Net Income: Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $2.5 million, or $0.23 per share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.17 per share, recorded in the prior year quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Cash Net Income: Cash net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $2.8 million, or $0.27 per share, compared to $2.1 million or $0.19 per share, recorded in the comparable 2025 quarter.
Net Interest Margin and Spread: The Bank's net interest margin increased 26 basis points to 3.52% during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, from 3.26% in the linked quarter ended December 31, 2025. The Bank's net interest spread increased to 2.66% during the quarter ended March 31,2026, from 2.19% in the prior year quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Non-Interest Income Growth: Due to an increase in loan sale volume and loan sale premiums received for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, non-interest income increased by $132 thousand or 6.6% from the prior year quarter.
Net Interest Income: Net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $8.2 million an increase of $926 thousand, or 12.7%, from the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Financial Performance Metrics: Return on average assets and average stockholders' equity were 1.04% and 10.47%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to 0.75% and 8.21% in the comparable quarter ended 2025.
Regulatory Capital: The Bank's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.31% and the Total Risk based capital ratio was 15.75% at March 31, 2026, each above the regulatory minimum for a well-capitalized institution.
Strong and Stable Liquidity: The Uninsured deposits base remains stable at 20.95% of total deposits. The Bank has significant available funding capacity to provide 202% coverage of our uninsured deposits.
GLEN COVE, N.Y., April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Joseph Pistilli, Executive Chairman of the Board, of First Central Savings Bank ("FCSB", "the Bank") today reported continued performance achievements for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Cash and GAAP Basis Earnings
The Bank's cash earnings were $2.8 million, or $0.27 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which represents an increase of $767 thousand, or 37.0%, from the prior year quarter ended March 31, 2025.
On a GAAP basis, net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $2.5 million, or $0.23 per share, compared with net income of $1.8 million, or $0.17, from the comparable 2025 quarter.
Joseph Pistilli, Executive Chairman of the Board noted, "In the first quarter of 2026, First Central continued to build shareholder value by generating strong earnings, primarily due to continued gains on non-conforming residential loan sales as well as expansion of net interest income. We increased our book value to $9.16 at March 31, 2026, an increase of $0.72, or 8.5%, from $8.44 per share at March 31, 2025. In addition, we are extremely proud of our ability to maintain a double-digit return on equity and a return on average assets above 1%. For the quarter ending March 31, 2026, our return on equity and return on assets were 10.47% and 1.04%, respectively. This represents our third consecutive quarter of double-digit returns on equity. We continue to remain cautiously optimistic about overall credit quality in our loan portfolio. In the prior quarter, management made a decision to charge off several problem loans which has resulted in our non-performing loans decreasing quarter over quarter. I am extremely proud of the management team and the Board of Directors that we have assembled at the Bank and the expertise they have in managing net interest income and asset quality during the current market conditions. Additionally, First Central Savings Bank has much to be excited about and the future is bright. We believe the Bank is well positioned for success in 2026 and for years to come."
Paul Hagan, President and Chief Operating Officer, reflected on the Bank's results, "During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the Bank increased its net interest income as a result of favorable net interest margin expansion. The net interest margin expansion was primarily due to lower deposit pricing and higher yields on interest earning assets. Absent any additional Federal Reserve rate cuts in calendar year 2026, management does not expect any significant increases in our net interest margin for the remainder of the year as deposit pricing remains highly competitive. However, net interest income is expected to grow in line with planned long term growth strategy. During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the Bank made a strategic decision to portfolio more residential loans due to changing premiums for secondary loan sales as result of the conflict in the Middle East. This resulted in lower gain on sales during the quarter but increased residential loan balances to support future interest income. Overall profitability is expected to continue to improve in calendar year 2026 through loan growth and increased loan sale income. Management will continue to rigorously manage non-interest expenses to strengthen profitability and maintain flexibility to address potential credit quality challenges."
Balance Sheet
Total assets at March 31, 2026, were $960.1 million compared to $970.1 million as of December 31,2025. The decrease in total assets was primarily driven by lower cash balances as a result of allowing some higher cost deposits to run off. The Bank continues to originate commercial real estate and non-conforming loans while continuing to actively sell most of the non-conforming loans to the secondary market. The Bank sold $51.1 million of non-conforming loans during the quarter. As of March 31, 2026, the Bank has been able to generate a non-conforming loan pipeline of $91.1 million with a weighted average interest rate of 6.65%.
Total deposits were $820.3 million as of March 31, 2026, a decrease of $11.5 million, or 1.38%, from December 31, 2025. The Bank has been successful in maintaining non-interest-bearing deposits from our retail branches as well as from downpayment deposits for non-conforming loan originations. Year over year, non-interest-bearing deposits increased by $11.1 million or 7.73% to $155.2 million as of March 31, 2026, representing 18.9% of the total deposit base.
Total borrowings at March 31, 2026, were $25.0 million, with a weighted average cost of 3.76% compared to $25 million and a weighted average cost of 4.18% at March 31, 2025. respectively.
