ECB Bancorp, Inc. /MD/
For the period ended Dec 31, 2025. Filed Mar 25, 2026.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2025 · Filed Mar 25, 2026
ECBK$21.45-0.5%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
What changed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-K
Period ended 2024-12-31; filed 2025-03-26.
0000950170-25-045444
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCurrent report: 10-K
Period ended 2025-12-31; filed 2026-03-25.
0001437749-26-009778
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 110 previous paragraphs and 75 current paragraphs.
41 unchanged; 28 reworded; 6 added; 40 removed; 1 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 6 previous and 39 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (6)
Current report
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $70.7 million, or 44.9%, to $86.9 million at December 31, 2025 from $157.6 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was driven by growth in both loans and investments that in aggregate was greater than our growth in deposits and borrowings.
Current report
***Interest-Bearing Time Deposits.***Interest-bearing time deposits were $8.0 million at December 31, 2025, as compared to $100,000 at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $7.9 million. This increase was due to purchases of new interest-bearing time deposits.
Current report
***Investments in Securities Available for Sale.***Investments in securities available for sale were $34.3 million at December 31, 2025, as compared to $6.6 million at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $27.8 million, or 422.8%. This increase was due to purchases of new securities.
Current report
***Investments in Securities Held to Maturity.***Investments in securities held to maturity were $55.8 million at December 31, 2025, as compared to $73.2 million at December 31, 2024, or a $17.5 million, or 23.8%, decrease. This decrease was due to maturities and principal paydowns of securities.
Current report
Deposits. Total deposits were $1.13 billion at December 31, 2025, as compared to $998.5 million at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $133.8 million, or 13.4%.
Current report
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances. FHLB advances increased $50.8 million, or 21.7%, to $284.8 million at December 31, 2025 from $234.0 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in FHLB advances was used primarily to fund loan growth.
Removed paragraphs (40)
Previous report
Continuing to focus on enhancing our commercial real estate and multifamily real estate lending. In order to increase the yield on our loan portfolio and reduce the term to maturity of our loan portfolio, we intend to continue our focus on growing the originations of commercial real estate loans and multifamily real estate loans while maintaining what we believe are prudent underwriting standards and we expect that these loan categories will comprise a greater percentage of our total loan portfolio. In order to execute on this strategy, in January 2022 we hired a new Chief Lending Officer as well as some additional commercial lending and credit analyst personnel throughout 2022 and 2023. The capital raised in the offering has and will continue to allow us to increase our commercial lending capacity by enabling us to originate and retain all or a greater portion of loans that we historically participated out to other local institutions. Given that our regulatory loans to one borrower limits have increased with our increase in capital, we have revised our lending policies and loans to one borrower limitations to increase our lending limits and the type and size of loans we choose to originate and hold in our portfolio. Our commercial real estate and multifamily real estate loan portfolios increased to $229.0 million and $344.0 million, respectively, at December 31, 2024 from $196.4 million and $287.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Reduced emphasis on one-to-four family residential real estate lending. We have been, and will continue to be, a one-to-four family residential real estate lender for borrowers in our market area and such lending will remain a core focus, but we expect that our lending strategy will result in a decrease to one-to-four family residential loans as a percentage of our total loan portfolio as we increase our focus on commercial real estate and multifamily real estate lending. As of December 31, 2024, $422.8 million, or 36.9%, of our total loan portfolio, consisted of one-to-four family residential real estate loans and at that date an additional $45.2 million, or 4.0%, of our total loan portfolio, consisted of home equity lines of credit and loans. We expect that one-to-four family residential real estate lending will remain one of our primary lending activities.
Previous report
Maintaining our strong asset quality through prudent loan underwriting. As we seek to grow our loan portfolio, we intend to maintain prudent loan underwriting and credit monitoring processes. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, non-performing assets totaled $2.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively, which represented 0.14% and 0.09% of total assets at those dates, respectively.
