Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (“Catalyst Bancorp” or the “Company”) is the holding company for Catalyst Bank (the “Bank”), formerly known as St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank. The Bank has been in operation in the Acadiana region of south-central Louisiana since 1922 and offers commercial and retail banking products throughsix full-service locations.

The Company was incorporated by the Bank in February 2021 as part of the conversion of the Bank from the mutual to the stock form of organization (the “Conversion”). The Conversion was completed on October 12, 2021, at which time the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Bank and became the holding company for the Bank. Shares of the Company’s common stock were issued and sold in an offering to certain depositors of the Bank and others. The Company was not engaged in operations and had not issued any shares of stock prior to the completion of the Conversion.

As used in this report, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company” refer to Catalyst Bancorp, and the term the “Bank” refers to Catalyst Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the operations of the Company include the operations of the Bank.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company were prepared in accordance with instructions for Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X and do not include information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for the entire fiscal year. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Certain amounts reported in prior periods may have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported equity or net income.

Segment Reporting

The Company determined that all of its banking operations serve a similar customer base, offer similar products and services, and are managed through similar processes. Therefore, the Company’s banking operations are aggregated intoone reported operating segment, which generates income principally from interest on loans and investment securities, as well as from fees charged in connection with various loan and deposit services. The chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer, who for the purposes of assessing performance, making operating decisions, and allocating Company resources, regularly reviews net income as reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The level of disaggregation and amounts of significant segment income and expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM are the same as those presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Likewise, the measure of segment assets is reported on the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition as total assets.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties and could reflect materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Methodologies the Company uses when applying critical accounting policies and developing critical estimates are included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Our accounting policies for allowance for credit losses, investment securities, and income taxes comprise those that management believes involve the most critical estimates and aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results.

There were no material changes from the significant accounting policies or critical accounting estimates previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. In preparing the financial statements, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for the interim periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature and include appropriate estimated provisions.

Accounting Standards Updates Issued, but Not Adopted

ASU No. 2023-09. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU add specific requirements for income tax disclosures to improve transparency and decision usefulness. The guidance in ASU 2023-09 requires that public business entities disclose specific categories in the income tax rate reconciliation and provide additional qualitative information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. In addition, the amendments in ASU 2023-09 require that all entities disclose the amount of income taxes paid disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign taxes and disaggregated by individual jurisdictions. The ASU also includes other disclosure amendments related to the disaggregation of income tax expense between federal, state and foreign taxes. The Company expects to adopt the amendments in ASU 2023-09 for its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025. As the update contains only amendments to disclosure requirements, adoption will have no impact to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

ASU No. 2024-03.** **In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. The amendments in this ASU require disclosure, in the notes to the financial statements, of specified qualitative and quantitative information about certain costs and expenses, such as employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization. Disclosure requirements also include a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively, among other items. The Company expects to adopt the amendments in ASU 2024-03 for periods beginning after December 31, 2026. As the update contains only amendments to disclosure requirements, adoption will have no impact to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, it was discovered that the rate of interest paid on one interest-bearing checking account did not reconcile with the contract with the customer. The checking account was a public fund deposit with a negotiated arrangement managed by a lead financial institution that billed the Bank periodically for interest then owed to the municipality. The Bank is a party to the agreement with the municipality but participated in only a portion of the total funds deposited by the municipality and did not deal directly with the municipality with respect to the funds deposited or the interest paid. These responsibilities are handled indirectly through the lead institution. During June 2024, the Bank became aware of the additional interest owed by it pursuant to the agreement. As a result of the error, $137,000 of total interest expense was not properly accrued or paid by the Bank during the period beginning August 1, 2022 and ending March 31, 2024. In accordance with the guidance set forth in SEC Staff Bulletin 99,Materiality, and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 108,Considering Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financials, the Bank concluded that the error was not material to any prior periods, the current period or the trend in earnings from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. However, correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the current period would have resulted in a material misstatement in the current period. Accordingly, management revised the prior period financial statements, related disclosures, and supplemental information presented in this filing to correct the misstatement. We will also revise previously reported financial information for these immaterial errors in our future filings, as applicable. The Company’s previously issued financial statements and related disclosures were not amended and can still be relied upon.

