Press Release – For Immediate Release
Mifflinburg, PA – Steele Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) (OTCID: “STLE”), parent company of Central Penn Bank & Trust (“Bank”), has released its unaudited results of operations and financial condition for the third quarter of 2026. The Company completed its merger with Northumberland Bancorp on August 1, 2025. The 2026 results reflect the post-merger Company, while the comparative 2025 periods reflect the merger on August 1, 2025 and include one time income and expense amounts attributable to the merger discussed below. Accordingly, the year-over-year results are not directly comparable.
Unaudited Financial Information
Net income, as reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, was $5.46 million compared to $13.68 million for the same period in 2025, a 60.1% decrease. Net income year-to-date for 2026 was $15.60 million compared to $17.30 million for the same period in 2025, a 9.9% decrease. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended September 30, 2026 and 2025 were $1.60 and $4.77 and $4.58 and $7.87 for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. Annualized return on average assets and return on average equity were 1.69% and 17.15% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2026 compared to 5.19% and 56.35% for the same period of 2025. Net income for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was significantly impacted by certain merger related income and expense amounts discussed below.
Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2026 was $13.63 million compared to $9.86 million for the same period in 2025, a 38.1% increase. Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 was $38.50 million compared to $19.59 million for the same period in 2025, a 96.5% increase. The increase in net interest income was primarily driven by higher interest income resulting from growth in loan and securities balances, offset by increased interest expense due to an increase in deposits resulting from the merger with Northumberland Bancorp ("Northumberland"). Yield on earning assets increased 33 basis points, to 6.11% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to 5.78% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, and the cost of funds decreased 36 basis points, to 2.00%, as compared to the same time period in 2025. The net interest margin (GAAP) increased from 3.90% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 to 4.46% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. The tax-equivalent net interest margin (Non-GAAP) increased from 3.97% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 to 4.53% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Yield on earning assets increased 45 basis points, to 5.98% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 compared to 5.53% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and the cost of funds decreased 25 basis points, to 2.12%, as compared to the same time period in 2025. The net interest margin (GAAP) increased from 3.62% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 to 4.28% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026. The tax-equivalent net interest margin (Non-GAAP) increased from 3.69% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 to 4.35% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026.
The Bank recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $625 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2026 compared to a provision of $4.23 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The Bank recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $703 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared to a provision of $4.49 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. The Bank recorded a provision for credit losses for off balance sheet credit exposures of $8 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2026. The Bank did not record a provision for or recovery of credit losses for off balance sheet credit exposures for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The Bank recorded a recovery of credit losses for off balance sheet exposures of $85 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared to a recovery of $100 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Noninterest income decreased by $17.31 million, or 91.0%, to $1.72 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, as compared to the $19.03 million recognized during the same period of 2025. Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 was $5.17 million compared to $20.15 million for the same period in 2025, a 74.4% decrease. The decrease in noninterest income is primarily due to the $17.83 million bargain purchase gain recorded in the third quarter of 2025 due to the merger with Northumberland.
Noninterest expense decreased $2.76 million or 25.4%, from $10.89 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, to $8.12 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026. The decrease in noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2026 is primarily the result of $3.87 million of merger expenses being recorded in 2025 for which there was no comparable expense in 2026. Noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $17.11 million compared to $24.10 million for the same period in 2026, a 40.8% increase. The increase in noninterest expense year-to-date is primarily the result of an increase of $5.35 million in salaries and employee benefits, an increase of $1.51 million in amortization of core deposit intangible and an increase of $1.11 million in other expenses, offset by the $4.12 million of merger expenses recognized in 2025 for which there was no comparable expense in 2026. All increases are the direct result of the merger with Northumberland.