Previous report
Continuing to attract and retain customers in our market area and build our “core” deposits consisting of interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking, savings and money market accounts. Our strategy to enhance and grow our commercial real estate and multifamily real estate lending in a diligent and orderly manner is also designed to encourage relationship banking and increase our core deposits, including noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, and decrease our dependence on certificates of deposit. We plan to leverage our increased focus on commercial real estate and commercial lending efforts to also increase our opportunities to develop commercial business deposit relationships. Additionally, we believe the recent hire of our Senior Vice President of Retail Operations, who brings 38 years of banking experience to our retail sales and administrative team, will be invaluable to the implementation of the added product delivery channels and technological services such as additional electronic and mobile banking applications and cash management services, which we believe will increase our core deposits.
Previous report
Remaining a community-oriented institution and relying on high quality service to maintain and build a loyal local customer base. We were established in 1890 and have been operating continuously in and around Everett, Massachusetts since that time. By using our recognized brand name and the goodwill developed over years of providing timely, efficient banking services, we believe we have been able to attract a solid base of local retail customers on which to continue to build our banking business. Additionally, we believe that the establishment and funding of the charitable foundation will further promote our relationships and exposure in our market area through our support of charitable organizations operating in our local community now and in the future.
Previous report
Expanding our banking franchise as opportunities arise through de novo branching and/or branch acquisitions. We historically operated from our two full-service banking offices in Everett, MA and Lynnfield, MA. During 2023 we successfully opened our third branch which is located in Woburn, MA. We believe there are branch expansion opportunities that exist within our primary market area. We intend to evaluate branch expansion opportunities, including through establishing one or morede novo branches and/or branch acquisitions as such opportunities arise.
Previous report
Income Taxes. We use the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. We exercise significant judgment in evaluating the amount and timing of recognition of the resulting tax liabilities and assets. These judgments may require us to make projections of future taxable income and/or to carryback to taxable income in prior years. The judgments and estimates we make in determining our deferred tax assets, which are inherently subjective, are reviewed on a continual basis as regulatory and business factors change. Any reduction in estimated future taxable income may require us to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
Previous report
Securities Valuation and Allowance for Credit Losses. We classify our investments in debt securities as either held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Securities classified as held-to-maturity are recorded at amortized cost. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. We obtain our fair values from one or more third-party services. This service’s fair value calculations are based on quoted market prices when such prices are available. If quoted market prices are not available, estimates of fair value are computed using a variety of techniques, including extrapolation from the quoted prices of similar instruments or recent trades for thinly traded securities, fundamental analysis, or through obtaining purchase quotes. Due to the subjective nature of the valuation process, it is possible that the actual fair values of these investments could differ from the estimated amounts, thereby affecting our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. For available-for-sale debt securities with a fair value less than amortized cost basis, management will determine whether it has the intent to sell the debt security or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the debt security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either condition is met, management will recognize a write-down to fair value through a charge to earnings. For all other debt securities, management evaluates their expected credit losses over the remaining term. The majority of the Company’s debt securities consist of mortgage-backed securities, U.S. Treasury securities and debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises. These securities carry an explicit or implicit guarantee from the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies, and have a long history of no credit losses. Accordingly, the Company applies a zero-credit loss assumption and has not recorded any allowance for these securities. For corporate bonds classified as held-to-maturity, a probability of default and loss given default analysis is performed to determine the allowance for credit losses. We monitor the investment portfolio and credit performance on a quarterly basis to determine if any allowance is considered necessary.
Previous report
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents increased $38.6 million, or 32.4%, to $157.6 million at December 31, 2024 from $119.0 million at December 31, 2023. Cash and cash equivalents increased primarily due to increases in deposits that were greater than our loan growth as we have focused on maintaining strong levels of liquidity.
