SOUDERTON, Pa., July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Univest Financial Corporation (“Univest” or the "Corporation") (NASDAQ: UVSP), parent company of Univest Bank and Trust Co. (the "Bank") and its insurance, investments and equipment financing subsidiaries, announced net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 of $23.0 million, or $0.82 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $20.0 million, or $0.69 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Notable Non-Core Items
The financial results for the quarter included a pre-tax charge of $5.2 million ($4.1 million after-tax), or $0.15 diluted earnings per share, related to a valuation adjustment on an other real estate owned ("OREO") property. The adjustment was recorded based on an updated appraisal which reflects the property's estimated fair value less costs to sell. The property was initially transferred to OREO during the quarter ended June 30, 2022 and was listed for sale during the quarter ended June 30, 2025. The financial results for the quarter also included tax-free bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") death benefit proceeds of $708 thousand, which represented $0.03 diluted earnings per share.

Loans
Gross loans and leases increased $101.7 million, or 1.5% (6.0% annualized), from March 31, 2026, $127.2 million, or 1.8% (3.6% annualized), from December 31, 2025, and $240.8 million, or 3.5%, from June 30, 2025. The increases during these periods were primarily driven by growth in commercial, construction and commercial real estate loans. This growth was partially offset by a decline in residential mortgage loans, which is consistent with our strategy to focus balance sheet growth on full-relationship customers, which will improve our loan-to-deposit ratio.

Deposits and Liquidity
Total deposits increased $119.2 million, or 1.8% (7.2% annualized), from March 31, 2026, primarily due to increases in commercial, consumer and brokered deposits, partially offset by a seasonal decrease in public funds deposits. Total deposits decreased $154.3 million, or 2.2% (4.4% annualized), from December 31, 2025, primarily due to decreases in consumer and public funds deposits, partially offset by increases in commercial and brokered deposits. Total deposits increased $350.3 million, or 5.3%, from June 30, 2025, primarily due to increases in commercial and brokered deposits.

Noninterest-bearing deposits totaled $1.5 billion and represented 21.1% of total deposits at June 30, 2026, compared to $1.5 billion representing 21.7% of total deposits at March 31, 2026. Unprotected deposits, which excludes insured, internal, and collateralized deposit accounts, totaled $1.7 billion and $1.6 billion at June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, respectively. This represented 24.6% of total deposits at June 30, 2026, compared to 23.7% at March 31, 2026.

As of June 30, 2026, the Corporation and its subsidiaries held cash and cash equivalents totaling $195.3 million. The Corporation and its subsidiaries had committed borrowing capacity of $3.7 billion, of which $2.4 billion was available. The Corporation and its subsidiaries also maintained uncommitted funding sources from correspondent banks of $422.0 million at June 30, 2026. Future availability under these uncommitted funding sources is subject to the prerogatives of the granting banks and may be withdrawn at will.

Net Interest Income and Margin
Net interest income of $66.2 million for the second quarter of 2026 increased $6.7 million, or 11.3%, from the second quarter of 2025 and $2.9 million, or 4.5%, from the first quarter of 2026. The increase in net interest income for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the second quarter of 2025 was driven by higher average balances of loans, coupled with a reduction in our cost of funds, as lower rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities more than offset the impact of higher average balances of these liabilities. The increase in net interest income for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2026 was driven by higher average balances and yields on loans, coupled with a modest reduction in our cost of funds and a decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by lower average balances of interest-earning deposits with other banks.

Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 3.49% for the second quarter of 2026, compared to 3.33% for the first quarter of 2026 and 3.20% for the second quarter of 2025. Excess liquidity reduced net interest margin by approximately four basis points for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to approximately 11 basis points for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 and approximately four basis points for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Excluding the impact of excess liquidity, the net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, would have been 3.53% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to 3.44% for the first quarter of 2026 and 3.24% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Noninterest Income
Noninterest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 was $18.1 million, a decrease of $3.4 million, or 15.8%, from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to the net loss on the sale and write-down of OREO of $5.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, due to the valuation adjustment recorded during the quarter as previously mentioned.

BOLI income increased $686 thousand, or 67.8%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to the comparable period in the prior year. The financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2026 included $708 thousand in BOLI death benefit proceeds compared to $71 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2025.

Investment advisory commission and fee income increased $583 thousand, or 10.7%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to the comparable period in the prior year, driven by appreciation in assets under management and new customer relationships.

Net gain on mortgage banking activities increased $365 thousand, or 37.2%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to increased salable volume and increased margins.

Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 was $53.1 million, an increase of $2.8 million, or 5.5%, from the comparable period in the prior year.

Salaries, benefits and commissions increased $1.7 million, or 5.3%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to the comparable period in the prior year, primarily driven by higher salary expense of $1.3 million due to annual merit increases and an increase of $375 thousand in medical claims expenses.