An income tax provision of $1.13 million was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared to $105 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2025, a 974.3% increase. An income tax provision of $3.35 million was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared to an income tax provision of $932 thousand for the same period in 2025, a 259.5% increase. The increase in income tax for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 when compared to the same periods in 2025 is due to non-taxable income and nondeductible merger expenses recorded in the third quarter of 2025. Included in noninterest income for 2025 is the bargain purchase gain of $17.83 million, which is non-taxable as a result of the tax-free exchange associated with the merger with Northumberland. The quarter and year-to-date effective tax rate was 17.1% and 17.7% for the periods ended September 30, 2026.
Financial Condition
Total assets increased to $1.28 billion as of September 30, 2026 from $1.26 billion as of December 31, 2025, an increase of $13.78 million, or 1.1%. Cash and cash equivalents increased $19.64 million from December 31, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Net loans decreased by $7.48 million, and securities available for sale increased $4.92 million. Total deposits increased $12.55 million from December 31, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Subordinated debt decreased $9.89 million from December 31, 2025 due to the pay-off at the call date on June 30, 2026. Senior secured debt increased by $7.37 million as a result of the new debt issuance that was executed on June 26, 2026.
When compared to December 31, 2025, stockholders’ equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, increased $13.01 million to $132.55 million as of September 30, 2026. Steele Bancorp, Inc. remains well capitalized, and the total equity-to-assets ratio was 9.93% as of September 30, 2026 and 9.39% as of December 31, 2025, respectively.
The Bank maintained a strong liquidity position as of September 30, 2026, with additional borrowing capacity with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh of $498.26 million and $4.21 million in additional borrowing capacity from the Federal Reserve’s Discount Window.
About Steele Bancorp, Inc.
Steele Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. The Company has one subsidiary bank, Central Penn Bank & Trust, serving individuals, families, nonprofits, and business clients through 12 banking offices located in Centre, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties. The Bank has 165 employees as of September 30, 2026.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, management uses certain non-GAAP measures to supplement the evaluation of the Company's performance. Management believes presentations of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of the Company's core businesses. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for, or more important than, operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are included at the end of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of current or historical fact and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "projects," "may," "will," "should," and other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: costs or difficulties related to integration following the merger with Northumberland; the risk that the anticipated benefits, cost savings and other savings from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected to realize; changes in general economic trends, including inflation and changes in interest rates; our ability to manage credit risk; our ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; increased competition; changes in consumer demand for financial services; our ability to control costs and expenses; fluctuations