Previous report
Multi-family real estate loans increased $56.6 million, or 19.7%, to $344.0 million at December 31, 2024, from $287.4 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Commercial real estate loans increased $32.6 million, or 16.6%, to $229.0 million at December 31, 2024, from $196.4 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Residential real estate loans increased $12.7 million, or 3.1%, to $422.8 million at December 31, 2024, from $410.1 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Home equity lines of credit increased $11.8 million, or 35.4%, to $45.2 million at December 31, 2024, from $33.4 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Commercial loans increased $4.6 million, or 50.2%, to $13.8 million at December 31, 2024, from $9.2 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Construction loans decreased $21.1 million, or 18.8%, to $90.9 million at December 31, 2024, from $112.0 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Deposits. Deposits increased $130.3 million, or 15.0%, to $998.5 million at December 31, 2024 from $868.2 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Certificates of deposit increased $107.0 million, or 21.5%, to $605.5 million at December 31, 2024 from $498.5 million at December 31, 2023;
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Money market deposit accounts increased $53.2 million, or 40.5%, to $184.6 million at December 31, 2024 from $131.4 million at December 31, 2023;
Previous report
Demand deposit accounts increased $6.6 million, or 8.4%, to $85.0 million at December 31, 2024 from $78.3 million at December 31, 2023;
Previous report
Savings accounts decreased $34.9 million, or 25.3%, to $102.9 million at December 31, 2024 from $137.8 million at December 31, 2023; and
Previous report
Interest-bearing checking accounts decreased $1.6 million, or 7.3%, to $20.5 million at December 31, 2024 from $22.2 million at December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank remained the same at $234.0 million at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Previous report
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense increased $1.6 million, or 8.5%, to $20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Significant changes are as follows:
Previous report
Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.4 million, or 11.8%, driven by $974,000 in stock based compensation recorded during the year ended December 31, 2024, related to the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, as compared to $165,000 in stock based compensation recorded during the year ended December 31, 2023. The employee stock awards were granted in the fourth quarter of 2023;
Previous report
Director compensation increased $253,000, or 43.5%, driven by $332,000 in stock-based compensation recorded in the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $103,000 in stock-based compensation costs recorded during the year ended December 31, 2023. The director stock awards were granted at the end of the third quarter of 2023; and
Previous report
Advertising and promotions decreased $243,000, or 30.6%, as we have streamlined our advertising efforts.
Previous report
Excludes interest and dividends on cost method investments of $823,000 and $622,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Previous report
Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities.
Previous report
Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
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Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
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maintaining capital levels that exceed the thresholds for well-capitalized status under federal regulations;
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maintaining a prudent level of liquidity;
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growing our volume of core deposit accounts;
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managing our investment securities portfolio to maintain a prudent balance between enhancing profitability and protecting the balance sheet against sensitivity to changes in interest rates;
Previous report
managing our utilization of wholesale funding with borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank and brokered deposits in a prudent manner;
Previous report
continuing to diversify our loan portfolio by adding more commercial-related loans, which typically have shorter maturities and/or balloon payments; and
Previous report
beginning in January of 2024 we began to utilize interest rate swaps to help manage our interest rate risk.
Previous report
EVE is the discounted present value of expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts.
Previous report
Present value of assets represents the discounted present value of incoming cash flows on interest-earning assets.
Previous report
EVE Ratio represents EVE divided by the present value of assets.
Reworded paragraphs (28)
Previous wording
Our business consists primarily of taking deposits from the general public and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from operations, in one-to-four family residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, multifamily real estate loans, construction loans, home equity lines of credit and loans and commercial loans. At December 31, 2024, $422.8 million, or 36.9%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of one-to-four family residential real estate loans, $344.0 million, or 30.0%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of multifamily real estate loans, $229.0 million, or 20.0%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of commercial real estate loans, $90.9 million, or 7.9%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of construction loans, $45.2 million, or 4.0%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of home equity lines of credit and loans and $13.8 million, or 1.2% of our total loan portfolio was comprised of commercial loans. We also invest in securities, consisting primarily of U.S. government and federal agency obligations, mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds. We offer a variety of deposit accounts, including certificate of deposit accounts, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts and interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking accounts. In addition to customer deposits, in recent years, we have also accepted brokered deposits as a non-retail funding source to supplement our customer deposits and fund our operations. At December 31, 2024, we had $125.6 million of brokered deposits. We also have utilized advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “FHLB”) as an additional funding source to fund our operations and we had $234.0 million of FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2024.
