.

Core Fee Revenue⁽⁹⁾

Core fee revenue (noninterest income) of $90.1 million was flat compared to 4Q 2025. Wealth and Trust fees increased 9%, driven by double-digit growth in WSFS Institutional Services^®, coupled with growth in Private Wealth Management and BMT of DE. This increase was offset by a $1.4 million decline in Cash Connect^®, due to lower volume and rates (which was more than offset in noninterest expense), as well as lower income from equity investments and Capital Markets.

Core fee revenue increased $9.2 million, or 11%, compared to 1Q 2025. The increase was driven by broad-based double-digit growth across several businesses, including WSFS Institutional Services^®, BMT of DE, Capital Markets, and WSFS Home Lending. These increases were partially offset by a $2.7 million decrease in Cash Connect^®, primarily due to the impact of interest rate cuts and lower ATM volumes.

For 1Q 2026, our core fee revenue ratio⁽⁹⁾ was 32.7% compared to 32.4% in 4Q 2025 and 31.5% in 1Q 2025. Fee revenue diversification is a differentiator with further growth opportunities expected.

Core Noninterest Expense⁽¹⁰⁾

Core noninterest expense of $159.9 million decreased $1.0 million, or 1% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2025. The decrease is primarily due to a $2.1 million decline in salaries and benefits driven by the impact of higher performance-based incentives accrued in 4Q 2025, a $1.3 million decline in professional fees and a $1.1 million decline in Cash Connect^® external funding costs due to lower rates and volume. These decreases were partially offset by increases from timing-related loan workout costs and higher unfunded commitment reserves as a result of significant new originations.

Core noninterest expense increased $8.4 million, or 6%, compared to 1Q 2025. The increase was primarily driven by a $9.2 million increase in salaries and benefits, driven by the impact of lower incentive payments made in the first quarter of 2025, higher salaries due to annual merit-based increases, and higher medical costs. In addition, loan workout and other credit costs, including unfunded commitment reserves, increased $1.9 million. These increases were partially offset by a $3.3 million decrease in Cash Connect^® external funding costs due to lower ATM volume and rates.

Our core efficiency ratio⁽¹⁰⁾ was 58.0% in 1Q 2026, compared to 57.9% in 4Q 2025 and 59.0% in 1Q 2025, reflecting our focus on expense discipline while continuing to invest in the franchise.

Income Taxes

We recorded a $27.6 million income tax provision in 1Q 2026, compared to $24.5 million in 4Q 2025 and $21.1 million in 1Q 2025. These increases were primarily due to higher income before taxes.

The effective tax rate was 24.1% in 1Q 2026 compared to 25.2% in 4Q 2025 and 24.3% in 1Q 2025. The decrease in effective tax rate compared to 4Q 2025 is primarily due to increased federal income tax credits and lower nondeductible expenses.

Capital Management

As part of our annual capital planning process, the Board of Directors approved an 18% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.20 per share of common stock and an incremental share repurchase authorization of 15% of outstanding shares as of March 31, 2026. The dividend will be paid on May 22, 2026 to stockholders of record as of May 8, 2026. As a result of the incremental authorization, WSFS has 10,123,977 shares, or approximately 19% of outstanding shares as of March 31, 2026, available for repurchase.

Capital ratios remain strong and are all substantially in excess of the “well-capitalized” regulatory benchmarks at March 31, 2026, with a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 capital ratio of 13.91%, Tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.51%, and Total Risk-based capital ratio of 15.66%.

During 1Q 2026, WSFS repurchased 1,319,626 shares of common stock for an aggregate of $85.0 million and paid quarterly cash dividends of $9.0 million. Total capital returns to stockholders through share repurchases and quarterly dividends was $94.0 million.

WSFS’ total stockholders’ equity decreased $14.1 million, or less than 1%, during 1Q 2026. The decrease was primarily due to capital returns to stockholders and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $8.5 million, driven by market-value decreases on available-for-sale investment securities. These decreases were partially offset by quarterly earnings of $86.8 million.

