SIERRA BANCORP

Net interest income was $30.4 million for the second quarter of 2026, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1%, compared to the second quarter of 2025. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower average interest-earning asset balances and yields, substantially offset by lower funding costs. Interest expense declined $1.5 million, or 13%, from the prior-year quarter, reflecting the benefits of lower deposit and wholesale funding costs.

For the second quarter of 2026, average interest-earning assets decreased $81.2 million, or 2%, from the same period in 2025, while the yield on those assets declined eight basis points to 5.02%. The decline in average earning assets was driven primarily by lower investment securities balances and decreases in real estate loans and agricultural production loans.

Average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $23.7 million in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while the cost of those liabilities declined 26 basis points to 1.92%. The quarterly decrease was primarily attributable to a 28 basis point reduction in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and a 23 basis point reduction in the cost of borrowed funds to 1.73% and 2.81%, respectively. Average interest-bearing deposit balances declined $42.8 million from the prior-year quarter, comprised primarily of a decline in higher-cost customer time deposits which decreased $62.7 million and brokered deposits which declined $16.2 million. These changes were partially offset by higher average balances of federal funds purchased, which also increased to fund mortgage warehouse lending activity.

The reduction in funding costs more than offset the modest decline in earning asset yields, resulting in a six basis point increase in the net interest margin to 3.74% from 3.68% in the second quarter of 2025.

Net interest income for the first six months of 2026 increased $0.3 million to $61.0 million, compared to the same period in 2025. The increase resulted primarily from an improved net interest margin, driven by lower funding costs and partially offset by a modest decline in average earning assets. Average interest-earning assets decreased $19.6 million, or 1%, and the yield on those assets decreased nine basis points to 5.03%.

For the first six months of 2026, interest expense decreased $2.3 million to $21.1 million, compared to $23.4 million during the same period in 2025. The decrease was driven by a 23 basis point reduction in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.93%, partially offset by a $25.1 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. The reduction in funding costs contributed to a four basis point increase in net interest margin to 3.75% for the first six months of 2026, compared to 3.71% for the same period in 2025.

The Company had $1.8 billion in adjustable and variable rate loans and $214.4 million in floating rate bonds, as compared to $220.5 million in floating rate CDs and $36.1 million in floating rate trust preferred securities at June 30, 2026. The adjustable-rate loans have repricing frequencies ranging from 30-days to 10-years. Of the $1.8 billion in adjustable and variable rate loans, $793.3 million reprice or mature in the next twelve months, including $457.5 million in mortgage warehouse facilities, which generally reprice immediately as interest rates change. In addition, there were $620.2 million of fixed-term deposits that reprice or mature within twelve months. Of the $793.3 million in adjustable and variable rate loans that reprice or mature over the next twelve months, $270.5 million, or 34%, have a pricing index rate higher than the current index, while $12.7 million, or 2%, have a pricing index rate lower than the current index. The remaining balance of $510.1 million in loans are priced at the current index rate.

Overall, the Company continues to benefit from continued lower cost funding, which was partially offset by lower yields on investment securities, as assets repriced in a lower rate environment, resulting in a stable net interest margin compared to the prior year. The level of net interest income recognized in any given period depends on a combination of factors including the average volume and yield for interest-earning assets, the average volume and cost of interest-bearing liabilities, and the mix of products which comprise the Company’s earning assets, deposits, and other interest-bearing liabilities.

The following tables show average balances for significant balance sheet categories and the amount of interest income or interest expense associated with each category for the noted periods. The tables also display calculated yields on each major component of the Company’s investment and loan portfolios, average rates paid on each key segment of the Company’s interest-bearing liabilities, and net interest margin for the noted periods.

Average Balances and Rates

The Volume and Rate Variances table below sets forth the dollar difference for the comparative periods in interest earned or paid for each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the amount of such change attributable to fluctuations in average balances (volume) or differences in average interest rates. Volume variances are equal to the increase or decrease in average balances multiplied by prior period rates, and rate variances are equal to the change in rates multiplied by prior period average balances. Variances attributable to both rate and volume changes, calculated by multiplying the change in rates by the change in average balances, have been allocated to the mix variance.

Volume & Rate Variances

The volume and rate analysis indicates that lower funding costs remained the primary driver of earnings performance during both the quarterly and year-to-date periods. Favorable deposit and borrowing cost repricing largely offset pressure from lower investment balances and reduced earning asset yields, while growth in mortgage warehouse lending provided a meaningful positive volume contribution.

Variances in net interest income were the result of changes discussed under the “Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin” heading.