Back to News
Apr 24, 2026 8:00 AM

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

NEW YORK, April 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ponce Financial Group, Inc., (the "Company") (NASDAQ:PDLB), the holding company for Ponce Bank, National Association ("Ponce Bank" or the "Bank"), today announced results for the first quarter of 2026.

First Quarter 2026 Highlights (Compared to Prior Periods):

Net income available to common stockholders was $8.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2026, as compared to net income available to common stockholders of $9.9 million, or $0.42 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and net income available to common stockholders of $5.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Total net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $8.6 million. The Company paid dividends of $0.3 million on its preferred stock during the three months ended March 31, 2026.

Included in the $8.3 million of net income available to common stockholders for the first quarter of 2026 results is $48.7 million in total interest and dividend income and $2.0 million in non-interest income, offset by $20.4 million in interest expense, $17.2 million in non-interest expense, $2.7 million in provision for income taxes, $1.7 million in provision for credit losses and $0.3 million in dividends on preferred shares.

Net interest income of $28.2 million for the first quarter of 2026 increased $0.3 million, or 1.05%, from the prior quarter and increased $6.0 million, or 27.13%, from the same quarter last year. 

Net interest margin was 3.61% for the first quarter of 2026, versus 3.57% for the prior quarter and 2.98% for the same quarter last year.

Cash and equivalents were $117.2 million as of March 31, 2026, a decrease of $8.9 million, or 7.06%, from $126.2 million as of December 31, 2025.

Securities totaled $350.7 million as of March 31, 2026, a decrease of $14.5 million, or 3.97%, from $365.2 million as of December 31, 2025 primarily due to regular principal payments and the maturity of one available-for-sale security in the amount of $3.0 million.

Net loans receivable were $2.70 billion as of March 31, 2026, an increase of $99.4 million, or 3.82%, from $2.60 billion as of December 31, 2025.

Deposits were $2.13 billion as of March 31, 2026, an increase of $87.2 million, or 4.26%, from $2.05 billion as of December 31, 2025.

President and Chief Executive Officer's Comments

Carlos P. Naudon, Ponce Financial Group, Inc.'s President and CEO, stated "Our disciplined execution continues to serve Ponce well. Our diluted earnings per share of $0.36 this quarter is up 44% vs the same quarter last year and our book value per share of $13.49 is up $1.44 or 12% over the same period. Net interest margin is up 4 basis points versus last quarter and 63 basis points vs the same quarter last year. Our non-performing assets went down this quarter by 22 basis points and now stand at 62 basis points of total assets. Our capital ratios continue to be well in excess of regulatory requirements. We remain committed to the communities we serve, and we'll continue investing in our people and in technology to improve our efficiency."

Executive Chairman's Comment

Steven A. Tsavaris, Ponce Financial Group's Executive Chairman added "We're pleased with our business activity during the quarter and by our loan and deposit growth. We continue to make progress towards our commitments under the U.S. Treasury's Emergency Capital Investment Program and we're one quarter away from achieving 16 quarters of a cumulative deep impact lending percentage of more than 60%. After 15 quarters, including the quarter ended March 31, 2026, we are at 82% deep impact lending."  

The table below indicates the Key Metrics at or for the three months ended:

 

At or for the Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

Performance Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets (1)

 

1.07

%

 

 

1.26

%

 

 

0.82

%

 

 

0.79

%

 

 

0.77

%

Return on common equity (1)

 

10.37

%

 

 

12.50

%

 

 

8.10

%

 

 

7.88

%

 

 

7.97

%

Net interest margin (1) (2)

 

3.61

%

 

 

3.57

%

 

 

3.30

%

 

 

3.27

%

 

 

2.98

%

Non-interest expense to average assets (1)

 

2.14

%

 

 

2.06

%

 

 

2.10

%

 

 

2.18

%

 

 

2.19

%

Efficiency ratio (3)

 

56.96

%

 

 

52.95

%

 

 

62.15

%

 

 

63.69

%

 

 

68.70

%

Capital Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital to risk-weighted assets (Ponce Financial Group)

 

21.23

%

 

 

23.00

%

 

 

24.08

%

 

 

22.65

%

 

 

22.84

%

Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (Ponce Financial Group)

 

12.11

%

 

 

12.98

%

 

 

13.39

%

 

 

12.49

%

 

 

12.51

%

Tier 1 capital to total assets (Ponce Financial Group)

 

17.22

%

 

 

17.27

%

 

 

17.33

%

 

 

17.13

%

 

 

16.84

%

Total capital to risk-weighted assets (Bank only)

 

20.00

%

 

 

21.63

%

 

 

21.79

%

 

 

21.22

%

 

 

21.38

%

Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (Bank only)

 

18.97

%

 

 

20.53

%

 

 

20.66

%

 