The following table highlights the primary changes to prior period financial statements presented in this Form 10-Q caused by the correction of the misstated interest expense:

Management performed a review of all similar contracts with deposit customers and verified that the error was isolated to this unique deposit account. Management and the Audit Committee also assessed the error’s impact on internal controls over financial reporting and did not identify any material weaknesses.

NOTE 2. EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Earnings (loss) per common share was computed based on the following:

Diluted earnings per share was computed using the treasury stock method. The weighted average of potentially dilutive common shares attributable to outstanding stock options that were anti-dilutive totaled 295,822 and 294,830 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share. There wereno potentially dilutive common shares attributable to restricted stock that were anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

NOTE 3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES

Investment securities have been classified according to management’s intent. The amortized cost of securities and their approximate fair values are as follows:

There wereno securities transferred between classifications during the three months ended March 31, 2025 or 2024. There wereno sales of investment securities during the three months ended March 31, 2025. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company sold 50 available-for-sale investment securities for a total pre-tax loss of $5.5 million.

Accrued interest receivable on the Company’s investment securities totaled $150,000 and $142,000 at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

Investment securities with a carrying amount of $19.1 million and $15.1 million were pledged to secure public deposits as required or permitted by law at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The Company also uses a custodial letter of credit granted by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas to collateralize public fund deposits. At March 31, 2025 and December 31 2024, $25.0 million of the custodial letter of credit was pledged as collateral for pubic deposits.

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, other than securities issued by U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government sponsored enterprises, we hadno investments in a single issuer which had an aggregate book value in excess of 10% of the Company’s shareholders’ equity.

The following is a summary of maturities of securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at March 31, 2025:

Securities, other than mortgage-backed securities, are classified according to their contractual maturities without consideration of principal amortization, potential prepayments, or call options. The expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because of the exercise of call options and potential paydowns. Accordingly, actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities.

Information pertaining to securities with gross unrealized losses at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position, follows:

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company held 40 and 41 securities, respectively, with an unrealized loss. The securities with unrealized losses consisted of government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities and debt obligations guaranteed by federal, state and local government entities. These unrealized losses relate principally to noncredit related factors, including changes in current interest rates for similar types of securities. Based on management’s evaluation of the securities portfolio, the Company did not establish an allowance for credit losses for its available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities at March 31, 2025 or December 31, 2024.

NOTE 4. LOANS RECEIVABLE

Loans receivable at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are summarized as follows:

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, real estate loans totaling $80.5 million and $80.6 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas for borrowings under a blanket lien agreement.

Accrued interest receivable on the Company’s loans totaled $710,000 and $704,000 at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the Company’s estimate of the allowance for credit losses.

The following describes the general risk characteristics of each segment of the loan portfolio disclosed in this note:

One- to four-family residential – This category primarily consists of loans secured by residential real estate located in our market. The performance of these loans may be adversely affected by, among other factors, unemployment rates, local residential real estate market conditions and the interest rate environment. Generally, these loans are for longer terms than commercial and construction loans.

Commercial real estate – This category generally consists of loans secured by retail and industrial use buildings, hotels, strip shopping centers and other properties used for commercial purposes. The performance of these loans may be adversely affected by, among other factors, conditions specific to the relevant industry, the real estate market for the property type and geographic region where the property or borrower is located.

Construction and land – This category consists of loans to finance the ground-up construction and/or improvement of residential and commercial properties and loans secured by land. The performance of these loans is generally dependent upon the successful completion of improvements and/or land development for the end user, the sale of the property to a third party, or a secondary source of cash flow from the owners. The successful completion of planned improvements and development may be adversely affected by changes in the estimated property value upon completion of construction, projected costs and other conditions leading to project delays.