Current wording
Our business consists primarily of taking deposits from the general public and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from operations, in one-to-four family residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, multifamily real estate loans, construction loans, home equity lines of credit and loans and commercial loans. At December 31, 2025, $473.4 million, or 34.2%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of one-to-four family residential real estate loans, $425.4 million, or 30.8%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of multifamily real estate loans, $336.4 million, or 24.3%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of commercial real estate loans, $89.0 million, or 6.4%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of construction loans, $49.9 million, or 3.6%, of our total loan portfolio was comprised of home equity lines of credit and loans and $7.9 million, or 0.6% of our total loan portfolio was comprised of commercial loans. We also invest in securities, consisting primarily of U.S. government and federal agency obligations, collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds. We offer a variety of deposit accounts, including certificate of deposit accounts, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts and interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking accounts. At December 31, 2025, $728.3 million, or 64.3%, of our total deposit accounts was comprised of certificate of deposit accounts, $211.8 million, or 18.7%, of our total deposit accounts was comprised of money market accounts, $91.4 million, or 8.1%, of our total deposit accounts was comprised of savings accounts, $81.5 million, or 7.2% of our total deposit accounts was comprised of noninterest bearing demand deposit accounts and $19.4 million, or 1.7%, of our total deposit accounts was comprised of interest-bearing demand deposit accounts. In addition to customer deposits, in recent years, we have also accepted brokered deposits as a non-retail funding source to supplement our customer deposits and fund our operations. At December 31, 2025, we had $134.0 million of brokered deposits. We also have utilized advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “FHLB”) as an additional funding source to fund our operations and we had $284.8 million of FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2025.
Previous wording
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had net income of $4.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively. Our current business strategy includes continuing to focus on originating and growing our commercial real estate, multifamily real estate and construction loan portfolios as well as the origination of one-to-four family residential real estate loans and home equity lines of credit and loans. To a lesser extent, we also originate other commercial loans and consumer loans.
Current wording
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had net income of $7.8 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Our current business strategy includes continuing to focus on originating and growing our commercial real estate, multifamily real estate and construction loan portfolios as well as the origination of one-to-four family residential real estate loans and home equity lines of credit and loans. To a lesser extent, we also originate other commercial loans and consumer loans.
Previous wording
Allowance for Credit Losses. On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted the ASU 2016-13 Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) methodology for estimating the credit losses for loans. This methodology replaced the incurred loss and impairment methodology. The CECL methodology reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions. Management uses forward-looking information to estimate the expected credit loss on a loan at the time of origination. The change from the incurred loss methodology to the CECL methodology was recognized through an adjustment to retained earnings.
Current wording
Allowance for Credit Losses**.** On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted a Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) methodology for estimating the credit losses for loans. This methodology replaced the incurred loss and impairment methodology. The CECL methodology reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions. Management uses forward-looking information to estimate the expected credit loss on a loan at the time of origination. The change from the incurred loss methodology to the CECL methodology was recognized through an adjustment to retained earnings.
Previous wording
As noted above, we consider a number of variables in our evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, with one of the more significant variables being prepayment rates in the various segments of our loan portfolio. Based on our model, if all segments of our loan portfolio experienced a 50% decrease in estimated prepayment rates and curtailment rates, our allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 would have increased $2.4 million to $11.3 million, holding all other variables constant.
Current wording
As noted above, we consider a number of variables in our evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, with one of the more significant variables being prepayment rates in the various segments of our loan portfolio. Based on our model, if all segments of our loan portfolio experienced a 50% decrease in estimated prepayment rates and curtailment rates, our allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2025 would have increased $1.6 million to $11.8 million, holding all other variables constant.
Previous wording
Total Assets. Total assets increased $137.8 million, or 10.8%, to $1.42 billion at December 31, 2024 from $1.28 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily the result of increases in loans and cash and cash equivalents.
