News Details

DAMARISCOTTA, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNLC), ("the Company", "we", "us", "our"), parent company of First National Bank, today reported unaudited results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2026. Net income for the second quarter was $9.6 million with fully diluted earnings per share of $0.85, increases of 18.6% and 17.8%, respectively, from net income of $8.1 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.72 for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Strong earnings for the period were driven by sustained net interest margin expansion, enhanced non-interest income, and disciplined expense control. Year-to-date in 2026, net income was $18.6 million with fully diluted earnings per share of $1.65, increases of 22.5% and 21.7%, respectively, from net income of $15.1 million and earnings per share of $1.35 for the six months ended June 30, 2025.

Second Quarter Notable Items:

• Net Income of $9.6 million is an increase of 18.6% as compared to Q2 2025
• Diluted EPS of $0.85 is an increase of 17.8% from Q2 2025
• Net Interest Margin expanded to 2.88%, a 36-basis point increase from Q2 2025
• Loan growth in the period of $18.6 million
• Efficiency Ratio of 50.33%, improved from 52.39% in Q2 2025
• Tangible Book Value per share rose to $23.25, up 11.0% from Q2 2025
• Quarterly shareholder dividend increased to $0.38 per share

CEO COMMENTS

"I am pleased to report strong year-over-year earnings growth for the second quarter," commented Tony C. McKim, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Net income of $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2026 represents an increase of 18.6% from the second quarter of 2025. Our Return on Average Assets for the period was 1.20% and our Return on Average Tangible Common Equity was 14.67%, both up nicely from 1.01% and 13.95%, respectively, a year ago."

"Our net interest margin improved for the eighth consecutive quarter, to 2.88% for the second quarter of 2026, up 2 basis points in the period and up 36 basis points from the second quarter of 2025. Margin improvement has been focused in stable earning asset yields and reduced funding costs, propelling net interest income up 15.0% from the prior year quarter. Growth in non-interest income, notably wealth management and debit card revenue, was an additional catalyst for the bottom line. Overall revenue growth also drove an improvement in our efficiency ratio to 50.33% for the period as compared to 52.39% a year ago."

"Total assets increased $15 million in the quarter, including net loan growth of $19 million. New loan production for the quarter was $131 million, up modestly from the first quarter, as we focus upon pricing discipline and prudent underwriting of new credits. Total deposits increased $15 million in the period, with growth in short-term time deposits being partially offset by a decrease in non-maturity deposits. Non-maturity deposit outflow in the quarter was in line with seasonal patterns. We expect strong local deposit inflow through year-end based on these same patterns, allowing for reduction of higher-cost, short-term funding, helping to sustain margin expansion against recent rate pressure in the market. The Company's capital position is strong, and overall liquidity remains more than sufficient."

Concluding, Mr. McKim shared, "We are pleased with the strong operating results produced in the second quarter. As the credit environment and related credit costs normalize off of the extraordinary lows of the past few years, the Bank is well positioned and poised for continued growth."

OPERATING RESULTS Q2 2026 v. Q2 2025 (prior year quarter)

Net income was $9.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of $1.5 million or 18.6% from the second quarter of 2025. Net interest income was $21.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of $2.8 million or 15.0% from the second quarter of 2025. Net interest margin improved to 2.88% for the second quarter of 2026, up from 2.52% in the prior year quarter. The lift in margin was the result of stable yields on earning assets coupled with a 40-basis point decrease in the cost of total liabilities. Earning assets averaged a yield of 5.34% for the three months ended June 30, 2026, while total liabilities carried an average cost of 2.88%.

Total non-interest income was $4.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of $532,000, or 12.9% from the second quarter of 2025. The increase was centered in Wealth Management revenue which was up $212,000 or 15.9% from the prior year on strong growth in assets under management. Debit card revenue increased $89,000 or 6.9%, while other operating income increased $211,000 or 28.2%. Total non-interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2026, was $13.4 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 9.7%, from the second quarter of 2025. The period-to-period change is centered in employee salaries and benefits, resulting from annual salary adjustments and higher health insurance expenses.

OPERATING RESULTS Q2 2026 v. Q1 2026 (linked quarter)

Net income was $9.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of $567,000 or 6.3% from the first quarter of 2026. Net interest income of $21.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, was an increase of $473,000 or 2.3% from the linked quarter, resulting from expansion in both average earning assets and net interest margin. Average earning assets grew $10.3 million in the second quarter, while net interest margin increased to 2.88%, an improvement of 2 basis points from the linked quarter.

Total non-interest income of $4.7 million for the second quarter of 2026 was up $210,000 from the first quarter of 2026. The increase was centered in Debit Card revenue, which was up $175,000 on strong transaction volume. Revenue increased $62,000 at First National Wealth Management, while other operating income fell $59,000, principally on lower loan-based derivative fees. Total non-interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2026, was $13.4 million, a decrease of $239,000, or 1.8%, from the first quarter. As compared to the linked quarter, salaries and benefit expense fell $210,000 due to lower payroll taxes and higher deferred salaries, and occupancy expenses fell $120,000 attributable to lower seasonal costs for building maintenance and fuel.

LOANS, TOTAL ASSETS & FUNDING

Total assets as of June 30, 2026, were $3.22 billion, up $15.3 million in the second quarter. Earning assets grew $9.3 million with loan growth of $18.6 million during the period. Investment balances grew by $17.6 million in the quarter, while overnight funds sold decreased by $27.4 million.