Multi-family residential – This category consists of loans secured by apartment or residential buildings with five or more units used to accommodate households on a temporary or permanent basis. The performance of multi-family loans is generally dependent on the receipt of rental income from the tenants who occupy the subject property. The occupancy rate of the subject property and the ability of the tenants to pay rent may be adversely affected by the location of the subject property and local economic conditions.

Commercial and industrial – This category primarily consists of secured and unsecured loans to small and mid-sized businesses to fund operations or purchase non-real estate assets. Secured loans are primarily secured by accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and certain other business assets. The performance of these loans may be adversely affected by, among other factors, conditions specific to the relevant industry, fluctuations in the value of the collateral and individual performance factors related to the borrower.

Consumer – This category consists of loans to individuals for household, family and other personal use. The performance of these loans may be adversely affected by national and local economic conditions, unemployment rates and other factors affecting the borrower’s income available to service the debt.

The following tables outline the changes in the allowance for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

The allowance for credit losses is established through a provision for credit losses charged to earnings. Loans, or portions of loans, are charged off against the allowance in the period that such loans, or portions thereof, are deemed uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Under the guidance of Topic 326 of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC 326”), the Company groups loans and unfunded lending commitments with similar risk characteristics into pools or segments and collectively evaluates each pool to estimate the allowance for credit losses. For each loan pool, the Company uses the remaining life method to calculate its credit loss estimate. Loans are individually evaluated for credit losses when they do not share similar risk characteristics with our identified loan pools under ASC 326. The allowance for credit losses reflects the Company’s estimate of current expected credit losses (“CECL”) over the full life of the financial assets.

The following tables outline the allowance for credit losses and the balance of loans by method of loss evaluation at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, all loans individually evaluated for credit losses were considered collateral-dependent financial assets under ASC 326. Loans are considered collateral-dependent and individually evaluated when, based on management’s assessment as of the reporting date, the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. The following describes the types of collateral that secure collateral dependent loans:

A summary of current, past due and non-accrual loans as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 follows:

A summary of total non-accrual loans as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 follows:

The Company was not committed to lend any additional funds on non-accrual loans at March 31, 2025 or December 31, 2024. The Company doesnot recognize interest income while loans are on non-accrual status. All payments received while on non-accrual status are applied against the principal balance of non-accrual loans.

At March 31, 2025, loans secured by residential real estate and vacant land for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process totaled $45,000 and $13,000, respectively. At December 31, 2024, loans secured by residential real estate for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process totaled $37,000.

Occasionally loans are modified to assist borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. We consider modifications such as term extensions, principal forgiveness, payment delays or alternate payment schedules, and alternate interest rate terms. At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, loans with modifications for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty totaled $563,000 and $583,000, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company did not grant any loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that resulted in a more than minor change in the timing or amount of contractual cash flows. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company granted one loan modification to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty that resulted in a more than minor change in the timing or amount of contractual cash flows. The maturity date was extended bythree years for a residential mortgage loan with a balance of $20,000. The Company wasnot committed to lend any additional funds to borrowers with modified terms and experiencing financial difficulty at March 31, 2025 or December 31, 2024.

Loans are categorized by credit quality indicators based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. Credit quality classifications follow regulatory guidelines and can generally be described as follows:

Pass – Loans in this category have strong asset quality and liquidity along with a multi-year track record of profitability.

Special Mention – Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the institution’s credit position at some future date.

Substandard – Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful – Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

Loss – Loans classified as loss have been identified as uncollectible and are generally charged-off in the period identified.

The information for each of the credit quality indicators is updated at least quarterly in conjunction with the determination of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses.

The following table presents the Company’s loan portfolio by credit quality classification and origination year as of March 31, 2025. The Company uses the latter of origination or renewal date to classify term loans into vintages.