Current wording
***Total Assets.***Total assets increased $187.5 million, or 13.2%, to $1.61 billion at December 31, 2025 from $1.42 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily the result of increases in loans.
Previous wording
Loans. Total gross loans increased $97.2 million, or 9.3%, to $1.15 billion at December 31, 2024 from $1.05 billion at December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Loans. Total gross loans were $1.38 billion at December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.15 billion at December 31, 2024, or an increase of $237.0 million, or 20.7%.
Previous wording
Federal Home Loan Bank stock. The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) is a cooperative bank that provides services to its member banking institutions. The primary reason for our membership in the FHLB is to gain access to a reliable source of wholesale funding and as a tool to manage interest rate risk. The purchase of stock in the FHLB is a requirement for a member to gain access to funding. We purchase and/or are subject to redemption of FHLB stock proportional to the volume of funding received and view the holdings as a necessary long-term investment for the purpose of balance sheet liquidity and not for investment return. We held an investment in FHLB stock of $10.0 million and $9.9 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The amount of stock we are required to purchase is in proportion to our FHLB borrowings and level of total assets.
Current wording
***Federal Home Loan Bank stock.***The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) is a cooperative bank that provides services to its member banking institutions. The primary reason for our membership in the FHLB is to gain access to a reliable source of wholesale funding and as a tool to manage interest rate risk. The purchase of stock in the FHLB is a requirement for a member to gain access to funding. We purchase and/or are subject to redemption of FHLB stock proportional to the volume of funding received and view the holdings as a necessary long-term investment for the purpose of balance sheet liquidity and not for investment return. We held an investment in FHLB stock of $11.9 million and $10.0 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The amount of stock we are required to purchase is in proportion to our FHLB borrowings and level of total assets.
Previous wording
Bank-owned Life Insurance. We invest in bank-owned life insurance to help offset the costs of our employee benefit plan obligations. Bank-owned life insurance also generally provides noninterest income that is nontaxable. Bank-owned life insurance increased $473,000, or 3.3%, to $14.9 million at December 31, 2024 from $14.5 million at December 31, 2023. The increase was due to an increase in cash surrender value of our bank-owned life insurance portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Current wording
Bank-owned Life Insurance. We invest in bank-owned life insurance to help offset the costs of our employee benefit plan obligations. Bank-owned life insurance also generally provides noninterest income that is nontaxable. Bank-owned life insurance increased $475,000, or 3.2%, to $15.4 million at December 31, 2025 from $14.9 million at December 31, 2024. The increase was due to an increase in cash surrender value of our bank-owned life insurance portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Previous wording
Shareholders’ Equity. Total shareholders’ equity increased $3.4 million, or 2.0%, to $168.3 million at December 31, 2024 from $164.9 million at December 31, 2023. This increase is primarily the result of net income of $4.0 million and a $1.5 million increase in additional paid-in capital related to stock-based compensation. Partially offsetting this was a decrease in additional paid-in capital of $2.7 million related to shares repurchased under our share repurchase plan. The book value per share increased $0.75 to $18.50 at December 31, 2024 from $17.75 at December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Shareholders’*** Equity.*** Total shareholders' equity increased $3.7 million, or 2.2%, to $171.9 million as of December 31, 2025 from $168.3 million as of December 31, 2024. This increase is primarily the result of earnings of $7.8 million. Partially offsetting the increase from earnings were decreases in additional paid-in capital ("APIC") and accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") of $3.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The decrease in APIC was driven by $4.6 million in shares repurchased under our share repurchase plan, partially offset by an increase in APIC of $1.5 million related to stock-based compensation and ESOP shares committed to be released. The decrease in AOCI was driven by a decrease in the fair value of cash flow hedges. Book value per share increased $1.05 to $19.55 at December 31, 2025 from $18.50 at December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Net Income. Net income was $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income of $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $465,000, or 10.4%.
Current wording
Net Income. Net income was $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to net income of $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $3.8 million, or 94.7%.