Loan balances grew at an annualized rate of 3.10% in the second quarter. The residential mortgage and home equity loan segments each contributed to loan portfolio growth, up $12.0 million and $13.2 million, respectively, during the period. Commercial and industrial loan balances increased $1.0 million, while commercial real estate loan balances and multifamily loan balances decreased by $9.4 million and $10.6 million, respectively.

Total deposits as of June 30, 2026, were $2.68 billion, an increase of $15.1 million in the quarter. Non-maturity deposits fell $28.7 million in the second quarter, consistent with seasonal patterns, while time deposits, principally short-term, increased $43.9 million. Borrowed funds increased $18.3 million during the period, mostly in short-term FHLB advances. Uninsured deposits as of June 30, 2026, were estimated at 17.2% of total deposits, and 74% of uninsured deposits were fully collateralized. Available day-one liquidity was $706 million, sufficient to cover 153% of estimated uninsured deposits.

ASSET QUALITY

Overall asset quality remains satisfactory and was stable in the second quarter. As of June 30, 2026, the ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.54%, up slightly from 0.51% as of March 31, 2026, and compared to 0.19% as of June 30, 2025. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.71% as of June 30, 2026, up slightly from 0.67% as of March 31, 2026, and compared to 0.25% as of June 30, 2025. Loans past due thirty days or more improved to 0.93% of total loans as of June 30, 2026, down from 1.14% as of March 31, 2026.

The Allowance for Credit Losses ("ACL") on loans stood at 1.01% of total loans as of June 30, 2026, down slightly from the linked quarter and prior year quarter. A provision for credit losses of $919,000 was recorded in the second quarter of 2026. Net loan charge-offs in the second quarter totaled $1.6 million concentrated within a single credit relationship. Year-to-date, net charge-offs represent an annualized 0.20% of total loans.

CAPITAL

The Company’s regulatory capital position was strong as of June 30, 2026. The Leverage Capital ratio increased to an estimated 9.21% as of June 30, 2026, as compared to the 9.09% and 8.48% reported as of March 31, 2026, and as of June 30, 2025, respectively. The estimated Total Risk-Based Capital ratio was 14.24% as of June 30, 2026, as compared to the 14.05% and 13.31% reported as of March 31, 2026, and as of June 30, 2025, respectively.

The Company's tangible book value per share was $23.25 as of June 30, 2026, up from $22.71 as of March 31, 2026, and up from $20.94 as of June 30, 2025. The Tangible Common Equity ratio increased to 8.23% as of June 30, 2026, up from 8.08% as of March 31, 2026, and 7.41% as of June 30, 2025.

DIVIDEND

On June 25, 2026, the Company's Board of Directors declared a second quarter dividend of $0.38 per share. The dividend was paid on July 17, 2026, to shareholders of record as of July 7, 2026.

ABOUT THE FIRST BANCORP

The First Bancorp, the parent company of First National Bank, is based in Damariscotta, Maine. Founded in 1864, First National Bank is a full-service community bank with $3.19 billion in assets. The Bank provides a complete array of commercial and retail banking services through eighteen locations in mid-coast and eastern Maine. First National Wealth Management, a division of the Bank, provides investment management and trust services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities. More information about The First Bancorp, First National Bank and First National Wealth Management may be found at www.thefirst.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain information in this release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Management uses these “non-GAAP” measures in its analysis of the Company's performance (including for purposes of determining the compensation of certain executive officers and other Company employees) and believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results with prior periods and with other financial institutions, as well as demonstrating the effects of significant gains and charges in the current period, in light of the disclosure practices employed by many other publicly-traded financial institutions. The Company believes that a meaningful analysis of its financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance. Management believes that investors may use these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze financial performance without the impact of unusual items that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

In several places net interest income is calculated on a fully tax-equivalent basis. Specifically included in interest income was tax-exempt interest income from certain investment securities and loans. An amount equal to the tax benefit derived from this tax-exempt income has been added back to the interest income total which, as adjusted, increased net interest income accordingly. Management believes the disclosure of tax-equivalent net interest income information improves the clarity of financial analysis, and is particularly useful to investors in understanding and evaluating the changes and trends in the Company's results of operations. Other financial institutions commonly present net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis. This adjustment is considered helpful in the comparison of one financial institution's net interest income to that of another institution, as each will have a different proportion of tax-exempt interest from its earning assets. Moreover, net interest income is a component of a second financial measure commonly used by financial institutions, net interest margin, which is the ratio of net interest income to average earning assets. For purposes of this measure as well, other financial institutions generally use tax-equivalent net interest income to provide a better basis of comparison from institution to institution. The Company follows these practices.

The following table provides a reconciliation of tax-equivalent financial information to the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. A 21.0% tax rate was used in both 2026 and 2025.

The Company presents its efficiency ratio using non-GAAP information which is most commonly used by financial institutions. The GAAP-based efficiency ratio is non-interest expenses divided by net interest income plus non-interest income from the Consolidated Statements of Income. The non-GAAP efficiency ratio excludes securities losses and provision for credit losses on securities from non-interest expenses, excludes securities gains from non-interest income, and adds the tax-equivalent adjustment to net interest income. The following table provides a reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP efficiency ratio: