Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2025
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-13695
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
16-1213679
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York
13214-1883
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(315) 445-2282
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
NONE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
CBU
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Number of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding as of the close of business on October 31, 2025: 52,661,489 shares
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I.
Financial Information
Page
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Condition September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024
3
Consolidated Statements of Income Three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity Three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
8
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2025
9
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
39
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
67
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
69
Part II.
Other Information
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
70
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
71
Item 6.
Exhibits
72
2
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
September 30,
December 31,
2025
2024
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (includes restricted cash of $14,760 and $5,110, respectively)
$
245,247
197,004
Available-for-sale investment securities, includes pledged securities that can be sold or repledged of $319,173 and $362,129, respectively (cost of $3,157,610 and $3,192,392, respectively)
2,859,312
2,785,714
Held-to-maturity securities (fair value of $1,360,889 and $1,220,168, respectively)
1,442,308
1,345,155
Equity and other securities
78,944
87,517
Loans
10,750,262
10,432,365
Allowance for credit losses
(84,944)
(79,114)
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses
10,665,318
10,353,251
Goodwill
855,790
853,225
Core deposit intangibles, net
3,571
5,148
Other intangibles, net
40,606
43,098
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
899,967
901,471
Premises and equipment, net
212,667
183,759
Accrued interest and fees receivable
54,526
54,340
Equity method investments
37,350
0
Other assets
462,165
477,833
Total assets
16,957,804
16,386,044
Liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing deposits
3,686,772
3,557,219
Interest-bearing deposits
10,370,078
9,884,488
Total deposits
14,056,850
13,441,707
Overnight borrowings
67,900
118,000
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term
224,169
261,553
Federal Home Loan Bank and other borrowings
471,280
619,312
Accrued interest and other liabilities
198,655
182,637
Total liabilities
15,018,854
14,623,209
Commitments and contingencies (See Note I)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 54,886,008 and 54,696,208 shares issued, respectively
54,886
54,696
Additional paid in capital
1,084,821
1,075,537
Retained earnings
1,357,973
1,275,331
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(453,164)
(548,085)
Treasury stock, at cost (2,224,428 shares, including 93,698 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at September 30, 2025, and 2,028,372 shares including 103,696 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at December 31, 2024)
(110,901)
(100,539)
Deferred compensation arrangements (93,698 and 103,696 shares, respectively)
5,335
5,895
Total shareholders’ equity
1,938,950
1,762,835
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans
152,509
140,472
441,947
401,129
Interest and dividends on taxable investments
22,027
20,550
67,576
63,230
Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments
2,747
2,878
8,285
9,238
Total interest income
177,283
163,900
517,808
473,597
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits
40,720
40,592
120,643
117,766
Interest on borrowings
8,398
10,563
24,040
26,687
Total interest expense
49,118
51,155
144,683
144,453
Net interest income
128,165
112,745
373,125
329,144
Provision for credit losses
5,564
7,709
16,371
16,565
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
122,601
105,036
356,754
312,579
Noninterest revenues:
Deposit service fees
15,190
14,916
44,015
43,338
Mortgage banking
1,180
1,055
3,150
3,675
Other banking services
4,790
4,621
13,159
11,470
Employee benefit services
34,408
33,215
99,410
97,031
Insurance services
14,137
13,652
41,726
38,068
Wealth management services
8,946
8,892
27,491
26,793
Loss on sales of investment securities
(255)
(487)
Unrealized gain on equity securities
236
101
480
984
Total noninterest revenues
78,887
76,197
229,431
220,872
Noninterest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits
76,532
78,022
231,995
224,532
Data processing and communications
19,119
15,894
51,940
45,516
Occupancy and equipment
11,419
10,586
35,603
32,663
Business development and marketing
4,585
4,365
11,716
11,549
Legal and professional fees
4,469
3,723
13,686
11,523
Amortization of intangible assets
3,258
3,369
10,109
10,822
Other expenses
8,937
8,244
27,662
24,681
Total noninterest expenses
128,319
124,203
382,711
361,286
Income before income taxes
73,169
57,030
203,474
172,165
Income taxes
18,081
13,129
47,441
39,477
Net income
55,088
43,901
156,033
132,688
Basic earnings per share
1.04
0.83
2.95
2.50
Diluted earnings per share
2.94
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
Pension and other post-retirement obligations:
Amortization of actuarial (gains) losses included in net periodic pension cost, gross
(51)
290
(152)
869
Tax effect
13
(71)
38
(212)
Amortization of actuarial (gains) losses included in net periodic pension cost, net
(38)
219
(114)
657
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, gross
112
160
336
(28)
(39)
(84)
(117)
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, net
84
121
252
363
Other comprehensive income related to pension and other post-retirement obligations, net of taxes
46
340
138
1,020
Net unrealized gains on investment securities:
Net unrealized holding gains on investment securities, gross
44,829
120,681
126,363
81,317
(11,204)
(29,452)
(31,580)
(19,845)
Net unrealized holding gains on investment securities, net
33,625
91,229
94,783
61,472
Reclassification adjustment for net losses included in net income, gross
255
487
(62)
(119)
Reclassification adjustment for net losses included in net income, net
