PEOPLES BANCORP INC

Peoples reported net income of $21.2 million for the second quarter of 2025, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.59. In comparison, Peoples reported net income of $24.3 million, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.68, for the first quarter of 2025, and net income of $29.0 million, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.82, for the second quarter of 2024. Non-core items negatively impacted earnings per diluted common share by $0.01 for the second quarter of 2025, $0.01 for the first quarter of 2025, and $0.02 for the second quarter of 2024. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, Peoples recorded net income of $45.5 million, or $1.28 per diluted common share, compared to $58.6 million, or $1.66 per diluted common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Net interest income was $87.6 million for the second quarter of 2025, and increased $2.3 million when compared to the linked quarter. Net interest margin was 4.15% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 4.12% for the linked quarter. The increase in net interest income and net interest margin was primarily driven by lower deposit and borrowing costs. Net interest income for the second quarter of 2025 increased $1.0 million, or 1%, compared to the second quarter of 2024. The increase in net interest income compared to the second quarter of 2024 was driven by higher loan balances. Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2025 was 4.15% and decreased 3 basis points compared to 4.18% for the second quarter of 2024, impacted primarily by reductions in loan yields, driven by lower accretion income, partially offset by lower funding costs. Net interest income for the first six months of 2025 was $172.8 million, compared to $173.3 million for the same period of 2024. Net interest margin for the first six months of 2025 was 4.14%, compared to 4.22% for the same period of 2024 and was driven by lower accretion income.

Accretion income, net of amortization expense, from acquisitions was $2.6 million for the second quarter of 2025, $3.5 million for the first quarter of 2025 and $5.8 million for the second quarter of 2024, which added 12 basis points, 17 basis points and 28 basis points, respectively, to net interest margin. The decrease in accretion income for the second quarter of 2025 when compared to the linked quarter and the second quarter of 2024 was driven by fewer loan payoffs and more accretion income recognized in 2024 from the merger with Limestone Bancorp Inc. (the "Limestone Merger"). Accretion income, net of amortization expense, was $6.1 million and $12.3 million for the first six months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. Accretion income added 15 basis points and 30 basis points to net interest margin for the first six months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease in accretion income for the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 was due to more accretion recognized in 2024 from the Limestone Merger.

The provision for credit losses was $16.6 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $10.2 million for the linked quarter and a provision for credit losses of $5.7 million for the second quarter of 2024. The provision for credit losses for the second quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by (i) net charge offs, (ii) an increase in reserves for individually-analyzed loans and leases, (iii) an increase in reserves for leases originated by our North Star Leasing division, (iv) a periodic refresh in loss drivers utilized within the CECL model, (v) deterioration in the economic forecasts used within the CECL model, and (vi) loan growth. The provision for credit losses for the linked quarter was primarily driven by net charge-offs. The provision for credit losses for the second quarter of 2024 was driven by (i) net charge-offs, (ii) an increase of reserves for individually analyzed loans and leases, and (iii) loan growth. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2025 were $7.0 million, or 0.43% of average total loans annualized, compared to net charge-offs of $8.1 million, or 0.52% of average total loans annualized, for the linked quarter and net charge-offs of $4.2 million, or 0.27% of average total loans annualized, for the second quarter of 2024. For additional information on credit trends and the allowance for credit losses, see the "FINANCIAL CONDITION - Allowance for Credit Losses" section below.

The provision for credit losses for the first six months of 2025 was $26.8 million, compared to a provision for credit losses of $11.8 million for the first six months of 2024. The provision for credit losses for the first six months of 2025 was mainly a result of (i) net charge offs, (ii) an increase in reserves for individually-analyzed loans and leases, (iii) an increase in reserves for leases originated by our North Star Leasing division, (iv) a periodic refresh in loss drivers utilized within the CECL model, (v) deterioration in the economic forecasts used within the CECL model, and (vi) loan growth. The provision for credit losses for the first six months of 2024 was mainly a result of (i) higher net charge-offs, (ii) an increase in reserves for individually analyzed loans and leases and (iii) loan growth. Net charge-offs for the first six months of 2025 were $15.1 million, or 0.48% of average total loans annualized, compared to net charge-offs of $7.6 million, or 0.23% annualized, for the first six months of 2024. For additional information on credit trends and the allowance for credit losses, see the "Asset Quality" 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 second quarter of 2025 was $0.3 million, compared to a net loss of $0.4 million for the linked quarter and a net loss of $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2024. Net losses in both the second and first quarter of 2025 were driven by a $0.3 million loss on repossessed assets in each quarter. The net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was due to $0.4 million of net losses on repossessed assets. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, the total net loss was $0.6 million, compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 2024. These losses were primarily driven by $0.6 million and $0.7 million of losses on repossessed assets, respectively.

Total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, for the second quarter of 2025 decreased $0.3 million compared to the linked quarter. The decrease in non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, was primarily impacted by a decrease 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 increases in lease income and electronic banking income of $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, increased $2.7 million, due to an increase of $2.0 million in lease income, driven by operating lease income, an increase of $0.4 million in insurance income, and an increase of $0.3 million in other non-interest income, partially offset by a decrease of $0.3 million in deposit account service charges.

