MOOSIC, Pa., July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Financial Services Corp. ("Peoples" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PFIS), the bank holding company for Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank"), today reported unaudited financial results at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026.  

Peoples reported net income of $14.8 million, or $1.48 per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2026, a decrease of $2.2 million compared to net income of $17.0 million, or $1.68 per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2025. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2026 totaled $29.6 million, or $2.95 per diluted share, a decrease of $2.4 million, compared to $32.0 million, or $3.18 per diluted share for the same six months of 2025. Return on average assets ("ROAA") and return on average equity ("ROAE") on an annualized basis for the three months ended June 30, 2026, was 1.13% and 11.10% compared to 1.36% and 13.87% for the three months ended June 30, 2025. For the six months ended June 30, annualized ROAA and ROAE were 1.14% and 11.18%, respectively, in 2026 compared to 1.29% and 13.30%, respectively, in 2025. The decrease in net income for both the quarterly and year-to-date periods was primarily attributable to a higher provision for credit losses, reflecting strong loan growth, along with increases in noninterest expense and income tax expense, partially offset by higher net interest income and noninterest income.

"Our second quarter and year to date results reflect both the strength of our underlying business and the disciplined growth strategy we continue to execute" commented Gerard A. Champi, President and CEO. "While net income declined compared to last year, our performance was driven by robust loan growth, higher net interest income, and solid noninterest income. The increase in our provision for credit losses and higher operating expenses were consistent with the expansion of our balance sheet and ongoing investments in our franchise. Even with these pressures, we delivered healthy returns for the quarter. As we move forward, we remain focused on prudent risk management, operational efficiency, and delivering long term value for our shareholders." concluded Mr. Champi.  

In addition to evaluating its results of operations in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), Peoples routinely supplements its evaluation with an analysis of certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as tangible stockholders' equity and core net income, and tax-equivalent net interest income and related ratios, among others. The reported results included in this release contain items, which Peoples considers non-core, namely net gains and losses on the sale of available for sale ("AFS") investment securities and acquisition-related expenses. Peoples believes the reported non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding its operating performance and trends. Where non-GAAP disclosures are used in this press release, a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP measure is provided in the accompanying tables. The non-GAAP financial measures Peoples uses may differ from the non-GAAP financial measures of other financial institutions and should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP.

NOTABLES

• On a linked quarter basis, total loans increased $112.6 million, or 10.8% annualized, to $4.3 billion at June 30, 2026 from $4.2 billion at March 31, 2026 and increased $305.3 million, or 7.6%, from $4.0 billion at June 30, 2025.
• On a linked quarter basis, total deposits increased $83.5 million, or 7.6% annualized to $4.5 billion at June 30, 2026 from $4.4 billion at March 31, 2026, and increased $221.5 million, or 5.2%, from $4.3 billion at June 30, 2025.
• Book value per common share at June 30, 2026, increased to $53.56 from $49.44 at June 30, 2025. Tangible book value per common share, a non-GAAP measure¹, increased to $43.51 at June 30, 2026, compared to $38.75 at June 30, 2025.