193
368
Other comprehensive gain related to unrealized gains on investment securities, net of taxes
91,422
61,840
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes
33,671
91,762
94,921
62,860
Comprehensive income
88,759
135,663
250,954
195,548
As of
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Component:
Unrecognized prior service cost and net actuarial losses on pension and other post-retirement obligations
(23,125)
(23,309)
5,670
5,716
Net unrecognized prior service cost and net actuarial losses on pension and other post-retirement obligations
(17,455)
(17,593)
Unrealized loss on investment securities
(573,710)
(700,073)
138,001
169,581
Net unrealized loss on investment securities
(435,709)
(530,492)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
Accumulated
Common Stock
Additional
Other
Deferred
Shares
Amount
Paid-In
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury
Compensation
Outstanding
Issued
Capital
Earnings
Loss
Stock
Arrangements
Total
Balance at June 30, 2025
52,869,425
54,887
1,081,954
1,327,660
(486,835)
(99,867)
5,292
1,883,091
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Dividends declared:
Common, $0.47 per share
(24,775)
Common stock activity under employee stock plans
(1,078)
(1)
585
584
Stock-based compensation
2,325
Distribution of stock under deferred compensation agreements
(43)
43
Treasury stock purchased
(206,767)
(11,034)
Balance at September 30, 2025
52,661,580
Balance at June 30, 2024
52,522,803
54,549
1,065,937
1,230,133
(585,794)
(100,446)
5,801
1,670,180
Common, $0.46 per share
(24,241)
24,048
24
1,284
1,308
2,083
(46)
(960)
Balance at September 30, 2024
52,545,891
54,573
1,069,258
1,249,793
(494,032)
(100,492)
5,847
1,784,947
Nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
Balance at December 31, 2024
52,667,836
Common, $1.39 per share
(73,391)
189,799
190
1,598
1,788
7,888
Distribution of stock under deferred compensation arrangements
12,361
(202)
762
(560)
(208,416)
(11,124)
Balance at December 31, 2023
53,327,060
54,372
1,060,289
1,188,869
(556,892)
(55,592)
6,891
1,697,937
Common, $1.36 per share
(71,764)
201,146
201
2,501
2,702
6,506
20,769
1,082
(1,044)
(1,003,084)
(45,982)
7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation
11,172
10,107
Net amortization on securities, loans, finance leases and borrowings
10,200
6,996
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights
577
537
(480)
(984)
Income from bank-owned life insurance policies
(2,273)
(1,817)
Net gain on sale of assets
(1,510)
(1,157)
Change in other assets and liabilities
9,197
(4,212)
Net cash provided by operating activities
217,284
176,538
Investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities, calls, and paydowns of available-for-sale investment securities
41,457
46,205
Proceeds from maturities, calls, and paydowns of held-to-maturity investment securities
18,705
4,015
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of equity and other investment securities, net
9,822
261
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities
57,539
Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities
(94,010)
(128,811)
Purchases of equity and other securities, net
(738)
(8,689)
Net increase in loans
(355,486)
(573,533)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash received
(4,472)
(11,553)
Purchases of equity method investments
(37,350)
Proceeds from sales of premises, equipment and other assets
1,799
3,081
Purchases of premises and equipment
(45,520)
(13,501)
Net cash used in investing activities
(465,793)
(624,986)
Financing activities:
Net increase in deposits
615,143
548,050
Net decrease in overnight borrowings
(50,100)
(53,000)
Net (decrease) increase in securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term
(37,384)
12,853
Proceeds from other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
250,000
Payments on and maturities of other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
(147,813)
(35,415)
Payments of contingent consideration for acquisitions
(932)
(2,690)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock for employee stock plans
4,614
Purchases of treasury stock
Cash dividends paid
(72,826)
(71,608)
Withholding taxes paid on share-based compensation
(2,826)
(1,314)
Net cash provided by financing activities
296,752
603,596
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
48,243
155,148
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
190,962
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
346,110
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
146,034
143,072
Cash paid for income taxes
31,841
32,948
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:
Dividends declared and unpaid
24,975
24,324
Transfers from loans to other real estate
6,792
2,021
Transfers from premises and equipment, net to other assets
278
2,398
Finance lease right of use asset in exchange for finance lease liability
8,608
Acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles
98
447
Fair value of liabilities assumed
209
1,906
Contingent consideration in exchange for acquired assets
4,099
3,416
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
September 30, 2025
NOTE A: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The interim financial data as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Financial System, Inc. (the “Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period. The Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2025.
NOTE B: ACQUISITIONS
Pending Acquisition
On June 25, 2025, the Company, through its subsidiary Community Bank, N.A. (“CBNA”), entered into an agreement with Santander Bank, N.A. (“Santander”) to acquire seven branch locations in the Allentown, Pennsylvania area, including certain branch-related loans and deposits. In addition, CBNA’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Nottingham Investment Services, Inc., has agreed to purchase related wealth management relationships from Santander’s affiliate, Santander Securities LLC. Based on the most current available information, the Company is expected to acquire approximately $32.0 million of loans and assume approximately $570.0 million of deposits, excluding purchase accounting adjustments. Total cash consideration will include a deposit premium of 8.0%, or approximately $45.6 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed on November 7, 2025. The Company expects to incur certain one-time, transaction-related costs in connection with the pending acquisition.
