PEOPLES BANCORP INC

Peoples reported net income of $24.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.68. In comparison, Peoples reported net income of $26.9 million, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.76, for the fourth quarter of 2024, and net income of $29.6 million, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.84, for the first quarter of 2024. Non-core items negatively impacted earnings per diluted common share by $0.01 for the first quarter of 2025, $0.04 for the fourth quarter of 2024, and $0.01 for the first quarter of 2024.

Net interest income was $85.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, and decreased $1.3 million when compared to the linked quarter. Net interest margin was 4.12% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 4.15% for the linked quarter. The decrease in net interest income and net interest margin was primarily driven by a decrease in accretion income, net of amortization, from our acquisitions. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2025 decreased $1.4 million, or 2%, compared to the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in net interest income compared to the first quarter of 2024 was driven by lower accretion income. Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2025 was 4.12% and decreased 14 basis points compared to 4.26% for the first quarter of 2024, driven primarily by lower accretion income.

Accretion income, net of amortization expense, from acquisitions was $3.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, $4.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $6.5 million for the first quarter of 2024, which added 17 basis points, 23 basis points and 32 basis points, respectively, to net interest margin. The decrease in accretion income for the first quarter of 2025 when compared to the linked quarter and the first quarter of 2024 was driven by fewer loan payoffs.

The provision for credit losses was $10.2 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $6.3 million for the linked quarter and a provision for credit losses of $6.1 million for the first quarter of 2024. The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2025 and fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily driven by net charge-offs. The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2024 was driven by (i) net charge-offs, (ii) a deterioration in macro-economic conditions used within the CECL model, (iii) an increase of reserves on individually analyzed loans and (iv) loan growth. Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2025 were $8.1 million, or 0.52% of average total loans annualized, compared to net charge-offs of $9.6 million, or 0.61% of average total loans annualized, for the linked quarter and net charge-offs of $3.3 million, or 0.22% of average total loans annualized, for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease relative to the linked quarter was driven by a decrease in charge-offs on leases originated by our North Star Leasing business, which comprised 31 basis points of the first quarter net charge-off rate and 49 basis points of the linked quarter net charge-off rate. For additional information on credit trends and the allowance for credit losses, see the "FINANCIAL CONDITION - Allowance for Credit Losses" section below.

Net gains and losses include gains and losses on investment securities, asset disposals and other transactions, which are included in total non-interest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The net loss realized during the first quarter of 2025 was $0.4 million, compared to a net loss of $1.7 million for the linked quarter and a net loss of $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2024. The net losses for the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2024 were driven primarily by net losses on repossessed assets of $0.3 million. The net loss reported as of December 31, 2024 was attributable to the write-down of an OREO property which totaled $1.2 million.

Total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, for the first quarter of 2025 increased $0.6 million compared to the linked quarter. The increase in non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, was primarily impacted by an increase of $1.5 million in insurance income due to seasonal performance-based commissions being paid in the first quarter of each year, partially offset by decreases in deposit account service charges and electronic banking income of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, increased $1.3 million due to additional operating lease income of $1.4 million and additional trust and investment income of $0.5 million income, offset by decreases of $0.4 million in both insurance income and bank owned life insurance ("BOLI").

Total non-interest expense increased $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the linked quarter. The increase in total non-interest expense was primarily due to an increase of $2.3 million in salaries and employee benefit costs, which was driven by annual merit increases, $1.3 million in stock-based compensation expenses attributable to forfeiture rate true-up on stock vested during the first quarter along with up-front expense on stock grants to certain retirement-eligible employees, and $0.7 million in health savings account ("HSA") contributions, partially offset by a decrease of $1.3 million in other non-interest expense, driven by acquisition-related expenses, coupled with decreases in amortization of other intangible assets and marketing expense.

Compared to the first quarter of 2024, total non-interest expense increased $2.3 million, or 3%. The increase in total non-interest expense was primarily driven by increases of $1.2 million in data processing and software expense, $0.9 million in salaries and employee benefit costs, driven by higher sales-based compensation and higher medical costs, and $0.9 million in other non-interest expense, driven by increases in miscellaneous expense and higher postage costs, partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 million in net occupancy and equipment expense.

The efficiency ratio for the first quarter of 2025 was 60.7%, compared to 59.6% for the linked quarter and 58.1% for the first quarter of 2024. The efficiency ratio increased compared to the linked quarter mainly as the result of higher non-interest expense, which was driven by annual expenses that occur in the first quarter of each year. The efficiency ratio increased for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024 due to higher non-interest expense.

Peoples recorded income tax expense of $7.0 million with an effective tax rate of 22.4% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to income tax expense of $7.9 million with an effective tax rate of 22.7% for the linked quarter, and income tax expense of $8.3 million with an effective tax rate of 21.8% for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in income tax expense for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the linked quarter and to the first quarter of 2024 was primarily due to lower net income.

Total assets were $9.25 billion as of both March 31, 2025 and at December 31, 2024, and $9.27 billion at March 31, 2024. Total assets at March 31, 2025 remained flat when compared to at December 31, 2024 primarily due to a decrease in investment securities and cash and cash equivalents, offset by an increase in period-end loan and lease balances. The period-end total loan and lease balances at March 31, 2025 increased $70.5 million, or 4% annualized, compared to at December 31, 2024. The increase in the period-end total loan and lease balances was primarily driven by an increase of $74.5 million in other commercial real estate loans. Total assets at March 31, 2025 decreased compared to March 31, 2024 due to a decrease of $242.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by an increase of $225.7 million in total loans and leases. The period-end loan and lease balances increased from March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2025 primarily as a result of organic growth in our commercial and industrial, residential real estate, and consumer indirect portfolios of $129.2 million, $66.3 million, and $30.0 million, respectively.

Total liabilities were $8.11 billion at March 31, 2025, down from $8.14 billion at December 31, 2024, and $8.21 billion at March 31, 2024. The decrease in total liabilities when compared to at December 31, 2024 was primarily due to a decrease of $174.2 million in short-term borrowings, partially offset by an increase of $144.5 million in period-end total deposits. The decrease in total liabilities when compared to at March 31, 2024 was primarily due to a $494.3 million decrease in short- term borrowings, partially offset by a increase of $408.2 million in period-end deposits. The increase in deposits was primarily driven by an increase of $285.6 million in retail certificates of deposit, driven by current promotional offerings, and an increase of $107.4 million in money market deposit accounts.

Total stockholders' equity at March 31, 2025 increased by $26.2 million compared to at December 31, 2024, which was primarily due to net income for the quarter of $24.3 million and a decrease of $14.7 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by dividends paid of $14.2 million. Accumulated unrealized losses related to the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio were $96.6 million and $111.8 million at March 31, 2025 and at December 31, 2024, respectively. Total stockholders' equity at March 31, 2025 increased by $75.8 million compared to at March 31, 2024 and was impacted by net income of $112.0 million in the last twelve months and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $13.2 million, partially offset by dividends paid of $56.8 million.