The Bank's overall average cost of funds was 2.79% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, a decrease of 17 basis points from 2.96% from the prior linked quarter and a decrease of 49 bps compared to March 31, 2025. Management continues to be proactive in securing non-interest-bearing deposits and lower costing demand deposits in the current interest rate environment.
Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality
Total loans as of March 31, 2026, increased by $14.0 million or 1.66% to $861.1 million from $847.1 million at December 31, 2025 due to a higher balance of non-conforming residential loans and multifamily loans. Management continues to employ a strategy of concentrating its loan growth in these products, which provides the Bank with traditionally safe credit quality at acceptable credit spreads, greater liquidity and an enhanced interest-rate-risk profile. Over the past twelve months, originations of the non-conforming product amounted to $258.8 million. At March 31, 2026, the entire non-conforming loan portfolio amounted to $480.7 million, with an average loan balance of $562.2 thousand and a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 61.7%.
As a result of the Bank's robust non-conforming loan generation capabilities, the Bank had been able to generate additional income by strategically originating and selling its non-conforming loans to other financial institutions at premiums. The Bank expects that it will continue to originate, in the near term, for its own portfolio and, in the long term, for others, which will result in a continued increase in interest income while also realizing gains on sales of loans. For the three months ending March 31, 2026, the Bank earned $1.9 million in premiums on loans sold, net of FASB 91 fees and costs.
The Bank's asset quality ratios remain adequate. The total allowance for credit losses at March 31, 2026, was $7.5 million, or 0.88%, of total loans held for investment as compared to $7.2 million, or 0.87%, at December 31 ,2025. At March 31, 2026, the loan portfolio had non-performing loans of $10.8 million, or 1.27%, of total loans and 1.12% of total assets as compared to $15.9 million, or 1.84%, of total loans and 1.62% of total assets at March 31, 2025.
About First Central Savings Bank
With assets of $960.1 million at March 31, 2026, First Central Savings Bank is a locally owned and operated community savings bank, focusing on highly personalized and efficient services and products responsive to local needs. Management and the Board of Directors are comprised of a select group of successful local businessmen who are committed to the success of the Bank by knowing and understanding the metro-New York area's financial needs and opportunities. Backed by state-of-the-art technology, First Central offers a full range of modern financial services. First Central employs a complete suite of consumer and commercial banking products and services, including multi-family and commercial mortgages, ADC and bridge loans, residential loans, middle market business loans and lines of credit. First Central also offers customers 24-hour ATM service with no fees attached, free checking with interest, mobile banking, the most advanced technologies in internet banking for our consumer and business customers, safe deposit boxes and much more. The Bank continues to roll out mobile banking software products as well as our "Zelle" money transfer product to our customers. First Central Savings Bank maintains its corporate office in Glen Cove, New York with an additional six branches throughout Queens New York, one branch in Nassau County, New York, and one branch in Suffolk County, New York.
First Central Savings Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is an Equal Housing/Equal Opportunity Lender. For further information, call 516-399-6010 or visit the Bank's state-of-the-art website at www.myfcsb.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain certain "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by the use of such words as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue," and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of First Central Savings Bank. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this release and in any other public statements made by First Central Savings Bank may turn out to be incorrect. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions First Central Savings Bank might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. First Central Savings Bank does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release or to conform these statements to actual events.
First Central Savings Bank
Statements of Condition - (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
3/31/2026
12/31/2025
3/31/2025
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
33,249
$
56,936
$
35,928
Certificates of deposit
4,000
4,000
3,000
Investments available-for-sale
28,361
28,962
30,085
Investments held-to-maturity
3,000
3,000
1,000
Loans held-for-sale
10,358
16,367
17,187
Loans receivable
850,735
830,705
866,999
Less: allowance for credit losses
(7,458
)
(7,207
)
(9,144
)
Loans, net
843,277
823,498
857,855
Other assets
37,898
37,386
38,558
Total assets
$
960,143
$
970,149
$
983,613
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Deposits
$
820,265
$
831,761
$
850,632
FHLB advances and other borrowings
25,000
25,000
25,000
Other liabilities
17,390
18,433
18,125
Total liabilities
862,655
875,194
893,757
Total stockholders' equity
97,488
94,955
89,856
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
960,143
$
970,149
$
983,613
First Central Savings Bank
Statements of Income - (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Quarter Ended
Quarter Ended
3/31/2026
3/31/2025
Total Interest income
$
14,134
$
14,279
Total interest expense
5,899
6,970
Net interest income
8,235
7,309
Provision for credit losses
207
93
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
8,028
7,216
Net gain on loans sold
1,853
1,790
Other non-interest income
292
223
Total non-interest income
2,145
2,013
Compensation and benefits
4,142
4,022
Occupancy and equipment
934
968
Data processing
483
482
Federal insurance premium
147
183
Professional fees
351
335
Other
989
992
Total non-interest expense
7,046