Current and Prior Period Acquisitions
On September 5, 2025, the Company acquired an ownership interest in Leap Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Leap”) for $37.4 million comprised of various classes of preferred and common stock. Leap’s wholly owned subsidiary, Leap Insurance Agency, LLC, is a tech-first managing general agent (“MGA”) providing insurance solutions for the rental housing sector. The Company determined it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of Leap and therefore accounts for its ownership interest as an equity method investment. On the acquisition date, the Company estimated its investment included embedded goodwill of $27.1 million and a customer relationship intangible asset of $7.7 million. The income from equity method investments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was immaterial.
During the third quarter of 2025, the Company, through its subsidiary OneGroup NY, Inc. (“OneGroup”), completed the acquisition of certain assets of two financial services companies based in Florida and Kentucky. Total aggregate consideration was $4.2 million in cash and contingent consideration with an estimated fair value of $0.6 million at the acquisition date. The contingent consideration arrangement requires additional consideration to be paid by the Company based on a percentage of net revenue over a three year period following the acquisition date, up to a maximum of $2.0 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration at the acquisition date was determined by forecasting estimated amounts of net revenue for each applicable period and applying the appropriate factor to those amounts based on the purchase agreement. The effects of the acquired assets are included in the consolidated financial statements from that date. Net assets acquired were $3.9 million of customer list intangible assets and the Company recorded $0.9 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisitions. Revenues and direct expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 were immaterial.
During the first nine months of 2025, the Company, through its subsidiary Benefit Plans Administrative Services, LLC (“BPA”), completed acquisitions of certain assets of three financial services companies based in New York and Kansas for aggregate consideration of $0.3 million in cash and contingent consideration with a fair value at acquisition of $3.5 million. The contingent consideration arrangements require additional consideration to be paid by the Company based on a percentage of retained revenue over periods ranging from two to four years following the acquisition date. The fair value of the contingent consideration at the acquisition date was determined by forecasting estimated amounts of retained revenue for each applicable period and applying the appropriate factor to those amounts based on the purchase agreements. The effects of the acquired assets are included in the consolidated financial statements from that date. Net assets acquired included $2.2 million of customer list intangible assets and the Company recorded $1.8 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisitions. Revenues and direct expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 were immaterial.
During 2024, the Company, through its subsidiary OneGroup, completed acquisitions of certain insurance agencies headquartered in New York and Florida for aggregate consideration of $9.6 million in cash plus contingent consideration with an estimated fair value of $0.7 million at the respective acquisition dates. The contingent consideration arrangements require additional consideration to be paid by the Company based on a percentage of retained revenue two years after the date of acquisition, up to a maximum amount of $1.4 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration of $0.7 million at the acquisition date was estimated based on projected retained revenue levels. The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Net assets acquired were $6.5 million, including $6.8 million of customer list intangible assets, and the Company recorded $3.8 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisitions. Revenues and direct expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 were immaterial.
On February 1, 2024, the Company, through its subsidiary BPA, completed the acquisition of certain assets of Creative Plan Designs Limited (“CPD”), a financial services company that provides employee benefit plan design, administration and consulting services. Total consideration was $5.9 million in cash plus contingent consideration with an estimated fair value of $3.0 million at acquisition date. The effects of the acquired assets are included in the consolidated financial statements from that date. Net assets acquired were $4.5 million, including $5.5 million of customer list intangible assets, and the Company recorded $4.4 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition. Revenues and direct expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 were immaterial.
The acquisition of CPD includes contingent consideration arrangements that require additional consideration to be paid by the Company based on the future revenue levels of CPD over approximately three years and a contract holdback payment. The contract holdback will be paid upon satisfaction of certain customer retention requirements and will be prorated based on actual results. The contract holdback amount was estimated at the maximum level of $1.5 million at the acquisition date. The revenue-based contingent consideration is payable in four installments, based on future revenue levels of CPD in 2024, 2025, 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. The range of undiscounted amounts the Company could pay under the contingent consideration agreement is between zero and $2.0 million for the first three payments in total and a variable amount for the fourth payment, which is between zero and a percentage of annualized revenue above a threshold for a particular revenue stream in the first quarter of 2027. The fair value of the contingent consideration recognized on the acquisition date of $3.0 million was estimated by applying the income approach, a measure that is based on significant Level 3 inputs not readily observable in the market. Key assumptions at the date of acquisition include (1) a discount rate range of 15.1% to 19.1% to present value the payments and (2) probability of achievement of future revenue levels of 82%.
The Santander transaction accelerates CBNA’s de novo expansion in the strategic Greater Lehigh Valley and complements its existing commercial and consumer lending presence in the market. The Leap transaction adds diversification to the Company’s existing insurance services business through new exposure to a growing tech-first MGA in an expanding market focused on the rental housing sector. The OneGroup and BPA transactions generally expand the Company’s insurance services and employee benefit services presence.