Marketing and advertising expense increased $490 thousand, or 98.4%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to the comparable period in the prior year. This increase was primarily driven by the inclusion of certain sponsorship activities that were historically reported in Other Expense and the Corporation's entry into a sponsorship agreement with a local university, enhancing community engagement and visibility.

Professional fees increased $432 thousand, or 27.1%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to increased marketing consultant fees.

Tax Provision
The effective income tax rate was 19.6% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared to an effective tax rate of 20.1% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. The effective tax rates for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 were favorably impacted by proceeds of BOLI death benefit proceeds. Excluding the BOLI death benefit proceeds, the effective tax rate was 20.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2026 compared to 20.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2025. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, also reflected a discrete tax benefit related to equity compensation awards.

Asset Quality and Provision for Credit Losses
Nonperforming assets totaled $63.0 million at June 30, 2026, $41.2 million at March 31, 2026, and $50.6 million at June 30, 2025. During the second quarter, a commercial loan relationship totaling $28.6 million was placed on nonaccrual status with a specific reserve of $9.8 million. This increase was partially offset by the valuation adjustment recorded on OREO during the quarter.

Net loan and lease charge-offs were $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026 compared to $1.3 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2025, respectively. Net loan and lease charge-offs for the three months ended June 30, 2025 included a $7.3 million charge-off associated with a nonaccrual commercial loan relationship.

The provision for credit losses was $2.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026 compared to $1.3 million and $5.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2025, respectively. The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases as a percentage of loans and leases held for investment was 1.28% at June 30, 2026, March 31, 2026, and June 30, 2025.

Dividend and Share Repurchases
On July 22, 2026, Univest declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share to be paid on August 19, 2026 to shareholders of record as of August 5, 2026. During the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the Corporation repurchased 425,539 shares of common stock at an average price of $38.71 per share. Including brokerage fees and excise tax, the average cost per share was $39.13. As of June 30, 2026, 1,494,260 shares are available for repurchase under the Share Repurchase Plan.

Conference Call
Univest will host a conference call to discuss second quarter 2026 results on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Participants may preregister at https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I3774017. The general public can access the call by dialing 1-888-500-3691; referencing Conference ID 37740 or "Univest Financial Corporation Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call" to the operator. A replay of the conference call will be available through July 30, 2026 using the following link: https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I3774017.

About Univest Financial Corporation
Univest Financial Corporation (UVSP), including its wholly-owned subsidiary Univest Bank and Trust Co., Member FDIC, has approximately $8.2 billion in assets and $6.2 billion in assets under management and supervision through its Wealth Management lines of business at June 30, 2026. Headquartered in Souderton, Pa. and founded in 1876, the Corporation and its subsidiaries provide a full range of financial solutions for individuals, businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Univest delivers these services through a network of more than 50 offices and online at www.univest.net.

This press release and the reports Univest files with the Securities and Exchange Commission often contain "forward-looking statements" relating to trends or factors affecting the financial services industry and, specifically, the financial condition and results of operations, business, prospects and strategies of Univest.

These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. There are a number of important factors that could cause Univest's future financial condition, results of operations, business, prospects or strategies to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) competition and demand for financial services in our market area; (2) inflation and/or changes in interest rates, which may adversely impact our margins and yields, reduce the fair value of our financial instruments, reduce our loan originations and/or lead to higher operating costs and higher costs we pay to retain and attract deposits; (3) changes in asset quality, prepayment speeds, loan sale volumes, charge-offs and/or credit loss provisions; (4) fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; (5) changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; (6) our ability to access cost-effective funding; (7) changes in economic conditions nationally and in our market, including potential recessionary conditions and the levels of unemployment in our market area; (8) changes in the economic assumptions or methodology used to calculate our allowance for credit losses; (9) legislative, regulatory, accounting or tax changes; (10) monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, including the policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (11) the effectiveness of our risk management processes and procedures; (12) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; (13) the imposition of tariffs or other domestic or international governmental policies, trade restrictions and retaliatory measures impacting our borrowers and the broader economy; (14) the impact of a potential government shutdown, debt ceiling impasses or fiscal uncertainty; (15) the failure to maintain current technologies and to successfully implement future information technology enhancements and the operational risks associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies; (16) risks associated with cybersecurity threats, data breaches, ransomware attacks, or other failures in our operational or security systems and infrastructure, including the risks arising from our dependence on third-party service providers and vendors; (17) changes in the securities markets; (18) the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events; (19) the ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel in a competitive labor market; (20) our ability to enter into new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities; (21) changes in investor sentiment or consumer spending or savings behavior; and/or (22) risk factors mentioned in the reports and registration statements Univest files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(UVSP - ER)

CONTACT: Brian J. RichardsonUNIVEST FINANCIAL CORPORATIONChief Financial Officer215-721-2446, richardsonb@univest.net