Net Interest Income Growth
Net interest income was up 4.5% quarter-over-quarter and about 3.5% year-over-year, driven by loan growth and net interest margin expansion.
Loan and Deposit Growth
Gross loan balances increased by $117 million or 3% during the first quarter, with a 7.2% increase over the prior 12 months. Deposit balances increased by $97 million during the first quarter, with a 6.8% increase over the prior 12 months.
Tangible Book Value Increase
Tangible book value rose to $38.26, reflecting a 15.5% increase over the prior 12 months, attributed to earnings retention and improved unrealized loss in the investment portfolio.
Strong Asset Quality
Adversely classified loans decreased by $400,000 or 4 basis points during the quarter to about $40.5 million, representing just over 1% of total loans.
Agricultural Sector Performance
Agricultural real estate and production loan balances increased, with favorable yields in corn, rice, and cotton offsetting low price levels.