10
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in acquisitions considered to be business combinations:
(000s omitted)
Other(1)
CPD
Other(2)
Consideration:
Cash
4,472
5,861
9,599
15,460
Contingent consideration
3,066
750
3,816
Total net consideration
8,571
8,927
10,349
19,276
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Cash and cash equivalents
33
156
162
26
384
410
Other intangibles
6,040
5,500
6,849
12,349
Other liabilities
(209)
(990)
(916)
(1,906)
Total identifiable assets, net
5,929
4,542
11,048
2,642
4,385
3,843
8,228
The other intangibles related to the CPD acquisition are being amortized using an accelerated method over an estimated useful life of 12 years. The other intangibles related to the OneGroup and BPA acquisitions completed through the end of the third quarter of 2025 and the OneGroup acquisitions completed in 2024 are being amortized using an accelerated method over an estimated useful life of eight years. The goodwill, which is not amortized for book purposes, was assigned to the Employee Benefits Services segment for the BPA acquisitions completed through the end of the third quarter of 2025 and the CPD acquisition, and the Insurance Services segment for the OneGroup acquisitions completed through the end of the third quarter of 2025 and in 2024. The goodwill arising from one of the OneGroup acquisitions in 2024 is not deductible for tax purposes, while the goodwill arising from the OneGroup and BPA acquisitions completed through the end of the third quarter of 2025 and the remaining OneGroup acquisitions completed in 2024 is deductible for tax purposes.
NOTE C: ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The notes to the consolidated financial statements appearing in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which include descriptions of significant accounting policies, as updated by the information contained in this report, should be read in conjunction with these interim consolidated financial statements.
Contract Balances
A contract asset balance occurs when an entity performs a service for a customer before the customer pays consideration (resulting in a contract receivable) or before payment is due (resulting in a contract asset). A contract liability balance is an entity’s obligation to transfer a service to a customer for which the entity has already received payment (or payment is due) from the customer. The Company’s noninterest revenue streams are largely based on transactional activity, or standard month-end revenue accruals such as asset management fees based on month-end market values. Consideration is often received immediately or shortly after the Company satisfies its performance obligation and revenue is recognized. The Company does not typically enter into long-term revenue contracts with customers, and therefore, does not experience significant contract balances. As of September 30, 2025, $40.9 million of accounts receivable, including $8.4 million of unbilled fee revenue, and $1.9 million of unearned revenue was recorded in the consolidated statements of condition. As of December 31, 2024, $38.5 million of accounts receivable, including $8.4 million of unbilled fee revenue, and $1.1 million of unearned revenue was recorded in the consolidated statements of condition.
11
Equity Method Investments
The Company applies the equity method of accounting to investments in entities over which it has significant influence but does not have a controlling financial interest. Key indicators of significant influence include ownership interest, representation on the board of directors and participation in policy-making decisions. Equity method investments are initially recorded at cost on the consolidated statements of condition. The excess of the purchase price over the Company’s share of the investee’s net assets (the “basis difference”) is allocated to identifiable assets and liabilities, with any remaining excess classified as equity method goodwill. The carrying amount of equity method investments is adjusted for the Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses, dividends received and the amortization of basis differences other than equity method goodwill. The Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses and the amortization of basis differences are classified as income from equity method investments on the consolidated statements of income. Equity method investments are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of the investment may not be recoverable, including sustained investee losses or other adverse developments affecting the investee’s operations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The update requires enhancements to the rate reconciliation, including disclosure of specific categories and additional information for reconciling items meeting a quantitative threshold as well as disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by federal, state and foreign taxes, and individual jurisdictions meeting a quantitative threshold. The amendments in this update are effective for annual financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this standard beginning with the December 31, 2025 consolidated financial statements and expects it to impact certain income tax disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, to enhance the disclosure of expenses by requiring further disaggregation of relevant expense captions as well as disclosures about selling expenses. ASU 2024-03 is applicable to all public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact this will have on the consolidated financial statements but does not expect it will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
NOTE D: INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows:
December 31, 2024
Gross
Amortized
Unrealized
Fair
(000’s omitted)
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
2,396,816
218,906
2,177,910
2,389,208
305,422
2,083,786
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
418,563
298
33,420
385,441
428,204
288
41,997
386,495
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
332,181
85
46,017
286,249
360,102
37
58,915
301,224
Corporate debt securities
5,000
125
4,875
8,000
303
7,697
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
5,050
213
4,837
6,878
366
6,512
Total available-for-sale portfolio
3,157,610
383
298,681
3,192,392
325
407,003
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
1,160,978
83,632
1,077,346
1,138,743
123,194
1,015,549
281,330
2,502
289
283,543
206,412
448
2,241
204,619
Total held-to-maturity portfolio
83,921
1,360,889
125,435
1,220,168
As of September 30, 2025, equity and other securities on the consolidated statements of condition consists of equity securities with readily determinable fair values carried at $2.9 million and equity securities without readily determinable fair values carried at $76.0 million, including Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) common stock of $36.9 million, Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) common stock of $33.3 million and other equity securities of $5.8 million.