in the values of securities held in our securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; our ability to successfully manage liquidity risk; adverse developments in borrower industries and, in particular, declines in real estate values; the concentration of large deposits from certain customers who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits; changes in and compliance with federal and state laws that regulate our business and capital levels; our ability to raise capital as needed; the impact to the economy resulting from the conflict with Iran; and any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Steele Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited) |
||||
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||
2026 |
2025 * |
|||
Assets |
||||
Cash and due from banks |
$ | 12,442 | $ | 7,633 |
Interest-bearing demand deposits |
41,155 | 35,204 | ||
Federal funds sold |
15,056 | 6,173 | ||
Total cash and cash equivalents |
68,653 | 49,010 | ||
Interest-bearing time deposits |
3,466 | 5,923 | ||
Debt securities available-for-sale, at fair value |
225,729 | 220,807 | ||
Marketable equity securities, at fair value |
828 | 613 | ||
Restricted investments in bank stock, at cost |
2,450 | 2,717 | ||
Loans held for sale |
315 | - | ||
Loans |
911,216 | 918,171 | ||
Allowance for credit losses |
(10,431 | ) | (9,904 | ) |
Loans, net |
900,785 | 908,267 | ||
Premises and equipment, net |
17,860 | 17,928 | ||
Accrued interest receivable |
3,976 | 4,039 | ||
Other real estate owned |
65 | - | ||
Core deposit intangible, net |
11,596 | 13,551 | ||
Bank owned life insurance |
28,715 | 28,233 | ||
Net deferred tax asset |
4,143 | 4,136 | ||
Other assets |
6,652 | 6,233 | ||
Total Assets |
$ | 1,275,233 | $ | 1,261,457 |
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
||||
Liabilities |
||||
Deposits: |
||||
Noninterest-bearing deposits |
$ | 142,010 | $ | 221,306 |
Interest-bearing deposits |
981,310 | 889,468 | ||
Total deposits |
1,123,320 | 1,110,774 | ||
Repurchase agreements |
1,446 | 1,589 | ||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
4,500 | 5,500 | ||
Senior secured debt, net |
7,374 | - | ||
Subordinated debt, net |
- | 9,892 | ||
Accrued interest payable |
1,426 | 1,969 | ||
Other liabilities |
10,486 | 13,334 | ||
Total Liabilities |
1,148,552 | 1,143,058 | ||
Commitments and Contingencies |
||||
Redeemable Common Stock Held By Employee Stock Ownership Plan |
7,085 | 4,600 | ||
Stockholders' Equity |
||||
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued 3,706,725 shares; outstanding 3,405,061 shares as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. |
3,707 | 3,707 | ||
Capital surplus |
40,595 | 40,595 | ||
Retained earnings |
95,981 | 82,972 | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(5,871 | ) | (1,144 | ) |
Treasury stock, at cost: 2026: 301,664 shares; 2025: 301,664 shares |
(7,731 | ) | (7,731 | ) |
Total Stockholders' Equity |
126,681 | 118,399 | ||
Less maximum cash obligation to ESOP shares |
7,085 | 4,600 | ||
Total Stockholders’ Equity Less Maximum Cash Obligations Related to ESOP Shares |
119,596 | 113,799 | ||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
$ | 1,275,233 | $ | 1,261,457 |
* Derived from consolidated audited financial statements
Steele Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||
2026 |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
||||||||
Interest and Dividend Income |
|||||||||||
Interest and fees on loans |
$ | 15,864 | $ | 12,232 | $ | 45,532 | $ | 25,372 | |||
Interest-bearing deposits in banks and time deposits |
319 | 316 | 1,039 | 553 | |||||||
Federal funds sold |
87 | 45 | 205 | 55 | |||||||
Securities: |
|||||||||||
Taxable |
1,482 | 1,224 | 4,259 | 2,244 | |||||||
Tax-exempt |
587 | 501 | 1,771 | 1,089 | |||||||
Dividends |
109 | 101 | 367 | 215 | |||||||
