Business First Bancshares, Inc. Announces Financial Results for Q3 2026

BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFST) (Business First), parent company of b1BANK, today announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Business First reported net income available to common shareholders of $23.2 million or $0.71 per diluted common share, increases of $0.4 million and $0.01, respectively, compared to the linked quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, core net income available to common shareholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, which excludes certain income and expenses, was $26.0 million or $0.79 per diluted common share, increases of $2.7 million and $0.08 from the linked quarter.

“Our third quarter showed what disciplined execution can deliver,” said Jude Melville, chairman, president, and CEO of Business First. “We completed the conversion of Progressive Bank, and I’m grateful to our North Louisiana teammates and clients for helping make it a seamless transition. We grew loans and deposits at a balanced pace appropriate to our level of capital strength, and we did so while expanding our net interest margin by 12 basis points and keeping non-interest expenses in check. The result was higher earnings and stronger returns. Our team earned these results through disciplined execution, and we’ll keep that same focus as we continue to invest in the growing number of opportunities we’re seeing across our diversified footprint.”

On Thursday, October 22, 2026, Business First’s board of directors declared a quarterly preferred dividend in the amount of $18.75 per share, which is the full quarterly dividend of 1.875% based on the per annum rate of 7.50%. Additionally, the board of directors declared a quarterly common dividend based upon financial performance for the third quarter in the amount of $0.15 per share of common stock. The preferred and common dividends will be paid on November 30, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practicable, to the shareholders of record as of November 15, 2026.

Quarterly Highlights

Statement of Financial Condition

Loans

Loans held for investment increased $121.4 million or 1.82%, 7.23% annualized, compared to the linked quarter. The commercial real estate and construction portfolios increased $72.7 million and $80.7 million, respectively, compared to the linked quarter. The residential real estate portfolio decreased $30.6 million compared to the linked quarter.

Credit Quality

Loans over 30 days past due at September 30, 2026 were $32.5 million or 0.48% of total loans, which was generally stable from the linked quarter. The ratio of nonperforming loans compared to loans held for investment decreased 2 bps to 1.24% at September 30, 2026, while the ratio of nonperforming assets compared to total assets also decreased by 1 bps to 1.22% compared to the linked quarter. Net charge-offs to average quarterly total loans increased to 8 bps for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, up from 4 bps in the linked quarter mainly attributable to one previously fully reserved commercial relationship.

Securities

The securities portfolio decreased $54.4 million or 5.23%, from the linked quarter, impacted by $24.2 million in negative pre-tax fair value adjustments and the remainder of the decrease attributed to maturities and paydowns. The securities portfolio, based on estimated fair value, represented 11.02% of total assets as of September 30, 2026.

Deposits

Deposits as of September 30, 2026 increased by $141.2 million or 1.95%, 7.74% annualized, compared to the linked quarter. During the third quarter, interest-bearing deposits increased $119.1 million or 2.11% and noninterest-bearing deposits increased $22.1 million or 1.40%. The increase in interest-bearing deposits was attributable to $180.1 million in commercial money market accounts, partially offset by a decrease of $65.9 million in brokered deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits decreased $9.5 million or 0.16%, and noninterest-bearing deposits increased $54.9 million or 3.62% from the linked quarter.

Borrowings

Borrowings decreased $107.8 million or 18.25%, from the linked quarter due primarily to decreases in short-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

Shareholders’ Equity

On a non-GAAP basis, tangible book value per common share increased from $23.61 at the linked quarter to $23.71 at September 30, 2026, 0.42% or 1.66% annualized, despite the negative pre-tax fair value adjustments. Shareholders' equity decreased $6.1 million or 0.60% compared to the linked quarter. Accumulated other comprehensive loss increased from $35.8 million to $54.9 million or 53.29%, during the quarter due to after-tax fair value adjustments in the securities portfolio. Book value per common share decreased to $28.77 at September 30, 2026, compared to $28.79 from the linked quarter.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income

For the quarter ended September 30, 2026, net interest income totaled $80.7 million, compared to $77.8 million from the linked quarter. Loan yields increased 11 bps to 6.74% compared to 6.63% from the linked quarter and interest-bearing asset yields increased 8 bps to 6.10% compared to 6.02% from the linked quarter. Net interest margin and net interest spread were 3.86% and 3.09% compared to 3.73% and 2.99% for the linked quarter. The overall cost of funds, which included noninterest-bearing deposits, decreased 4 bps from 2.44% to 2.40% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Non-GAAP net interest income (excluding loan discount accretion of $1.2 million) totaled $79.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to $76.8 million (excluding loan discount accretion of $1.0 million) for the linked quarter. Non-GAAP net interest margin and net interest spread (excluding loan discount accretion of $1.2 million) were 3.80% and 3.04%, respectively, for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to 3.68% and 2.94% (excluding loan discount accretion of $1.0 million) for the linked quarter.