Previous wording
Interest and Dividend Income. Interest and dividend income increased $12.3 million, or 22.4%, to $67.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $54.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 due to a $9.5 million increase in interest and fees on loans, a $485,000 increase in interest and dividends on securities and a $2.3 million increase in interest on short term investments. The increase in interest and fees on loans was driven by an increase of $109.5 million in the average balance of the loan portfolio to $1.10 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $994.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as an increase in the yield of 38 basis points to 5.24% during the year ended December 31, 2024 from 4.86% during the year ended December 31, 2023. The yield for the year ended December 31, 2024 benefited from new loans with higher rates as well as loans repricing higher. Interest and dividends on securities increased $485,000, or 18.0%, to $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase was driven by an increase in the yield of investment securities of 39 basis points to 2.95% for the year ended December 31, 2024, from 2.56% for the year ended December 31, 2023 resulting from the higher market interest rate environment, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of $1.2 million from $81.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 to $80.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2024. Interest on short term investments increased $2.3 million, or 60.4% to $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase was driven by the average balance of short-term investments increasing $42.4 million to $114.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $71.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Interest and Dividend Income. Interest and dividend income increased $11.1 million, or 16.6%, to $78.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $67.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 driven by an $11.2 million increase in interest and fees on loans, an $822,000 increase in interest and dividends on securities and a $114,000 increase in interest on interest-bearing time deposits, partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in interest on short-term investments. The increase in interest and fees on loans was driven by an increase of $158.5 million in the average balance of the loan portfolio to $1.26 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $1.10 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as an increase in the yield of 23 basis points to 5.47% during the year ended December 31, 2025 from 5.24% during the year ended December 31, 2024. The yield for the year ended December 31, 2025 benefited from new loans with higher rates as well as loans repricing higher. Interest and dividends on securities increased $822,000, or 25.8%, to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. This increase was driven by an increase in the yield of investment securities of 82 basis points to 3.77% for the year ended December 31, 2025, from 2.95% for the year ended December 31, 2024 and an increase in the average balance of $6.2 million from $80.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 to $86.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2025. Interest on short term investments decreased $1.0 million, or 17.2%, to $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. This decrease was driven by the yield of short-term investments decreasing 92 basis points to 4.33% for the year ended December 31, 2025 from 5.25% for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in interest on interest-bearing time deposits was driven by an increase in the average balance of $2.6 million to $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Average interest-earning assets increased $150.6 million to $1.30 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $1.15 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. The yield on interest earning-assets increased 38 basis points to 5.10% for the year ended December 31, 2024 from 4.72% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Average interest-earning assets increased $167.7 million to $1.47 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $1.30 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024. The yield on interest earning-assets increased 18 basis points to 5.28% for the year ended December 31, 2025 from 5.10% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Interest Expense. Total interest expense increased $12.1 million, or 40.3%, to $42.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $30.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Interest expense on deposit accounts increased $12.0 million, or 56.1%, to $33.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, due to an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $155.8 million, or 22.2%, to $858.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $702.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as an increase in the weighted average rate on interest-bearing deposits of 85 basis points to 3.90% for the year ended December 31, 2024 from 3.05% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Interest Expense. Total interest expense increased $4.2 million, or 10.0%, to $46.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $42.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Interest expense on deposit accounts increased $3.6 million, or 10.8%, to $37.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $33.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, due to an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $143.2 million, or 16.7%, to $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $858.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, partially offset by a decrease in the weighted average rate on interest-bearing deposits of 20 basis points to 3.70% for the year ended December 31, 2025 from 3.90% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $49,000, or 0.57%, to $8.62 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $8.57 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased $684,000, or 0.3%, to $217.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $217.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the weighted average cost of Federal Home Loan Bank Advances was 3.97%, as compared to 3.94% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $580,000, or 6.7%, to $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $16.5 million, or 7.6%, to $233.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $217.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the weighted average cost of Federal Home Loan Bank Advances was 3.94%, as compared to 3.97% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Net Interest and Dividend Income. Net interest and dividend income before provision for credit losses was $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, or an increase of $198,000, or 0.8%. The net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 1.86% as compared to 2.11% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in the net interest margin was driven by increases in the cost of interest bearing liabilities that were higher than increases in yields on interest earning assets during 2024.