The following table presents the Company’s loan portfolio by credit quality classification and origination year as of December 31, 2024. The Company uses the latter of origination or renewal date to classify term loans into vintages.

The following table presents gross charge-offs and recoveries for the three months ended March 31, 2025 by origination year of the related loans. The Company uses the latter of origination or renewal date to classify loans into vintages.

The following table presents gross charge-offs and recoveries for the three months ended March 31, 2024 by origination year of the related loans. The Company uses the latter of origination or renewal date to classify loans into vintages.

NOTE 5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

In accordance with fair value guidance, the Company groups its financial assets and financial liabilities generally measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.

Level 1 — Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 1 assets and liabilities generally include debt and equity securities that are traded in an active exchange market. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Valuation is based on inputs other than quoted prices included with Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. The valuation may be based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term for the asset or liability.

Level 3 — Valuation is based on unobservable income inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

Fair values of assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 follows:

Fair values of assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 follows:

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, individually evaluated loans with a recorded investment of $393,000 and $452,000, respectively, have been written down to their fair value by a charge to the allowance for credit losses. Foreclosed assets are adjusted to fair value by recording a related gain or loss through foreclosed asset expense. Foreclosed asset expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 included net losses of $88,000 on the sales of foreclosed assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, no impairment losses on foreclosed assets were recognized.

The fair value of foreclosed assets is estimated using third-party appraisals of the asset held less estimated costs to sell and discounts to reflect current conditions. The fair value of collateral-dependent loans individually evaluated for credit losses is estimated using third-party appraisals of the collateral less estimated costs to sell and discounts to reflect current conditions. The fair value of loans individually

evaluated for credit losses that are not collateral-dependent is estimated by discounting expected cash flows using discount rates determined with reference to current market rates at which similar loans would be made.

The Company follows the guidance of ASC 825, Financial Instruments, and ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements. This guidance permits entities to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. No assets have been elected to be reported at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing the Company with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. This guidance clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Under this guidance, fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs. This guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quotes priced in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

Accounting Standards Codification 825-10, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, requires that the Company disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the statement of financial condition. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instruments. Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from the disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments of which it is practicable to estimate that value:

Cash and cash equivalents - The carrying amounts reported in the statements of financial condition for cash and cash equivalents approximate those assets’ fair values and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Investment securities - The fair market values of investments securities are obtained from a third-party service provider, whose prices are based on a combination of observed market prices for identical or similar instruments and various matrix pricing programs. The fair market values of investment securities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Loans receivable, net – The fair value of loans are generally determined by discounting scheduled cash flows using discount rates determined with reference to current market rates at which similar loans would be made. Loans receivable are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Loans individually evaluated for credit losses - The fair value of loans individually evaluated for credit losses is measured by the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Fair value of the collateral is determined by appraisals or by independent valuation. Loans individually evaluated for credit losses are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Bank-owned life insurance - The cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance approximates its fair value and is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Non-maturity deposit liabilities - Under ASC 825-10, the fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as non-interest-bearing demand deposits, savings, NOW, money market and checking accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. These non-maturity deposit liabilities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Certificates of deposit – Fair values are estimated by discounting scheduled cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. Certificates of deposit are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Borrowings – The fair value is estimated by discounting the future contractual cash flows using current market rates at which debt with similar terms could be obtained. Borrowings are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business or the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows:

The carrying amounts in the preceding table are included in the statement of financial condition under the applicable captions. It is not practical to estimate the fair value of stock in correspondent banks because the equity securities are not marketable. The carrying amount of investments without readily determinable fair value are reported in the statements of financial condition at historical cost.

NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has various outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities that are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

The Company is not involved in any pending legal proceedings as a plaintiff or defendant other than routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business, and at March 31, 2025, we were not involved in any legal proceedings, the outcome of which would be material to our financial condition or results of operations.

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments consist of unfunded commitments to extend credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the statement of financial position. The contract or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of the Company’s involvement in particular classes of instruments.