12
As of December 31, 2024, equity and other securities on the consolidated statements of condition consists of equity securities with readily determinable fair values carried at $2.4 million and equity securities without readily determinable fair values carried at $85.1 million; including FHLB common stock of $45.4 million, FRB common stock of $33.4 million and other equity securities of $6.3 million.
The investment in FRB stock represents approximately half of the total required subscription, and the remaining half is unpaid and remains subject to call by the FRB.
The amount of upward and downward adjustments to equity securities without readily determinable fair values was not material for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
The gains and losses on equity and other securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 are as follows:
(000's omitted)
Net gain recognized on equity securities
Less: Net gain (loss) recognized on equity securities sold during the period
Unrealized gain recognized on equity securities still held
A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position is as follows:
As of September 30, 2025
Less than 12 Months
12 Months or Longer
Fair Value
41,792
1,040
281,692
32,380
323,484
106
1
280,461
46,016
280,567
4,831
Total available-for-sale investment portfolio
41,898
1,041
2,749,769
297,640
2,791,667
20,696
28,270
177
48,966
1,105,616
83,809
1,126,312
As of December 31, 2024
47,144
847
301,202
41,150
348,346
7,943
221
290,786
58,694
298,729
6,501
55,087
1,068
2,689,972
405,935
2,745,059
149,742
2,027
15,281
214
165,023
1,030,830
123,408
1,180,572
The unrealized losses reported pertaining to available-for-sale securities issued by the U.S. government and its sponsored entities include treasuries, agencies, and mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, which are currently rated Aa1 by Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ by Standard & Poor’s, AA+ by Fitch and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions carry a credit rating of A or better. Additionally, a portion of the obligations of state and political subdivisions carry a secondary level of credit enhancement. The Company holds one corporate debt security in an unrealized loss position and, based on an analysis of the financial position of the issuer including financial performance, liquidity and regulatory capital ratios, the issuer of the security shows a remote risk of default. Timely interest payments continue to be made on the security. The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. As such, management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2025 represents credit losses and no unrealized losses have been recognized in the provision for credit losses. Accordingly, there is no allowance for credit losses on the Company’s available-for-sale portfolio as of September 30, 2025. Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $8.5 million at September 30, 2025 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
Securities classified as held-to-maturity are included under the Current Expected Credit Loss (“CECL”) methodology. Calculation of expected credit loss under CECL is done on a collective (“pooled”) basis, with assets grouped when similar risk characteristics exist. The Company notes that at September 30, 2025, all securities in the held-to-maturity classification are U.S. Treasury securities and government agency mortgage-backed securities; therefore, they share the same risk characteristics and can be evaluated on a collective basis. The expected credit loss on these securities is evaluated based on historical credit losses of this security type and the expected possibility of default in the future as these securities are guaranteed by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury securities and government agency mortgage-backed securities often receive the highest credit rating by rating agencies and the Company has concluded that the possibility of default is considered remote. The U.S. Treasury securities and government agency mortgage-backed securities held by the Company in the held-to-maturity category carry an Aa1 rating from Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ rating from Standard & Poor’s, and AA+ from Fitch. The Company concludes that the long history with no credit losses for these securities (adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts) indicates an expectation that nonpayment of the amortized cost basis is zero. Management has concluded that the prepayment risk associated with these securities is insignificant and it is expected to recover the recorded investment. Accordingly, there is no allowance for credit losses on the Company’s held-to-maturity debt portfolio as of September 30, 2025. Accrued interest receivable on held-to-maturity debt securities, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $4.1 million at September 30, 2025 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. The Company has the intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at September 30, 2025, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date, including government agency mortgage-backed securities and government agency collateralized mortgage obligations, are shown separately.