 

20.15

%

 

 

20.35

%

Tier 1 capital to total assets (Bank only)

 

16.09

%

 

 

16.12

%

 

 

16.08

%

 

 

15.99

%

 

 

15.61

%

Asset Quality Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans

 

0.96

%

 

 

0.97

%

 

 

0.98

%

 

 

0.97

%

 

 

0.96

%

Allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of nonperforming loans

 

128.93

%

 

 

94.74

%

 

 

88.88

%

 

 

101.01

%

 

 

84.15

%

Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average outstanding loans (1)

 

(0.08

%)

 

 

(0.13

%)

 

 

(0.03

%)

 

 

(0.04

%)

 

 

(0.04

%)

Non-performing loans as a percentage of total assets

 

0.62

%

 

 

0.83

%

 

 

0.88

%

 

 

0.76

%

 

 

0.88

%

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of offices

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

18

 

Number of full-time equivalent employees

 

218

 

 

 

216

 

 

 

209

 

 

 

206

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)   Annualized.(2)   Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.(3)   Efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

Summary of Results of Operations

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $8.6 million compared to net income of $10.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and net income of $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

The $1.5 million decrease of net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2025 was attributed mainly to a decrease of $1.4 million in non-interest income and increases of $0.6 million non-interest expense and $0.6 million in provision for credit losses, offset by an increase of $0.3 million in net interest income and a decrease of $0.8 million in provision for income taxes.

The $2.7 million increase of net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025 was largely due to an increase of $6.0 million in net interest income, offset by increases of $1.9 million in provision for credit losses, $0.7 million in provision for income taxes and $0.4 million in non-interest expense and a decrease of $0.3 million in non-interest income.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2026, increased $0.3 million, or 1.05%, to $28.2 million compared to $27.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and increased $6.0 million, or 27.13%, compared to $22.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

The $0.3 million increase in net interest income from the three months ended December 31, 2025 was attributable to decreases of $0.5 million in total interest expense and $0.2 million in total interest and dividend income. The $6.0 million increase in net interest income from the three months ended March 31, 2025 was attributable to an increase of $4.7 million in total interest and dividend income and a decrease of $1.4 million in total interest expense.

Net interest margin was 3.61% for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to 3.57% for the prior quarter, an increase of 4bps and 2.98% for the same period last year, an increase of 63bps.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2026, was $2.0 million, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 41.30%, compared to $3.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 14.24%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025.

The $1.4 million decrease in non-interest income from the three months ended December 31, 2025 was largely attributable to a decrease of $0.5 million in other non-interest income, grant income of $0.4 million which had been recognized in the prior quarter and a decrease of $0.4 million in late and prepayment charges.

The $0.3 million decrease in non-interest income from the three months ended March 31, 2025 was largely attributable to a decrease of $0.4 million in income on sale of SBA loans.

Non-interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $17.2 million, an increase of $0.6 million, or 3.64%, compared to $16.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and an increase of $0.4 million, or 2.08%, compared to $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

The $0.6 million increase in non-interest expense from the three months ended December 31, 2025 was mainly attributable to increases of $0.6 million in compensation and benefits, $0.3 million in federal deposit insurance and regulatory assessment and $0.1 million in marketing and promotional expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $0.4 million in occupancy and equipment.

The $0.4 million increase in non-interest expense from the three months ended March 31, 2025 was mainly attributable to increases of $0.8 million in compensation and benefit and $0.1 million in marketing and promotional expenses, partially offset by decreases of $0.3 million in direct loan expenses, $0.2 million in occupancy and equipment and $0.2 million in other operating expenses.

Credit Quality:

Total non-performing assets and accruing modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty were $23.6 million at March 31, 2026 compared to $30.2 million at December 31, 2025 and $32.0 million at March 31, 2025.

During the three months ended March 31, 2026, a credit loss provision of $1.7 million on loans was recorded, consisting of $1.3 million charged on the funded portion and $0.4 million charged on the unfunded portion on loans. During the three months ended December 31, 2025, a credit loss provision of $1.1 million on loans was recorded, consisting of $1.5 million charged on the funded portion and $0.4 million benefit on the unfunded portion on loans. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, a credit loss benefit of $0.3 million on loans was recorded, consisting of $0.7 million charged on the funded portion on loans and a benefit of $1.0 million on the unfunded portion on loans.

Balance Sheet Summary

Total assets increased $76.8 million, or 2.38%, to $3.30 billion as of March 31, 2026 from $3.22 billion as of December 31, 2025. The increase in total assets is largely attributable to increases of $99.4 million in net loans receivable, $2.0 million in other assets, $1.4 million in accrued interest receivable and $0.2 million in deferred tax assets, partially offset by decreases of $9.5 million in held-to-maturity securities, $8.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, $5.0 million in available-for-sale securities, $1.3 million in mortgage loans held for sale, $1.1 million in Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock and $0.5 million in premises and equipment, net.