Total Interest and Dividend Income |
18,448 | 14,419 | 53,173 | 29,528 | |||||||
Interest Expense |
|||||||||||
Deposits |
4,664 | 4,222 | 14,197 | 8,781 | |||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
42 | 258 | 130 | 1,078 | |||||||
Subordinated debt |
- | 75 | 225 | 76 | |||||||
Senior secured debt |
116 | - | 121 | - | |||||||
Total Interest Expense |
4,822 | 4,555 | 14,673 | 9,935 | |||||||
Net Interest Income |
13,626 | 9,864 | 38,500 | 19,593 | |||||||
Provision for credit losses - loans |
625 | 4,228 | 703 | 4,490 | |||||||
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses - off balance sheet credit exposures |
8 | - | (85 | ) | (100 | ) | |||||
Provision for credit losses |
633 | 4,228 | 618 | 4,390 | |||||||
Net Interest Income after provision for (recovery of) credit losses |
12,993 | 5,636 | 37,882 | 15,203 | |||||||
Noninterest Income |
|||||||||||
Service charges on deposit accounts |
326 | 225 | 875 | 486 | |||||||
ATM fees and debit card income |
467 | 368 | 1,395 | 738 | |||||||
Mortgage banking revenue |
206 | 134 | 582 | 243 | |||||||
Trust income |
386 | 124 | 1,122 | 124 | |||||||
Investment fee income |
81 | 5 | 249 | 83 | |||||||
(Loss) gain on disposal of premises |
(20 | ) | - | (27 | ) | 52 | |||||
Loss on sale of securities |
- | (8 | ) | - | (8 | ) | |||||
Net marketable equity security gains |
6 | 60 | 215 | 57 | |||||||
Earnings on bank owned life insurance |
164 | 130 | 482 | 256 | |||||||
Bargain purchase gain |
- | 17,827 | - | 17,827 | |||||||
Other |
103 | 167 | 273 | 287 | |||||||
Total Noninterest Income |
1,719 | 19,032 | 5,166 | 20,145 | |||||||
Noninterest Expense |
|||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits |
4,437 | 4,310 | 13,345 | 7,997 | |||||||
Net occupancy and equipment expense |
586 | 442 | 1,833 | 1,040 | |||||||
Amortization of core deposit intangible |
622 | 444 | 1,955 | 444 | |||||||
Other real estate owned expense (income), net |
32 | (24 | ) | (2 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||
Data processing fees |
662 | 252 | 1,571 | 598 | |||||||
Pennsylvania shares tax |
237 | 108 | 714 | 332 | |||||||
Professional fees |
100 | 112 | 441 | 191 | |||||||
Advertising expense |
148 | 67 | 274 | 141 | |||||||
FDIC deposit insurance |
150 | 127 | 469 | 263 | |||||||
Merger-related expenses |
- | 3,873 | - | 4,120 | |||||||
ATM expense |
218 | 187 | 730 | 337 | |||||||
Other |
930 | 988 | 2,770 | 1,664 | |||||||
Total Noninterest Expense |
8,122 | 10,886 | 24,100 | 17,113 | |||||||
Income Before Income Taxes |
6,590 | 13,782 | 18,948 | 18,235 | |||||||
Income Taxes |
1,128 | 105 | 3,351 | 932 | |||||||
Net Income |
$ | 5,462 | $ | 13,677 | $ | 15,597 | $ | 17,303 | |||
Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted |
$ | 1.60 | $ | 4.77 | $ | 4.58 | $ | 7.87 | |||
Steele Bancorp, Inc.
Key Ratios and Other Data
(Unaudited)
| At or For the Three Months Ended: | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
September 30, 2026 |
June 30, 2026 |
March 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2025 |
September 30, 2025 |
|||||||||||
Operating Highlights: |
||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 5,462 | $ | 5,257 | $ | 4,878 | $ | 5,585 | $ | 13,677 | ||||||
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses |
633 | 119 | (134 | ) | 801 | 4,228 | ||||||||||
Bargain purchase gain |
- | - | - | 477 | 17,827 | |||||||||||
Noninterest income |
1,719 | 1,889 | 1,567 | 2,476 | 19,032 | |||||||||||
Noninterest expense |
8,122 | 7,986 | 7,992 | 8,516 | 10,886 | |||||||||||
Balance Sheet Highlights: |
||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 1,275,233 | $ | 1,273,748 | $ | 1,268,765 | $ | 1,261,457 | $ | 1,253,576 | ||||||
Loans, net |
900,785 | 914,039 | 907,144 | 908,267 | 891,098 | |||||||||||
Core deposit intangible, net |
11,596 | 12,218 | 12,885 | 13,551 | 14,218 | |||||||||||