WSFS’ tangible common equity⁽¹¹⁾ decreased $10.5 million, or 1% (not annualized), compared to December 31, 2025, primarily due to the reasons described above. WSFS’ common equity to assets ratio decreased 53bps to 12.32% during the quarter. Our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio⁽¹¹⁾ decreased 37bps to 8.32% during the quarter.

At March 31, 2026, book value per share was $52.24, an increase of $0.97, or 2% (not annualized), from December 31, 2025, and tangible book value per share⁽¹¹⁾ was $33.71, an increase of $0.60, or 2% (not annualized), from December 31, 2025. Book value per share increased $5.93, or 13%, and tangible book value per share increased $4.46, or 15%, compared to 1Q 2025.

Selected Business Segments (included in previous results):

Wealth and Trust

The Wealth and Trust segment provides a broad array of planning and advisory services, investment management, trust services, credit and deposit products to individual, corporate, and institutional Clients.

Selected quarterly performance results and metrics are as follows:

Wealth and Trust pre-tax income was $44.5 million, which increased $4.3 million, or 11% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2025, driven by an increase in fee revenue of $3.9 million, or 8%.

The increase in fee revenue was due to higher assignment, custody, and paying agent fees across WSFS Institutional Services^® as well as higher AUM-based fees in Private Wealth Management. Net interest income increased $0.3 million or 1% (not annualized), due to higher noninterest deposit balances in Trust.

Wealth and Trust pre-tax income increased $15.1 million, or 52%, compared to 1Q 2025, driven by increases in fee revenue of $10.2 million, or 25%, and net interest income of $7.2 million, or 36%. These increases were partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense of $1.9 million, or 6%.

The increase in fee revenue was driven by growth in WSFS Institutional Services^® and BMT of DE, while the increase in net interest income was due to higher noninterest deposit balances in Trust. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily due to lower incentive payments made in the first quarter of 2025.

AUM/AUA increased by $0.2 billion to $97.6 billion at the end of 1Q 2026, as client inflows outpaced market depreciation and client spend.

Cash Connect^®

Cash Connect^® is a premier provider of ATM vault cash, smart safe and cash logistics services in the United States, servicing non-bank ATMs and smart safes nationwide and supporting ATMs for WSFS Bank Clients.

Selected quarterly financial results and metrics are as follows:

Cash Connect^® net profit margin of 15.4% increased 267bps compared to 4Q 2025, and increased 799bps compared to 1Q 2025.

Pre-tax income of $3.0 million in 1Q 2026 increased $0.4 million, or 14% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2025. Net revenue decreased $1.1 million and noninterest expense decreased $1.4 million compared to 4Q 2025, both driven by lower volume and lower interest rates.

Compared to 1Q 2025, pre-tax income increased $1.5 million, driven by the impact of lower interest rates (lower revenues were more than offset by lower expenses), pricing initiatives (increased revenues), and expense optimization, which more than offset overall ATM volume declines.

Cash Connect^® continues to shift its business mix from traditional non-bank ATMs to higher margin products, such as smart safes, which have grown 14% year over year.

First Quarter 2026 Earnings Release Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call to review 1Q 2026 results at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, April 24, 2026. Interested parties may access the conference call live on our Investor Relations website (https://investors.wsfsbank.com). For those who cannot access the live conference call, a replay will be accessible shortly after the event concludes through our Investor Relations website.