For the first six months of 2025, total non-interest income, excluding gains and losses, increased $4.0 million, or 8%, compared to the first six months of 2024. The increase was driven by (i) a $3.5 million increase in lease income, driven by gains on early Vantage lease terminations and operating lease income, (ii) a $0.9 million increase in other non-interest income, driven by an increase in swap fee income due to customer demand, and (iii) a $0.7 million increase in trust and investment income, driven by an increase in assets under administration and management. These increases were partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in deposit account service charges and a $0.4 million decrease in electronic banking income due to customer activity.

Total non-interest expense decreased $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to the linked quarter. The decrease in total non-interest expense was primarily due to a decreases of $0.9 million in salaries and employee benefit costs and $0.4 million in other non-interest expense, partially offset by increases of $0.5 million in professional fees and $0.4 million in data processing and software expenses. The decrease in salaries and employee benefit costs was due to annual expenses that occur in the first quarter of each year including stock-based compensation expenses attributable to the forfeiture rate true-up on stock vested along with up-front expense on stock grants to certain retirement-eligible employees, and health savings account ("HSA") contributions.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, total non-interest expense increased $1.6 million, or 2%. The increase in total non-interest expense was primarily driven by increases of $2.3 million in salaries and employee benefit costs, which were driven by higher sales-based incentive, medical costs, and payroll taxes, $0.7 million in professional fees, and $0.6 million in data processing and software expense, offset by decreases of $1.6 million in other non-interest expense, driven by a one-time $1.3 million true-up of corporate expenses recorded in the second quarter of 2024, and $0.6 million in amortization of other intangible assets.

For the six months ended June 30, 2025, total non-interest expense increased $3.9 million, or 3%, compared to the first six months of 2024. The increase was driven by increases of (i) $3.3 million in salaries and employee benefits costs, which were driven by higher sales-based incentive and medical costs, (ii) $1.8 million in data processing and software expenses, (iii) $0.8 million in professional fees, and (iv) $0.6 million in operating lease expense, partially offset by decreases of $1.2 million in amortization of other intangible assets and $1.1 million in net occupancy and equipment expense.

The efficiency ratio for the second quarter of 2025 was 59.3%, compared to 60.7% for the linked quarter and 59.2% for the second quarter of 2024. The efficiency ratio improved compared to the linked quarter mainly as the result of higher higher net interest income and lower non-interest expenses. The efficiency ratio for the first six months of 2025 was 60.0%, compared to 58.6% for the first six months of 2024. The efficiency ratio increased compared to the prior year first six months due to the increase in non-interest expense and lower net interest income.

Peoples recorded income tax expense of $6.2 million with an effective tax rate of 22.7% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to income tax expense of $7.0 million with an effective tax rate of 22.4% for the linked quarter, and income tax expense of $6.9 million with an effective tax rate of 19.1% for the second quarter of 2024. The decrease in income tax expense when compared to the prior quarter was primarily due to lower net income. Peoples' income tax expense for the first half of 2025 was $13.3 million with an effective tax rate of 22.6%, compared to $15.1 million with an effective tax rate of 20.5% for the same period of 2024.

Total assets were $9.54 billion as of June 30, 2025, $9.25 billion at March 31, 2025, $9.25 billion at December 31, 2024, and $9.23 billion at June 30, 2024. Total assets at June 30, 2025 increased when compared to at March 31, 2025 primarily due to increases in period-end loan and lease balances. The period-end total loan and lease balances at June 30, 2025 increased $173.1 million, or 11% annualized, compared to at March 31, 2025. The increase in the period-end total loan and lease balances was primarily driven by increases of $63.6 million in commercial and industrial loans, $29.8 million in residential real estate loans, $22.2 million in construction loans, $17.7 million in other commercial real estate loans, $13.5 million in premium finance loans, and $18.5 million in Vantage leases, offset by a decrease of $13.9 million in North Star leases. Total assets at June 30, 2025 increased compared to at June 30, 2024 due to increases of $276.2 million in total loans and leases and $135.2 million in total investment securities, partially offset by a decrease of $49.8 million in total cash and cash equivalents.

Total liabilities were $8.39 billion at June 30, 2025, up from $8.11 billion at March 31, 2025, $8.14 billion at December 31, 2024, and $8.15 billion at June 30, 2024. The increase in total liabilities when compared to at March 31, 2025 was primarily due to an increase of $377.6 million in short-term borrowings, partially offset by a decrease of $97.5 million in period-end total deposits. The increase in total liabilities when compared to at June 30, 2024 was primarily due to a $339.4 million increase in period-end deposits, partially offset with a decrease of $85.9 million in short-term borrowings. The increase in deposits was primarily driven by an increase of $192.4 million in retail certificates of deposit, driven by current promotional offerings, an increase of $58.4 million in money market deposit accounts, an increase of $58.0 million in non-interest-bearing deposits, and an increase of $30.0 million in brokered certificates of deposit.

Total stockholders' equity at June 30, 2025 increased $15.5 million compared to at March 31, 2025, which was primarily due to net income for the quarter of $21.2 million and a decrease of $5.4 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by dividends paid of $14.6 million. Accumulated unrealized losses related to the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio were $90.9 million and $96.6 million at June 30, 2025 and at March 31, 2025, respectively. Total stockholders' equity at June 30, 2025 increased $41.8 million, or 4%, compared to at December 31, 2024, which was due to net income of $45.5 million in the first six months of 2025 and a decrease of $20.1 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by dividends paid of $28.8 million. Total stockholders' equity at June 30, 2025 increased by $75.5 million compared to at June 30, 2024 and was impacted by net income of $104.2 million in the last twelve months and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $19.9 million, partially offset by dividends paid of $57.2 million.