Total liabilities increased $67.0 million, or 2.50%, to $2.75 billion as of March 31, 2026 from $2.68 billion as of December 31, 2025. The increase in total liabilities was largely attributable to increases of $87.2 million in deposits, $4.2 million in other liabilities and $0.6 million in accrued interest payable, partially offset by a decrease of $25.0 million in borrowings.

Total stockholders' equity increased $9.8 million, or 1.81%, to $551.4 million as of March 31, 2026, from $541.5 million as of December 31, 2025. The $9.8 million increase in stockholders' equity was largely attributable to $8.6 million in net income, $0.6 million impact to additional paid in capital as a result of share-based compensation, $0.6 million from release of ESOP shares and $0.2 million from exercise of stock options and $0.1 million in other comprehensive income, offset by $0.3 million related to the dividend paid on preferred shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

About Ponce Financial Group, Inc.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for Ponce Bank, N.A. Ponce Bank, N.A. is a Minority Depository Institution, a Community Development Financial Institution, and a certified Small Business Administration lender. Ponce Bank, N.A.'s business primarily consists of taking deposits from the general public and to a lesser extent alternative funding sources and investing those funds, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, in mortgage loans, consisting of 1-4 family residences (investor-owned and owner-occupied), multifamily residences, nonresidential properties, construction and land, and, to a lesser extent, in business and consumer loans. Ponce Bank. N.A. also invests in securities, which consist of U.S. Government and federal agency securities and securities issued by government-sponsored or government-owned enterprises, as well as, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds and obligations, Federal Home Loan Bank stock and Federal Reserve Bank stock.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by words such as "believes," "will," "would," "expects," "project," "may," "could," "developments," "strategic," "launching," "opportunities," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets" and similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors. Factors that could cause such differences to exist include, but are not limited to, adverse conditions in the capital and debt markets and the impact of such conditions on business activities; changes in interest rates; competitive pressures from other financial institutions; the effects of general economic conditions on a national basis or in the local markets in which Ponce Bank, N.A. operates, including changes that adversely affect borrowers' ability to service and repay Ponce Bank, N.A.'s loans; changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, and their related impacts on the economy; changes in the global economy, including negative changes that may arise from armed conflict and geopolitical instability; changes in the value of securities in the investment portfolio; changes in loan default and charge-off rates; fluctuations in real estate values; the adequacy of loan loss reserves; decreases in deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments; operational risks including, but not limited to, cybersecurity, fraud and natural disasters; changes in government regulation; changes in accounting standards and practices; the risk that intangibles recorded in the financial statements will become impaired; demand for loans in Ponce Bank, N.A.'s market area; Ponce Bank, N.A.'s ability to attract and maintain deposits; risks related to the implementation of acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings; the risk that Ponce Financial Group, Inc. may not be successful in the implementation of its business strategy; changes in assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements and the risk factors described in Ponce Financial Group, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Ponce Financial Group, Inc. disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Financial Condition(Dollars in thousands, except for share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

$

27,429

 

 

$

28,511

 

 

$

29,296

 

 

$

35,767

 

 

$

32,113

 

Interest-bearing deposits

 

89,817

 

 

 

97,643

 

 

 

117,283

 

 

 

90,872

 

 

 

97,780

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

117,246

 

 

 

126,154

 

 

 

146,579

 

 

 

126,639

 

 

 

129,893

 

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value

 

87,150

 

 

 

92,196

 

 

 

94,822

 

 

 

96,562

 

 

 

103,570

 

Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost

 

263,514

 

 

 

272,982

 

 

 

285,125

 

 

 

336,879

 

 

 

358,024

 

Placement with banks

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value

 

2,127

 

 

 

3,388

 

 

 

5,794

 

 

 

5,703

 

 

 

8,567

 

Loans receivable, net

 

2,698,649

 

 

 

2,599,258

 

 

 

2,490,046

 

 

 

2,458,712

 

 

 

2,370,931

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

19,274

 

 

 

17,905

 

 

 

18,903

 

 

 

19,126

 

 

 

19,008

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

15,159

 

 

 

15,638

 

 

 

16,129

 

 

 

16,067

 

 

 

16,417

 

Right of use assets

 

27,633

 

 

 

27,583

 

 

 

28,295

 

 

 

28,806

 

 

 

29,496

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock (FHLBNY), at cost

 

28,180

 

 

 

29,309

 

 

 

25,945

 

 

 

26,620

 

 

 

25,807

 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York stock (FRBNY), at cost

 

10,706

 

 

 

10,698

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

Deferred tax assets

 

11,729

 