Current wording
Net Interest and Dividend Income. Net interest and dividend income before provision for credit losses was $31.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $6.9 million, or 27.7%. This increase was primarily due to increases in the average balance and yields on loans as well as a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The resulting net interest margin expanded 26 basis points to 2.12% for the year ended December 31, 2025 as compared to 1.86% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Provision for Credit Losses. Based on management’s analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, a provision for credit losses of $174,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2024 in accordance with the CECL standard, compared to a provision for credit losses of $803,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The $629,000, or 78.3%, decrease in the provision was driven by lower loan growth during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.
Current wording
Provision for Credit Losses. The provision for credit losses was $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $174,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in the provision was driven by higher loan growth during the year ended December 31, 2025 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.
Previous wording
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income was $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, or an increase of $174,000, or 16.5%. The increase was primarily due to increases in net gains on sales of loans. The table below sets forth our noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Current wording
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income was $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $100,000, or 8.2%. The table below sets forth our noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024:
Previous wording
The table below sets forth our noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Current wording
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense was $21.3 million for year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, or an increase of $661,000, or 3.2%. The table below sets forth our noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024:
Previous wording
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased $149,000, or 9.7%, to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The effective tax rate was 25.7% and 25.5% for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Current wording
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, reflecting effective tax rates of 25.1% and 25.7%, respectively.
Previous wording
General. Our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk because, as a financial institution, the majority of our assets and liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Therefore, a principal part of our operations is to manage interest rate risk and limit the exposure of our financial condition and results of operations to changes in market interest rates. Our chief financial officer is responsible for evaluating the interest rate risk inherent in our assets and liabilities, for determining the level of risk that is appropriate, given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the policy and guidelines approved by our board of directors. We currently utilize a third-party modeling program, prepared on a quarterly basis, to evaluate our sensitivity to changing interest rates, given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the guidelines approved by the board of directors.
Current wording
General**.** Our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk because, as a financial institution, the majority of our assets and liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Therefore, a principal part of our operations is to manage interest rate risk and limit the exposure of our financial condition and results of operations to changes in market interest rates. The Asset-Liability Management Committee is responsible for evaluating the interest rate risk inherent in our assets and liabilities, for determining the level of risk that is appropriate, given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the policy and guidelines approved by our board of directors. The Asset-Liability Management Committee meets at least quarterly and is comprised of senior management and a member of the Board of Directors and reports to the full Board of Directors on at least a quarterly basis. We currently utilize a third-party modeling program, prepared on a quarterly basis, to evaluate our sensitivity to changing interest rates, given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the guidelines approved by the Board of Directors.
Previous wording
The tables above indicate that at December 31, 2024, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would experience a decrease in net interest income of 4.2%, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would experience a 1.2% decrease in net interest income.
Current wording
The tables above indicate that at December 31, 2025, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would experience a decrease in net interest income of 8.8%, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would experience a 3.1% increase in net interest income.
Previous wording
The table above indicates that at December 31, 2024, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would experience an 18.7% decrease in EVE, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would experience a 13.6% increase in EVE.
Current wording
The table above indicates that at December 31, 2025, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would experience an 18.6% decrease in EVE, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would experience an 11.0% increase in EVE.
Previous wording
Liquidity describes our ability to meet the financial obligations that arise in the ordinary course of business. Liquidity is primarily needed to meet the borrowing and deposit withdrawal requirements of our customers and to fund current and planned expenditures. Our primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and securities, and proceeds from maturities of securities. We are also able to borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank. At December 31, 2024, we had outstanding advances of $234.0 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank. At December 31, 2024, we had unused borrowing capacity of $328.5 million with the Federal Home Loan Bank, $15.1 million with Federal Reserve Bank and $10.0 million with the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank.