INCOME STATEMENT REVIEW

• Net interest margin ("NIM"), calculated on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis, a non-GAAP measure¹, for the three months ended June 30, 2026, improved 15 basis points to 3.82% from 3.67% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 13 basis points as compared to 3.69% for the three months ended June 30, 2025. For the six months ended June 30, the FTE NIM, a non-GAAP measure¹, improved 15 basis points to 3.75% in 2026 from 3.60% in 2025.
• The FTE yield on interest-earning assets, a non-GAAP measure¹, increased 13 basis points to 5.64% for the three months ended June 30, 2026, from 5.51% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, but decreased 4 basis points from 5.68% for the same three months ended June 30, 2025. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, the FTE yield on interest-earning assets, a non-GAAP measure¹, was 5.57%, a decrease of 2 basis points from 5.59% for the same period of 2025.
• The cost of funds, which represents the average rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities, decreased 1 basis point to 2.40% for the three months ended June 30, 2026, from 2.41% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 20 basis points from 2.60% for the three months ended June 30, 2025. For the year-to-date period, the cost of funds was 2.41% in 2026, a reduction of 18 basis points compared to 2.59% for 2025.
• The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 2 basis points for the three months ended June 30, 2026, to 2.14% from 2.16% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 27 basis points from 2.41% for the three months ended June 30, 2025. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, the cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 29 basis points to 2.15% from 2.44% for the six months of 2025.
• The cost of total deposits, which includes the impact of noninterest-bearing deposits, was 1.68% for the second quarter of 2026, a decrease of 2 basis points compared to 1.70% for the first quarter of 2026, and a decrease of 23 basis points from 1.91% for the second quarter of 2025. The cost of deposits for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was 1.69%, a decrease of 24 basis points from 1.93% for the comparable period of 2025.
• The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure¹, was 55.16% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, an increase, as compared to 53.92% for the same quarter of 2025, but an improvement as compared to 57.09% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. For the six months ended June 30, the efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure¹, was 56.10% in 2026 and 54.81% in 2025.

Second Quarter 2026 Results – Comparison to First Quarter 2026 and Second Quarter 2025

Net interest income was $45.6 million for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of $2.7 million from the first quarter of 2026 and $3.4 million from the second quarter of 2025. Interest income rose to $67.8 million, compared with $64.7 million in the linked quarter and $65.3 million in the prior-year quarter. On an FTE basis, interest income was $68.7 million, compared with $65.6 million in the first quarter of 2026 and $66.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. The increase was primarily attributable to loan growth and higher investment income resulting from the Company's investment portfolio repositioning strategy, which commenced in the fourth quarter of 2025 and was completed in the first quarter of 2026. Interest expense was $22.1 million for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of $0.3 million compared with $21.8 million in the linked quarter, which primarily reflected increased utilization of FHLB of Pittsburgh advances. Conversely, interest expense decreased $1.0 million from $23.1 million for the comparable prior-year quarter, primarily reflecting lower deposit and borrowing rates. The decrease in rates was partially offset by increased utilization of short-term and long-term borrowings through the FHLB of Pittsburgh and subordinated debt costs associated with the Company's June 2025 issuance of $85 million of subordinated notes, which carry an initial fixed rate of 7.75% through June 2030, as well as the redemption of $33.0 million of subordinated notes due in June 2030 that had repriced to 9.08%.

For the three months ended June 30, 2026, the provision for credit losses was $3.1 million, compared with a benefit of $0.2 million for the same period in 2025, an increase of $3.3 million. The increase in the current quarter was primarily attributable to significant loan growth, while the prior-year quarter benefited from lower specific reserves associated with reductions in nonperforming loans. On a linked quarter basis, the provision increased $1.7 million from $1.4 million, which also primarily reflected strong loan growth.

Noninterest income was $6.5 million and $6.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, and 2025, respectively. The $0.3 million increase in noninterest income was primarily due to a gain of $0.3 million on the sale of a branch property that was part of a sale/leaseback transaction, coupled with increases in wealth management and mortgage banking income, which includes gains on the sale of residential mortgage loans, partially offset by decreases in service charges, fees and commissions and merchant services income. 

Noninterest income decreased $0.4 million from $6.9 million for the first quarter of 2026, primarily due to a $0.5 million reduction in interest rate swap income, partially offset by higher service charges, fees and commissions, merchant services income, and a $0.3 million gain on the sale of a branch property that was part of the aforementioned sale/leaseback transaction. The first quarter of 2026 included a $0.5 million gain on the sale of investment securities related to the Company's portfolio repositioning efforts and $0.5 million in gains on equity investments. There were no sales of available for sale investment securities during the second quarter of 2026.

Noninterest expense was $30.6 million for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of $2.3 million from $28.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, which primarily reflected increases in salaries and employee benefits, due to annual merit increases and higher benefit costs, coupled with an increase in occupancy and equipment expense resulting from higher leasing costs and data processing expenses. Salaries and employee benefits expense was $15.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, compared to $13.8 million for the same three months in 2025. Net occupancy and equipment expenses were $7.3 million for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of $1.0 million from $6.3 million for the same quarter of 2025. On a linked basis, noninterest expense increased $0.7 million from $29.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which reflected increases in salaries and employee benefits expenses and other expenses, partially offset by a reduction in occupancy and equipment expense.