 

 

11,501

 

 

 

12,402

 

 

 

12,143

 

 

 

11,629

 

Other assets

 

19,141

 

 

 

17,109

 

 

 

32,790

 

 

 

26,363

 

 

 

16,245

 

Total assets

$

3,300,757

 

 

$

3,223,970

 

 

$

3,157,079

 

 

$

3,153,869

 

 

$

3,089,836

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

$

2,133,795

 

 

$

2,046,635

 

 

$

2,063,081

 

 

$

2,053,151

 

 

$

2,017,848

 

Borrowings

 

571,100

 

 

 

596,100

 

 

 

521,100

 

 

 

536,100

 

 

 

521,100

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

29,429

 

 

 

29,353

 

 

 

30,028

 

 

 

30,501

 

 

 

31,126

 

Accrued interest payable

 

4,338

 

 

 

3,788

 

 

 

4,372

 

 

 

4,161

 

 

 

4,628

 

Other liabilities

 

10,732

 

 

 

6,545

 

 

 

8,663

 

 

 

8,868

 

 

 

1,248

 

Total liabilities

 

2,749,394

 

 

 

2,682,421

 

 

 

2,627,244

 

 

 

2,632,781

 

 

 

2,575,950

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized

 

225,000

 

 

 

225,000

 

 

 

225,000

 

 

 

225,000

 

 

 

225,000

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

(5,738

)

 

 

(6,164

)

 

 

(7,270

)

 

 

(7,404

)

 

 

(7,641

)

Additional paid-in-capital

 

209,219

 

 

 

208,604

 

 

 

208,909

 

 

 

208,275

 

 

 

207,888

 

Retained earnings

 

143,674

 

 

 

135,332

 

 

 

125,477

 

 

 

119,250

 

 

 

113,432

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(10,680

)

 

 

(10,820

)

 

 

(11,586

)

 

 

(13,047

)

 

 

(13,515

)

Unearned compensation ─ ESOP

 

(10,361

)

 

 

(10,652

)

 

 

(10,944

)

 

 

(11,235

)

 

 

(11,527

)

Total stockholders' equity

 

551,363

 

 

 

541,549

 

 

 

529,835

 

 

 

521,088

 

 

 

513,886

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

3,300,757

 

 

$

3,223,970

 

 

$

3,157,079

 

 

$

3,153,869

 

 

$

3,089,836

 

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Operations(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

 

2025

 

Interest and dividend income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on loans receivable

$

43,982

 

 

$

43,599

 

 

$

41,486

 

 

$

40,291

 

 

$

37,136

 

Interest on deposits due from banks

 

770

 

 

 

1,209

 

 

 

978

 

 

 

807

 

 

 

1,668

 

Interest and dividend on securities and FHLBNY stock

 

3,910

 

 

 

4,013

 

 

 

4,383

 

 

 

4,762

 

 

 

5,193

 

Total interest and dividend income

 

48,662

 

 

 

48,821

 

 

 

46,847

 

 

 

45,860

 

 

 

43,997

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on certificates of deposit

 

6,415

 

 

 

6,706

 

 

 

6,553

 

 

 

7,382

 

 

 

7,754

 

Interest on other deposits

 

8,630

 

 

 

9,106

 

 

 

9,996

 

 

 

9,058

 

 

 

8,554

 

Interest on borrowings

 

5,391

 

 

 

5,075

 

 

 

5,050

 

 

 

4,994

 

 

 

5,486

 

Total interest expense

 

20,436

 

 

 

20,887

 

 

 

21,599

 

 

 

21,434

 

 

 

21,794

 

Net interest income

 

28,226

 

 

 

27,934

 

 

 

25,248

 

 

 

24,426

 

 

 

22,203

 

Provision (benefit) for credit losses

 

1,656

 

 

 

1,078

 

 

 

1,364

 

 

 

1,626

 

 

 

(285

)

Net interest income after provision (benefit) for credit losses

 

26,570

 

 

 

26,856

 

 

 

23,884

 

 

 

22,800

 

 

 

22,488

 

Non-interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service charges and fees

 

539

 

 

 

542

 

 

 

539

 

 

 

511

 

 

 

525

 

Brokerage commissions

 



 

 

 

23

 

 

 

8

 

 

 



 

 

 

4

 

Late and prepayment charges

 

726

 

 

 

1,173

 

 

 

385

 

 

 

530

 

 

 

697

 

Income on sale of mortgage loans

 

120

 

 

 

139

 

 

 

166

 

 

 

169

 

 

 

148

 

Income on sale of SBA loans

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

404

 

Grant income

 



 

 

 

428

 

 

 

429

 

 

 

428

 

 

 



 

Other

 

657

 

 

 

1,174

 

 

 

(35

)

 

 

422