Current wording
Liquidity describes our ability to meet the financial obligations that arise in the ordinary course of business. Liquidity is primarily needed to meet the borrowing and deposit withdrawal requirements of our customers and to fund current and planned expenditures. Our primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and securities, and proceeds from maturities of securities. We are also able to borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank. At December 31, 2025, we had outstanding advances of $284.8 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank. At December 31, 2025, we had unused borrowing capacity of $395.4 million with the Federal Home Loan Bank, $75.7 million with Federal Reserve Bank and $15.0 million with the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank.
Previous wording
At December 31, 2024, we had $21.5 million in loan commitments outstanding. In addition to commitments to originate and purchase loans, we had $80.2 million in unused lines of credit to borrowers and $54.6 million in unadvanced construction loans.
Current wording
At December 31, 2025, we had $30.6 million in loan commitments outstanding. In addition to commitments to originate loans, we had $93.2 million in unused lines of credit to borrowers and $47.7 million in unadvanced construction loans.
Previous wording
Non brokered certificates of deposit due within one year of December 31, 2024 totaled $321.7 million, or 32.2%, of total deposits. If these deposits do not remain with us, we may be required to seek other sources of funds, including brokered deposits and FHLB advances. Depending on market conditions, we may be required to pay higher rates on such deposits or other borrowings than we currently pay on the certificates of deposit due on or before December 31, 2025, or on our savings and money market accounts.
Current wording
Non brokered certificates of deposit due within one year of December 31, 2025 totaled $451.1 million, or 39.8%, of total deposits. If these deposits do not remain with us, we may be required to seek other sources of funds, including brokered deposits and FHLB advances. Depending on market conditions, we may be required to pay higher rates on such deposits or other borrowings than we currently pay on the certificates of deposit due on or before December 31, 2026, or on our savings and money market accounts.
Previous wording
Our primary investing activity is originating loans. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we originated and purchased $160.4 million and $268.1 million of loans, respectively.
Current wording
Our primary investing activity is originating loans. During the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we originated and purchased $429.6 million and $160.4 million of loans, respectively.
Previous wording
Financing activities consist primarily of activity in deposit accounts as well as FHLB advances. We experienced net increases in deposits of $130.3 million and $150.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Deposit flows are affected primarily by the overall level of interest rates and the interest rates and products offered by us and our competitors. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the level of brokered time deposits was $125.6 million and $115.5 million, respectively. At December 31, 2024 and 2023 the level of FHLB advances was $234.0 million.
Current wording
Financing activities consist primarily of activity in deposit accounts as well as FHLB advances. We experienced net increases in deposits of $133.8 million and $130.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Deposit flows are affected primarily by the overall level of interest rates and the interest rates and products offered by us and our competitors. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the level of brokered time deposits was $134.0 million and $125.6 million, respectively. At December 31, 2025 and 2024 the level of FHLB advances was $284.8 and $234.0 million, respectively.
Previous wording
Commitments. As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit and unused lines of credit. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans we make. At December 31, 2024, we had outstanding commitments to originate loans of $21.5 million. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet our current lending commitments. Non brokered time deposits that are scheduled to mature in less than one year from December 31, 2024 totaled $321.7 million. Management expects that a substantial portion of these time deposits will be retained. However, if a substantial portion of these time deposits is not retained, we may utilize advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank, brokered deposits or raise interest rates on deposits to attract new accounts, which may result in higher levels of interest expense.
Current wording
Commitments.* *As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit and unused lines of credit. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans we make. At December 31, 2025, we had outstanding commitments to originate loans of $30.6 million. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet our current lending commitments. Non brokered time deposits that are scheduled to mature in less than one year from December 31, 2025 totaled $451.1 million. Management expects that a substantial portion of these time deposits will be retained. However, if a substantial portion of these time deposits is not retained, we may utilize advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank, brokered deposits or raise interest rates on deposits to attract new accounts, which may result in higher levels of interest expense.
Rearranged previous paragraphs (1)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Assumes an immediate uniform change in interest rates at all maturities.