Total deposits |
||||||||||||||||
Noninterest-bearing |
142,010 | 222,855 | 224,642 | 221,306 | 214,926 | |||||||||||
Savings |
171,805 | 172,578 | 164,834 | 164,133 | 164,047 | |||||||||||
NOW |
357,376 | 262,466 | 260,341 | 268,818 | 265,547 | |||||||||||
Money Market |
109,736 | 115,163 | 113,566 | 107,050 | 108,157 | |||||||||||
Time Deposits |
342,393 | 347,634 | 351,818 | 349,467 | 353,253 | |||||||||||
Total interest-bearing deposits |
981,310 | 897,841 | 890,559 | 889,468 | 891,004 | |||||||||||
Core deposits (1) |
780,927 | 773,062 | 763,383 | 761,307 | 752,677 | |||||||||||
Net Interest Margin (GAAP & Non-GAAP) |
||||||||||||||||
Net interest income (GAAP) |
$ | 13,626 | $ | 12,655 | $ | 12,210 | $ | 12,254 | $ | 9,864 | ||||||
Tax equivalent adjustment |
204 | 215 | 218 | 231 | 180 | |||||||||||
Net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) (Non-GAAP) |
13,830 | 12,870 | 12,428 | 12,485 | 10,044 | |||||||||||
Annualized fully tax-equivalent net interest margin (Non-GAAP) |
4.53 | % | 4.38 | % | 4.21 | % | 4.32 | % | 3.97 | % | ||||||
Annualized net interest margin (GAAP) |
4.46 | % | 4.31 | % | 4.14 | % | 4.24 | % | 3.90 | % | ||||||
Selected Ratios: |
||||||||||||||||
Annualized return on average assets |
1.69 | % | 1.65 | % | 1.56 | % | 1.77 | % | 5.19 | % | ||||||
Annualized return on average equity |
17.15 | % | 16.92 | % | 16.31 | % | 18.60 | % | 56.35 | % | ||||||
Capital Ratios - Central Penn Bank & Trust: |
||||||||||||||||
Leverage ratio (2) |
9.55 | % | 9.01 | % | 8.94 | % | 8.56 | % | 9.93 | % | ||||||
Share and Per Share Data: |
||||||||||||||||
Earnings per share |
$ | 1.60 | $ | 1.54 | $ | 1.43 | $ | 1.64 | $ | 4.77 | ||||||
Dividend declared per share |
- | 0.76 | - | 0.75 | - | |||||||||||
Book Value per share |
37.20 | 36.54 | 35.87 | 34.77 | 33.74 | |||||||||||
Common stock price: |
||||||||||||||||
Last trade |
46.71 | 43.34 | 35.00 | 28.55 | 25.83 | |||||||||||
Weighted average common shares |
3,405,061 | 3,405,061 | 3,405,061 | 3,405,061 | 2,867,124 | |||||||||||
Allowance for Loan Credit Losses on Loans: |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning balance |
$ | 9,934 | $ | 9,755 | $ | 9,904 | $ | 9,512 | $ | 4,636 | ||||||
Merger adjustments |
- | - | - | - | 725 | |||||||||||
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses |
625 | 212 | (134 | ) | 361 | 4,228 | ||||||||||
Charge-Offs |
(134 | ) | (35 | ) | (19 | ) | - | (81 | ) | |||||||
Recoveries |
6 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 4 | |||||||||||
Ending balance |
$ | 10,431 | $ | 9,934 | $ | 9,755 | $ | 9,904 | $ | 9,512 | ||||||
Core deposits are defined as total deposits less time deposits
Leverage ratio for the most recent period is estimated
Steele Bancorp, Inc.
Asset Quality Data
(Unaudited)
At or for the Three Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) |
September 30, 2026 |
June 30, 2026 |
March 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2025 |
September 30, 2025 |
||||||||||||
Nonperforming Assets: |
|||||||||||||||||
Nonaccrual loans |
$ | 7,217 | $ | 7,369 | $ | 7,307 | $ | 6,304 | $ | 1,591 | |||||||
Other real estate owned |
65 | - | 147 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Total nonperforming assets |
$ | 7,282 | $ | 7,369 | $ | 7,454 | $ | 6,304 | $ | 1,591 | |||||||
Loans 90 days or more past due and accruing |
- | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Asset Quality Ratios: |
|||||||||||||||||
Nonperforming assets to loans plus other real estate owned |
0.80 | % | 0.80 | % | 0.81 | % | 0.69 | % | 0.18 | % | |||||||
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans |
1.14 | % | 1.08 | % | 1.06 | % | 1.08 | % | 1.06 | % | |||||||
Allowance for credit losses on loans to nonperforming assets |
143.24 | % | 134.82 | % | 130.87 | % | 157.12 | % | 597.86 | % | |||||||