Held-to-Maturity
Available-for-Sale
Due in one year or less
18,051
17,938
Due after one through five years
1,950,886
1,852,880
Due after five years through ten years
575,740
562,180
438,342
381,405
Due after ten years
585,238
515,166
413,100
316,003
Subtotal
2,820,379
2,568,226
Investment securities with a carrying value of $2.45 billion and $2.27 billion at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, were pledged to collateralize certain deposits and borrowings. Securities pledged to collateralize certain deposits and borrowings included $319.2 million and $362.1 million of U.S. Treasury securities that were pledged as collateral for securities sold under agreement to repurchase at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
14
NOTE E: LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are summarized as follows:
CRE - multifamily
894,990
724,114
CRE – owner occupied
860,399
864,783
CRE – non-owner occupied
1,671,699
1,775,099
Commercial & industrial and other business loans
1,236,790
1,141,182
Consumer mortgage
3,544,277
3,489,780
Consumer indirect
1,834,766
1,767,655
Consumer direct
196,408
192,327
Home equity
510,933
477,425
Gross loans, including deferred origination costs
The following table presents the aging of the amortized cost basis of the Company’s past due loans by segment as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
Past Due
90+ Days Past
30 – 89
Due and
Days
Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Current
Total Loans
CRE – multifamily
1,060
893,930
240
475
6,699
7,414
852,985
264
1,422
1,686
1,670,013
618
12,937
13,555
1,223,235
23,748
4,899
26,377
55,024
3,489,253
20,885
810
21,695
1,813,071
1,638
174
1,812
194,596
3,152
372
1,892
5,416
505,517
51,605
6,730
49,327
107,662
10,642,600
184
12,316
12,500
711,614
690
7,695
8,385
856,398
11,826
12,273
1,762,826
2,832
8,122
10,954
1,130,228
24,928
5,288
24,389
54,605
3,435,175
22,379
1,227
23,606
1,744,049
1,747
1,853
190,474
2,739
379
2,039
5,157
472,268
55,946
7,000
66,387
129,333
10,303,032
An immaterial amount of interest income on nonaccrual loans was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
The Company uses several credit quality indicators to assess credit risk in an ongoing manner. The Company’s primary credit quality indicator for its business lending portfolio is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans as “pass”, “special mention”, “substandard”, or “doubtful”. Credit risk ratings are applied to loans individually based on a case-by-case evaluation. Business lending loans under $250,000 are assigned either a “pass” or “substandard” risk rating. Business lending relationships with total exposure of more than $3.0 million are subject to a formal annual review to affirm the appropriate risk rating. Quarterly credit evaluations may also be completed based on the borrower’s risk rating. Business lending relationships with total exposures of $3.0 million or less are generally not subject to the formal annual review process, unless the total exposure is $2.0 million or more and has a risk rating other than “pass”. For all business lending relationships regardless of exposure size, risk ratings are refreshed when a borrower makes a new loan request, a loan is renewed or automated tools indicate a possible change in a borrower’s credit risk profile. In general, the following are the definitions of the Company’s credit quality indicators:
15
Pass
The condition of the borrower and the performance of the loans are satisfactory or better.
Special Mention
The condition of the borrower has deteriorated and the loan has potential weaknesses, although the loan performs as agreed. Loss may be incurred at some future date if conditions deteriorate further.
Substandard
The condition of the borrower has significantly deteriorated and the loan has a well-defined weakness or weaknesses. The performance of the loan could further deteriorate and incur loss if deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful
The condition of the borrower has deteriorated to the point that collection of the balance is improbable based on current facts and conditions and loss is likely.
The following tables show the amount of business lending loans by credit quality category at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
Revolving
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
Converted
2023
2022
2021
2020 & Prior
Cost Basis
to Term
CRE – multifamily:
Risk rating
92,706
13,616
91,601
137,691
38,900
134,514
127,478
205,924
842,430
Special mention
8,561
9,083
7,212
4,994
10,693
40,543
1,101
6,287
1,649
2,980
12,017
Total CRE – multifamily
100,162
49,084
148,013
134,121
219,597
Current period gross charge-offs(1)
19
428
CRE – owner occupied:
77,283
90,219
39,974
73,036
51,119
237,024
21,055
194,164
783,874
1,210
6,933
4,211
1,886
5,131
371
28,602
48,344
378
124
1,864
7,211
888
11,075
819
5,822
28,181
Total CRE – owner occupied
78,871
97,276
46,049
82,133
52,007
253,230
22,245
228,588
47
56
CRE – non-owner occupied:
118,146
87,460
103,396
187,646
110,239
318,924
324,502
224,227
1,474,540
1,850
450
25,982
39,075
22,846
90,581
8,530
49,558
6,574
25,072
15,206
106,578
Total CRE – non-owner occupied
89,310
111,926
237,654
112,255
351,480
388,649
262,279
1,111
3,198
4,309
Commercial & industrial and other business loans:
174,764
176,743
52,061
68,414
52,607
90,992
454,109
84,334
1,154,024
1,064
1,451
1,365
3,120
1,487
666
17,376
8,598
35,127
3,048
2,456
4,679
3,726
2,157
4,714
19,528
5,136
45,444
1,574
621
2,195
Total commercial & industrial and other business loans
178,876
180,650
58,105
75,260
56,251
96,372
492,587
98,689
229
149
51
257
674
1,372
Total business lending:
462,899
368,038
287,032
466,787
252,865
781,454
927,144
708,649
4,254,868
2,274
10,234
5,456
10,948
38,991
61,816
70,739
214,595
3,426
2,580
15,073
60,495
5,784
28,650
47,068
29,144
192,220
Total business lending
468,599
380,852
316,242
532,738
269,597
849,095
1,037,602
809,153
4,663,878
59
1,279
60
685
3,872
6,184
16
2020
2019 & Prior
CRE - multifamily:
24,631
101,868
141,997
50,421
16,827
134,788
63,401
146,565
680,498
1,865
1,500
14,030
17,395
7,232
1,580
4,639
641
9,293
23,445
2,776
149,229
52,001
16,887
141,292
65,542
172,664
62
101,325
50,104
76,554
52,518
36,798
233,701
68,794
171,660
791,454
744
4,726
2,076
1,474
1,407
430
23,107
38,643
1,792
7,565
978
2,123
15,137
1,112
5,979
34,686
102,069
56,622
86,195
54,970
40,328
253,517
70,336
200,746
806
98,845
120,244
193,914
115,990
86,279
296,787
418,515
230,482
1,561,056
2,007
377
50,868
1,264
259
20,210
20,960
23,600
119,545
10,887
284
1,846
351
13,023
23,816
43,425
93,632
866
100,852
131,508
245,066
119,966
86,889
330,020
463,291
297,507
412
77
554
1,043
267,499
67,503
92,315
69,456
24,072
88,204
390,217
56,971
1,056,237
6,078
445
1,673
1,022
1,889
12,468
7,608
31,185
1,575
16,588
3,743
1,458
397
3,261
20,842
5,896
53,760
275,152
84,536
97,731
71,936
24,471
93,354
423,527
70,475
64
119
114
23
924
1,246
492,300
339,719
504,780
288,385
163,976
753,480
940,927
605,678
4,089,245
8,829
5,548
54,617
3,760
1,668
28,643
35,358
68,345
206,768
29,267
18,824
5,862
2,931
36,060
46,411
64,593
205,523
3,642
502,704
374,534
578,221
298,873
168,575
818,183
1,022,696
741,392
4,505,178
1,282
176
100
556
3,157
All other loans are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, primarily payment performance, and are monitored collectively on a monthly basis. These are typically loans to individuals in the consumer categories and are delineated as either performing or nonperforming. Performing loans include loans classified as current as well as those classified as 30 - 89 days past due. Nonperforming loans include 90+ days past due and still accruing and nonaccrual loans.