About WSFS Financial Corporation

WSFS Financial Corporation is a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally headquartered bank and wealth management franchise in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of March 31, 2026, WSFS Financial Corporation had $22.1 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $97.6 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 114 offices, 87 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (58), Delaware (38), New Jersey (14), Florida (2), Nevada (1) and Virginia (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, consumer banking, treasury management, and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors, LLC, Bryn Mawr Trust^®, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Cash Connect^®, NewLane Finance^®, WSFS Wealth^® Management, LLC, WSFS Institutional Services^®, and WSFS Mortgage^®. Serving the Greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains estimates, predictions, opinions, projections and other "forward-looking statements" as that phrase is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, without limitation, references to the Company's predictions or expectations of future business or financial performance as well as its goals and objectives for future operations, financial and business trends, business prospects, and management's outlook or expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses, capital levels, liquidity levels, asset quality or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions (some of which may be beyond the Company's control) and are subject to risks and uncertainties (which change over time) and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, difficult market conditions and unfavorable economic trends in the United States generally and in financial markets, particularly in the markets in which the Company operates and in which its loans are concentrated, including difficult and unfavorable conditions and trends related to housing markets, costs of living, unemployment levels, interest rates, supply chain issues, inflation, and economic growth; possible additional loan losses and impairment of the collectability of loans; the Company's level of nonperforming assets and the costs associated with resolving problem loans including litigation and other costs and complying with government-imposed foreclosure moratoriums; the credit risk associated with the substantial amount of commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and construction and land development loans in the Company's loan portfolio; changes in market interest rates, which may increase funding costs and reduce earning asset yields and thus reduce margin; the impact of changes in interest rates and the credit quality and strength of underlying collateral and the effect of such changes on the market value of the Company's investment securities portfolio, which could impact market confidence in the Company's operations; the extensive federal and state regulation, supervision and examination governing almost every aspect of the Company's operations, and potential expenses associated with complying with such regulations; the Company's ability to comply with applicable capital and liquidity requirements, including its ability to generate liquidity internally or raise capital on favorable terms; the impacts related to or resulting from bank failures and other economic industry volatility, including potential increased regulatory requirements and costs and potential impacts to macroeconomic conditions; changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and stimulus programs, laws and regulations and other activities of governments, agencies, and similar organizations, and the uncertainty of the short- and long-term impacts of such changes; any impairments of the Company's goodwill or other intangible assets; the success of the Company's growth plans across our WSFS Bank, Cash Connect^® and/or Wealth and Trust segments; the Company's ability to successfully integrate and fully realize the cost savings and other benefits of its acquisitions, manage risks related to business disruption following those acquisitions, and post-acquisition Client acceptance of the Company's products and services and related Client disintermediation; negative perceptions or publicity with respect to the Company generally and, in particular, the Company's Wealth and Trust business; failure of the financial and/or operational controls of the Company's Cash Connect^® and/or Wealth and Trust segments; adverse judgments or other resolution of pending and future legal proceedings, and costs incurred in defending such proceedings; the Company's reliance on third parties for certain important functions, including the operation of its core systems, and any failures by such third parties; system failures or cybersecurity incidents or other breaches of the Company's network security, particularly given remote working arrangements; any actual or perceived failure or deficiency in the use of artificial intelligence by the Company or third-party vendors or service providers; the Company's ability to recruit and retain key Associates; the effects of weather, including climate change, and natural disasters such as floods, droughts, wind, tornadoes, wildfires and hurricanes as well as effects from geopolitical instability, armed conflicts, public health crises and man-made disasters including terrorist attacks; the effects of regional or national civil unrest (including any resulting branch or ATM closures or damage); possible changes in the speed of loan prepayments by the Company's Clients and loan origination or sales volumes; possible changes in market valuations and/or the speed of prepayments of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) due to changes in the interest rate environment, and the related acceleration of premium amortization on prepayments in the event that prepayments accelerate; regulatory limits on the Company's ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries, and pay dividends to its stockholders; any reputation, credit, interest rate, market, operational, litigation, legal, liquidity, regulatory and compliance risk resulting from developments related to any of the risks discussed above; any compounding effects or unexpected interactions of the risks discussed above; and other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any duty to revise or update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company for any reason, except as specifically required by law. As used in this press release, the terms "WSFS," "the Company," "registrant," "we," "us," and "our" mean WSFS Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless the context indicates otherwise.