Income tax expense was $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, compared to $3.8 million for the three months ending March 31, 2026, and $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025. The effective tax rate was 19.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2026, 20.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 17.0% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. The increase in the effective tax rate was largely due to an increase in amortization associated with the Company's low-income housing tax credit investments, coupled with an increase in the provision for state income taxes.

Six-Month Results – Comparison to Prior Year First Six Months

Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2026, increased $6.7 million to $88.5 million from $81.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025. On an FTE basis, net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2026, increased $7.0 million to $90.2 million from $83.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025. The increase in FTE net interest income was due to a $5.0 million increase in tax-equivalent interest income, a non-GAAP measure¹, coupled with a $2.0 million decrease in interest expense. The Company's net interest spread widened 16 basis points to 3.16 % for the first six months of 2026 from 3.00 % for the same six-month period of 2025. Additionally, comparing the first six months of 2026 and 2025, the Company's FTE net interest margin widened 15 basis points to 3.75% from 3.60%, respectively.

The increase in fully tax-equivalent interest income was primarily driven by higher earning asset balances, particularly taxable loans. This benefit was partially offset by lower overall FTE yields, primarily on taxable loans. Higher balances and yields on tax-exempt investment securities also contributed to the increase.

Total average earning assets increased $195.0 million to $4.9 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2026 from $4.7 billion for the same six months of 2025. Average taxable loans increased $214.0 million to $3.9 billion from $3.7 billion comparing the six months ended June 30, 2026, and 2025, respectively. The yield on taxable loans decreased 18 basis points to 5.96% from 6.14%, respectively, comparing the first six months of 2026 and 2025, which primarily reflected a 75-basis point reduction in the prime rate during the second half of 2025. Accretion associated with purchase accounting fair value discounts on purchased loans was $6.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared to $8.5 million for the same period of 2025. Average tax-exempt investments totaled $155.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of $68.0 million from $87.0 million for the same six-month period ended June 30, 2025. The FTE yield on the tax-exempt investment securities portfolio increased 161 basis points to 3.94% for the six months ended June 30, 2026, from 2.33% for the same six months of 2025. The increase in yield was predominantly due to strategic portfolio repositioning beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025, as new purchases were added at yields higher than existing portfolio yields.

Interest expense decreased $2.0 million to $44.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared with $46.0 million for the same period in 2025, primarily due to lower average deposit rates and balances on small-dollar time deposits. These benefits were partially offset by higher average rates and balances on subordinated debt. The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits decreased 29 basis points to 2.15% from 2.44%, largely reflecting lower market rates.

Average small dollar time deposits, which include brokered deposits, decreased $134.0 million to $280.2 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2026, from $414.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025. Average brokered deposits decreased $82.3 million comparing the six months ended June 30, 2026, and 2025. The Company let these higher-costing deposits roll off at maturity and were replaced with lower-costing non-maturity deposits and borrowings. Additionally, the average rate paid for small dollar time deposits decreased 83 basis points to 3.17% from 4.00% for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and 2025, respectively. Average subordinated debt increased $38.9 million to $83.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, from $44.4 million for the same period in 2025, while the average rate paid on subordinated debt increased 179 basis points to 8.47% from 6.68% for the periods ended June 30, 2026, and 2025, respectively, due to a net new issuance of subordinated debt in the second quarter of 2025 in the amount of $52 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2026, the provision for credit losses was $4.5 million, an increase of $4.5 million from a negligible $39 thousand benefit recorded for the same six months of 2025. The increase in loan provisioning for the year-to-date period of 2026 was primarily impacted by significant loan growth. 