17
The following tables detail the balances in all other loan categories at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
Consumer mortgage:
FICO AB(1)
Performing
185,958
287,710
309,657
305,045
392,355
764,577
16,079
142,665
2,404,046
Nonperforming
415
855
868
947
3,343
6,428
Total FICO AB
288,125
310,512
305,913
393,302
767,920
2,410,474
FICO CDE(2)
82,101
145,824
131,258
130,344
140,053
411,460
15,632
52,283
1,108,955
207
2,360
3,029
4,943
1,577
11,860
872
24,848
Total FICO CDE
82,308
148,184
134,287
135,287
141,630
423,320
53,155
1,133,803
Total consumer mortgage
268,266
436,309
444,799
441,200
534,932
1,191,240
31,711
195,820
Current period gross charge-offs(3)
20
31
Consumer indirect:
589,270
504,929
353,029
253,420
86,643
46,665
1,833,956
211
103
248
104
74
Total consumer indirect
589,481
505,032
353,277
253,524
86,717
46,735
517
2,679
3,139
2,099
919
789
10,142
Consumer direct:
70,268
57,287
32,250
17,770
6,182
5,699
6,778
196,234
22
48
Total consumer direct
70,269
57,333
32,272
6,188
5,750
6,826
93
706
569
360
34
151
1,939
Home equity:
51,032
63,812
47,566
48,980
47,303
70,028
156,472
23,476
508,669
538
320
496
665
68
2,264
Total home equity
63,918
48,104
49,300
47,374
70,524
157,137
23,544
78
116
18
312,040
327,737
325,563
418,887
182,058
665,652
124,134
2,358,572
669
748
521
4,476
6,414
326,232
419,635
182,579
670,128
2,364,986
149,322
139,294
138,007
151,769
93,797
352,517
33,678
43,147
1,101,531
564
1,815
3,932
1,483
12,282
23,263
149,886
141,109
141,939
153,252
95,873
364,799
44,258
1,124,794
461,926
468,846
468,171
572,887
278,452
1,034,927
36,179
168,392
141
30
192
656,284
492,192
380,652
153,977
32,812
50,511
1,766,428
118
461
453
656,402
492,653
381,105
154,118
32,846
50,531
1,468
3,039
3,789
1,592
499
1,220
11,607
84,114
49,126
30,424
12,534
3,374
5,527
7,122
192,221
21
36
84,136
49,147
30,426
12,551
5,535
7,158
1,072
664
389
251
2,744
68,249
53,612
54,754
53,466
26,456
56,072
137,448
24,950
475,007
32
234
225
282
534
850
218
2,418
68,281
53,846
54,979
53,509
26,738
56,606
138,298
25,168
41
92
164
(3)For the year ended December 31, 2024.
For business lending loans on nonaccrual greater than $500,000 that do not share the same risk characteristics with a pool of loans, the company establishes individually assessed reserves using methods prescribed by GAAP. When management determines that foreclosure is probable or when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty at the reporting date and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of collateral, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. A summary of individually assessed business loans as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 follows:
Specifically
Carrying
Contractual
Allocated
Balance
Allowance
Loans with allowance allocation:
12,068
2,764
10,075
10,270
864
4,411
4,544
2,192
22,143
22,338
3,628
Loans without allowance allocation:
6,090
6,771
7,554
8,360
1,335
2,389
2,606
7,541
9,447
7,672
14,966
18,607
16,818
18,638
The average carrying balance of individually assessed loans was $20.4 million and $30.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The average carrying balance of individually assessed loans was $43.1 million and $31.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. An immaterial amount of interest income was recognized on individually assessed loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Occasionally, the Company modifies loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty by providing principal forgiveness, term extension, payment delay, or interest rate reduction. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amount of forgiveness is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses.