Provision for Credit Losses

During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, Business First recorded a provision for credit losses of $1.9 million, compared to $2.0 million from the linked quarter. At September 30, 2026, the ratio of allowance for credit losses to loans held for investment was 0.95%, compared to 1.02% for the linked quarter.

Other Income

For the quarter ended September 30, 2026, other income decreased $1.5 million or 10.42%, compared to the linked quarter. The decrease was largely attributable to a $0.8 million decrease in gain on sales of loans and the linked quarter’s $0.5 million gain on the redemption of debt.

Other Expenses

For the quarter ended September 30, 2026, other expenses increased $0.9 million or 1.58% compared to the linked quarter. The increase was largely attributable to increases of $1.8 million in occupancy and equipment expense and $1.1 million in merger and conversion-related expenses, partially offset by decreases of $0.5 million in each in advertising and promotions expense and salaries and employee benefits, $0.4 million in legal and other professional fees and $0.3 million in regulatory assessments. The increase in occupancy and equipment expense was largely attributable to a lease termination fee associated with better alignment of legacy b1BANK and Progressive corporate facilities.

Return on Assets and Common Equity

Return to common shareholders on average assets and common equity, each on an annualized basis, were 1.04% and 9.75% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to 1.03% and 9.83%, respectively, for the linked quarter. Non-GAAP return to common shareholders on average assets and common equity, each on an annualized basis, were 1.17% and 10.93% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to 1.05% and 10.05% for the linked quarter.

Conference Call and Webcast

Executive management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss results on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. Interested parties may attend the call by dialing toll-free 1-800-715-9871 (North America only), conference ID 8846141, or asking for the Business First Bancshares conference call. The live webcast can be found at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/uhshyz4m. On the day of the presentation, the corresponding slide presentation will be available to view on the b1BANK website at https://www.b1bank.com/shareholder-info.

About Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST), through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, has $8.9 billion in assets, $5.5 billion in assets under management through b1BANK’s affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson, LLC (SSW) (not including $1.0 billion of b1BANK assets managed by SSW) and operates Banking Centers and Loan Production Offices in markets across Louisiana and Texas, providing commercial and personal banking products and services. b1BANK is a 2024 Mastercard “Innovation Award” winner and multiyear winner of American Banker Magazine’s “Best Banks to Work For.” Visit b1BANK.com for more information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures (e.g., referenced as “core” or “tangible”) intended to supplement, not substitute for, comparable GAAP measures. “Core” measures typically adjust income available to common shareholders for certain significant activities or transactions that, in management’s opinion, can distort period-to-period comparisons of Business First’s performance. Transactions that are typically excluded from non-GAAP “core” measures include realized and unrealized gains/losses on former bank premises and equipment, investment sales, acquisition-related expenses (including, but not limited to, legal costs, system conversion costs, severance and retention payments, etc.). “Tangible” measures adjust common equity by subtracting goodwill, core deposit intangibles, and customer intangibles, net of accumulated amortization. Management believes presentations of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of Business First’s core business. These non-GAAP disclosures are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures are provided at the end of the tables below.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by their reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “could,” or “intend.” We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, in that actual results could differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those factors specified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this news release.

Additional Information

For additional information about Business First, you may obtain Business First’s reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) free of charge by using the SEC’s EDGAR service on the SEC’s website at www.SEC.gov or by contacting the SEC for further information at 1-800-SEC-0330. Alternatively, these documents can be obtained free of charge from Business First by directing a request to: Business First Bancshares, Inc., 500 Laurel Street, Suite 101, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

No Offer or Solicitation

This release does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities of Business First. There will be no sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Investor Relations Contacts:

Gregory Robertson 337.721.2701

Gregory.Robertson@b1bank.com

Matt Sealy 225.388.6116

Matt.Sealy@b1bank.com