Noninterest income was $13.4 million and $12.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and 2025, respectively. The $0.9 million increase in noninterest income was primarily due to increases in interest rate swap income of $0.6 million, along with combined gains of $1.0 million on the sale of investment securities available for sale and on the sale and market value appreciation of equity securities and a $0.3 million increase in mortgage banking income, partially offset by a decrease in service charge, fee, and commission income of $0.5 million. The current six-month period ended June 30, 2026, includes a gain on the sale of a branch property of $0.3 million that was part of the aforementioned sale/leaseback transaction. Additionally, the comparable prior year period included a gain of $0.7 million on the sale of the Company's former corporate headquarters in Scranton, PA.

Noninterest expense increased $4.9 million to $60.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, from $55.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, which primarily reflected increases in salaries and employee benefits expenses, and occupancy and equipment expenses. Salaries and employee benefits expense was $29.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared to $27.2 million for the same six months in 2025. The $2.4 million increase resulted primarily from annual merit increases and higher health insurance costs. Net occupancy and equipment expenses were $15.0 million for the first six months of 2026, an increase of $2.1 million from $12.9 million for the same six-month period in 2025. The increase was largely caused by higher rent expense associated with the new corporate headquarters and increases in data processing expenses related to the implementation of an on-line account opening platform.

Income tax expense was $7.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared to $6.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025. The effective tax rate was 20.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and 17.3% in the prior year's same six-month period. The increase in the effective tax rate was largely due to an increase in amortization associated with the Company's low-income housing tax credits investments, coupled with an increase in the provision for state income taxes.

BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total loans were $4.3 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $112.6 million compared to $4.2 billion at March 31, 2026, and an increase of $305.3 million compared to $4.0 billion at June 30, 2025. Strong demand in all markets for commercial and residential real estate loans were partially offset by reductions to indirect auto, equipment financing and municipal loans.

Total investments were $529.6 million at June 30, 2026, compared to $542.9 million at March 31, 2026, and $582.8 million at June 30, 2025. At June 30, 2026, available for sale securities totaled $458.1 million, a decrease of $11.2 million from $469.3 million at March 31, 2026, and a decrease of $47.1 million from $505.2 million at June 30, 2025. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company began a repositioning of its investment securities portfolio, which was completed in the first quarter of 2026. Proceeds of the sales of U.S. government agency and sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities were used in part to purchase higher yielding US agency mortgage-backed securities and tax-exempt bonds. The Company used the remaining proceeds and the majority of the principal cash flows received during the first half of 2026 to fund loan growth. Held to maturity ("HTM") securities totaled $68.7 million at June 30, 2026, a decrease of $1.9 million from $70.6 million at March 31, 2026, and a decrease of $6.4 million from $75.1 million at June 30, 2025.

Total deposits were $4.5 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $83.5 million from $4.4 billion at March 31, 2026, and an increase of $221.5 million from $4.3 billion at June 30, 2025. Noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $22.8 million to $946.5 million at June 30, 2026, from $969.3 million at March 31, 2026, but increased $46.9 million from $899.6 million at June 30, 2025. Interest-bearing deposits increased $106.3 million from $3.5 billion at March 31, 2026, and $174.6 million from $3.4 billion at June 30, 2025, primarily reflecting an increase in brokered deposits. The Company increased its utilization of short-term and longer-term callable brokered deposits during the second quarter of 2026 to offset cyclical outflows of municipal deposits. As a result, brokered deposits represented 7.7% of total deposits at June 30, 2026, compared with 2.5% at March 31, 2026, and 4.6% at June 30, 2025. Approximately 31% of deposits were uninsured at June 30, 2026, compared with 34.5% at March 31, 2026 and 30.7% at June 30, 2025. 

The Company maintained a strong capital position at June 30, 2026. Stockholders' equity equaled $536.2 million or $53.56 per share at June 30, 2026, compared to $525.5 million or $52.50 per share at March 31, 2026, and $494.1 million, or $49.44 per share at June 30, 2025. The increase in stockholders' equity in all periods is primarily attributable to net income, partially offset by dividends paid to shareholders.

Tangible book value, a non-GAAP measure¹, increased to $43.51 per share at June 30, 2026, from $42.29 per share at March 31, 2026, and $38.75 at June 30, 2025. The Company declared dividends of $0.625 for the first and second quarters of 2026 and $0.6175 for the quarter ending June 30, 2025. 

