Princeton Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ – BPRN), the bank holding company for The Bank of Princeton (the “Bank”), today reported its unaudited financial condition at, and its results of operations for the quarter ended, March 31, 2026.
President/CEO Edward Dietzler commented on the quarter results, “The Company started 2026 with a strong quarterly performance, with net income of $6.2 million and diluted EPS of $0.91. These results were supported by an increase in non-interest income of over 15%, as well as a reduction in credit provision, and an improved net interest margin when compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.”
The Company reported net income of $6.2 million, or $0.91 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $6.1 million, or $0.90 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2025, and net income of $5.4 million, or $0.77 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2025. The increase in net income for the first quarter of 2026 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in non-interest income of $332 thousand, an increase in net interest income of $228 thousand, and a decrease in provision for credit losses of $258 thousand, partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense of $686 thousand. The increase in net income for the first quarter of 2026 when compared to the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in non-interest income of $261 thousand, an increase in net-interest income of $101 thousand, a decrease in non-interest expense of $377 thousand, and a decrease in the provision for credit losses of $424 thousand, partially offset by an increase of $312 thousand in income tax expense.
Review of Statements of Financial Condition
Total assets were $2.25 billion at March 31, 2026, a decrease of $29.4 million, or 1.29%, when compared to $2.28 billion at the December 31, 2025. The primary reason for the decrease in total assets was related to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $15.9 million and a decrease in investment securities of $15.2 million, partially offset by an increase in loans of $2.7 million.
Total deposits at March 31, 2026, decreased $33.5 million, or 1.70%, when compared to December 31, 2025. The decrease in the Company’s deposits consisted primarily of decreases in certificates of deposit of $53.2 million, and interest-bearing demand deposits of $25.3 million, partially offset by an increase in money market deposits of $26.5 million, non-interest-bearing demand deposits of $17.2 million, and savings deposits of $1.3 million. We believe that our balance sheet liquidity remains strong at March 31, 2026 with $119.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, as well as available for sale securities of $164.5 million.
Total stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2026 increased $2.9 million, or 1.07%, when compared to December 31, 2025. The increase was primarily due to an increase in retained earnings of $3.8 million (which consisted of $6.2 million in net income, partially offset by $2.4 million of cash dividends recorded during the period), partially offset by an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $845 thousand due to increases in market interest rates. The ratio of equity to total assets at March 31, 2026 and at December 31, 2025 was 12.1% and 11.9%, respectively.
Asset Quality
At March 31, 2026, non-performing assets remained steady at $16.5 million, compared to $16.5 million at December 31, 2025.
Review of Quarterly and Year-to-Date Financial Results
Net interest income was $18.9 million for the first quarter of 2026, an increase of $228 thousand over the fourth quarter of 2025, and an increase of $101 thousand compared to $18.8 million for the first quarter of 2025. The increase in net interest income when compared with the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily related to a decrease in interest expense of $913 thousand or, 7.0%, partially offset by a decrease in interest income of $685 thousand, or 2.2%. The increase in net interest income when compared with the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to a $2.3 million decrease in interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in interest income of $2.2 million. The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2026 was 3.63%, an increase of 12 basis points when compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, and an increase of 12 basis points when compared to the first quarter of 2025. When comparing the first quarter of 2026 and the fourth quarter of 2025 periods, the decrease in interest income and increase in net interest margin were primarily associated with a decrease in average total investments of $24.6 million, a decrease in average loans of $1.7 million, partially offset by an increase in the Company’s yield earned on interest-earning assets of 2 basis points.
When comparing the first quarter of 2026 and first quarter of 2025, the $2.3 million decrease in interest expense was primarily due to the Company’s cost of funds decreasing by 38 basis points and average interest-bearing deposits decreasing by $69.5 million. The decrease in interest expense was partially offset by a $2.2 million decrease in interest income caused by a decrease in average interest-earning assets of $60.6 million, and a decrease of 25 basis points in the yield earned on interest-earning assets.
The Company recorded a reversal of credit losses of $156 thousand during the first quarter of 2026, which consisted of a $291 thousand decrease recorded to the allowance of credit losses, offset by an increase to the provision for credit losses of $135 thousand related to unfunded commitments, which are recorded in other liabilities on the Company’s statements of financial condition. The current quarters’ reversal of provision recorded on the Company’s statements of income was $258 thousand lower when compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 and was $424 thousand lower when compared to the first quarter of 2025. The coverage ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period end loans was 1.10% at March 31, 2026, and 1.12% at December 31, 2025.
Total non-interest income of $2.5 million for the first quarter of 2026 increased $332 thousand, or 15.7%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 and increased $261 thousand, or 11.9%, when compared to the first quarter of 2025. The increase over the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in other non-interest income of $320 thousand discussed below. The increase over the prior year’s first quarter was primarily due to increases in other non-interest income of $303 thousand, an increase in fees and service charges of $69 thousand, and an increase in income from bank-owned life insurance of $36 thousand, partially offset by a decrease in loan fees of $147 thousand. The increase in other non-interest income for the first quarter of 2026 was related to a gain recorded on an equity investment in the amount of $232 thousand recorded in the first quarter of 2026 compared to no such net gain in either the fourth or first quarters of 2025.
Total non-interest expense of $13.4 million for the first quarter of 2026 increased $686 thousand, or 5.4%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. This increase over the prior quarter was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits expenses of $608 thousand, occupancy and equipment expenses of $236 thousand, partially offset by a decrease in other non-interest expenses of $206 thousand. Total non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2026 decreased $377 thousand, or 2.7%, when compared to the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to lower salary and employee benefits expense and FDIC insurance expense.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.8 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 22.6%, compared to an income tax expense of $1.8 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 23.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 and compared to an income tax expense of $1.5 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 21.9% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
About Princeton Bancorp, Inc. and The Bank of Princeton
Princeton Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for The Bank of Princeton, a community bank founded in 2007. The Bank is a New Jersey state-chartered commercial bank with 28 branches in New Jersey, including three in Princeton and others in Bordentown, Browns Mills, Burlington, Chesterfield, Cherry Hill, Cream Ridge, Deptford, Fort Lee, Hamilton, Kingston, Lakewood, Lambertville, Lawrenceville, Medford, Monroe, Moorestown, New Brunswick, Palisades Park, Pennington, Piscataway, Princeton Junction, Quakerbridge, Sicklerville, Voorhees, and Woodbury. There are also five branches in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and two in the New York City metropolitan area. The Bank of Princeton is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