ASSET QUALITY REVIEW

Nonperforming assets, which include nonperforming loans, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing, and foreclosed assets, were $14.7 million or 0.34% of loans, net and foreclosed assets, at June 30, 2026, a $2.4 million increase compared to $12.3 million, or 0.29% of loans, net and foreclosed assets at March 31, 2026.  The linked-quarter increase was primarily due to one commercial relationship involving two loans placed on nonaccrual status at the end of the second quarter of 2026. In comparison to the year ago period, nonperforming assets decreased $2.8 million from $17.5 million, or 0.44% of loans, net and foreclosed assets at June 30, 2025, primarily reflecting a $3.7 million reduction in nonaccrual loans. Nonperforming assets represented 0.27% of total assets at June 30, 2026, compared to 0.23% at March 31, 2026 and 0.34% at June 30, 2025. At June 30, 2026, the Company held one foreclosed commercial property with a carrying value of $0.6 million. The carrying value of this property was $0.8 million at March 31, 2026. The property went under a sales agreement during the second quarter, and it was written down to the sales price less estimated selling costs. The Company had no foreclosed assets at June 30, 2025.

During the three months ended June 30, 2026, net charge-offs were $0.4 million and the provision for credit losses was $3.1 million, compared to net recoveries of $0.1 million and a benefit for credit losses of $0.2 million for the same period of 2025. The allowance for credit losses equaled $42.3 million or 0.98% of loans, net, at June 30, 2026, compared to $39.6 million or 0.94% of loans, net, at March 31, 2026, and $40.9 million or 1.02% of loans, net at June 30, 2025.

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1} See reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures on pg.14-15.

About Peoples:

Peoples Financial Services Corp. is the bank holding company of Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company, an independent community bank serving its retail and commercial customers through 40 full-service community banking offices located within Allegheny, Bucks, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties in Pennsylvania, Middlesex County in New Jersey and Broome County in New York. Each office, interdependent with the community, offers a comprehensive array of financial products and services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and government entities. Peoples' business philosophy includes offering direct access to senior management and other officers and providing friendly, informed and courteous service, and local and timely decision making. For more information visit psbt.com.

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on assumptions and may describe future plans, strategies and expectations of Peoples Financial Services Corp. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company's control). These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project" or similar expressions. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements.

The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: changes in interest rates, including their effect on the Company's investment values; impairment charges relating to the Company's investment portfolio; credit risks in connection with the Company's lending activities; the Company's exposure to commercial and industrial, construction, commercial real estate, and equipment finance loans; the Company's ability to maintain an adequate allowance for credit losses; access to liquidity; the strength of the Company's customer deposit levels; unrealized losses; reliance on the Company's subsidiaries; accounting procedures, policies and requirements; changes in the value of goodwill; the Company's ability to attract and retain key personnel; the strength of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting; potential for errors, omissions or fraud; environmental liabilities; reliance on third-party vendors and service providers; the Company's ability to compete effectively in the Company's industry and within the Company's market area, including with respect to competition from financial technology companies and non-bank entities; the development and use of artificial intelligence ("AI") in business processes, services, and products, including emerging focus among regulators and other officials related to risks in connection with the development and use of AI; the Company's ability to prevent, detect and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents; a failure of information technology, whether due to a breach, cybersecurity incident, or ability to keep pace with growth and developments; the Company's ability to comply with privacy and data protection requirements; changes in U.S. or regional economic conditions; the soundness of other financial institutions; changes in laws and regulations; geopolitical instability, including wars and other conflicts; fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies; a failure to meet minimum capital requirements; the Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of future acquisitions or a change in control; and the Company's ability to pay dividends. Additional factors that may affect the Company's results are discussed in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release publicly the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

The average balances of assets and liabilities, corresponding interest income and expense and resulting average yields or rates paid are summarized as follows. Averages for earning assets include nonaccrual loans. Investment averages include available for sale securities at amortized cost. Income on investment securities and loans is adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using the prevailing federal statutory tax rate of 21%.