In some cases, the Company provides multiple types of modifications on one loan. Typically, one type of modification, such as a term extension, is granted initially. If the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another modification, such as principal forgiveness, may be granted. Upon the Company’s determination that a modified loan (or portion of a loan) has subsequently been deemed uncollectible, the loan (or a portion of the loan) is charged off. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount. The estimate of allowance for credit losses includes historical losses from loans that were modified due to borrower financial difficulty, therefore a charge to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification.
The following tables present the amortized cost basis of loans at September 30, 2025 and 2024 that were both experiencing financial difficulty and modified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, by class and by type of modification. The percentage of the amortized cost basis of loans that were modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty as compared to the amortized cost basis of each class of financing receivable is also presented below.
September 30, 2024
Total Class
Term
of Financing
Payment
(000s omitted except for percentages)
Extension
Receivable
Delay
0.00
%
926
0.11
17,875
1.03
300
52
1,226
0.19
CRE - owner occupied
1,490
0.17
CRE - non-owner occupied
3,222
1.22
5,707
0.46
399
342
0.01
232
6,049
0.06
5,367
0.23
The Company closely monitors the performance of loans that are modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. The following table presents the performance of such loans that have been modified in the last 12 months.
Past Due 30 –
Due and Still
89 Days
Accruing
Non-Accrual
2,171
3,536
420
471
2,222
3,956
6,178
The following table presents the financial effect of the loan modifications presented above to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025:
Weighted-Average
Term Extension (Years)
0.0
0.3
7.5
14.5
1.5
There were no loans modified to borrowers with financial difficulty that had a payment default subsequent to modification during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The following presents by segment the activity in the allowance for credit losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2025
Beginning
Charge-
Ending
balance
offs
Recoveries
Provision
Business lending
41,154
(564)
187
3,135
43,912
14,196
(33)
14,057
19,885
(3,557)
2,052
1,940
20,320
4,133
(722)
467
4,129
(93)
136
1,526
Unallocated
1,000
Allowance for credit losses – loans
81,851
(4,969)
2,498
84,944
Liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures
859
Total allowance for credit losses and liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures
82,710
85,803
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
31,128
(1,114)
199
33,749
14,303
(188)
14,794
20,124
(3,000)
1,816
2,146
21,086
3,368
(661)
228
1,037
3,972
1,519
(58)
1,566
71,442
(5,021)
2,250
7,496
76,167
72,311
77,249
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025
37,201
(6,184)
636
12,259
15,017
(56)
(923)
20,895
(10,142)
6,160
3,407
3,453
(1,939)
807
1,808
1,548
(116)
79,114
(18,437)
7,623
16,644
1,132
(273)
80,246
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
26,854
(1,640)
330
8,205
15,333
(345)
(233)
18,585
(8,669)
4,956
6,214
3,269
(2,169)
710
2,162
1,628
(115)
66,669
(12,938)
16,396
913
169
67,582
The allowance for credit losses increased to $84.9 million at September 30, 2025 compared to $79.1 million at December 31, 2024 and $76.2 million at September 30, 2024, reflective of an increase in loans outstanding, a stable economic environment and an additional qualitative factor reserve for business lending related to an increase in size and volume of new loans not captured in the quantitative reserve.
Accrued interest receivable on loans, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $36.8 million at September 30, 2025 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses and amortized cost basis of loans.
The Company utilizes the historical loss rate on its loan portfolio as the initial basis for the estimate of credit losses using the cumulative loss, vintage loss and line loss methods, which is derived from the Company’s historical loss experience. To address changes and trends in current period credit metrics, qualitative adjustments to historical loss experience were made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics and to address current period delinquencies, charge-off rates, risk ratings, lack of loan level data through an entire economic cycle, changes in loan sizes and underwriting standards as well as the addition of acquired loans which were not underwritten by the Company. The Company considered historical losses immediately prior, through and following the Great Recession compared to the historical period used for modeling to adjust the historical information to account for longer-term expectations for loan credit performance. Under CECL, the Company is required to consider future economic conditions to determine current expected credit losses. Management selected an eight-quarter reasonable and supportable forecast period with a four-quarter reversion to the historical mean to use as part of the economic forecast and utilizes a two-quarter lag adjustment for economic factors that are not dependent on collateral values, and no lag for factors that utilize collateral values. Management determined that these qualitative adjustments were needed to adjust historical information for expected losses and to reflect changes as a result of current conditions.
For qualitative macroeconomic adjustments, the Company uses third-party forecasted economic data scenarios utilizing a base scenario and two alternative scenarios that are weighted, with forecasts available as of September 30, 2025. These forecasts were factored into the qualitative portion of the calculation of the estimated credit losses and include the impact of slowing growth in residential real estate and vehicle prices as well as continued inflationary pressures.
Management developed expected loss estimates considering factors for segments as outlined below:
At September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, loans with a carrying amount of approximately $6.78 billion and $6.72 billion, respectively, were pledged for the availability to secure certain borrowings with the FHLB and FRB. There were $462.2 million and $610.0 million of borrowings outstanding under these arrangements at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
At September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there were foreclosures in process of $8.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company did not purchase any loans, while the Company sold $66.7 million of secondary market eligible residential consumer mortgage loans during the period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company did not purchase any loans and sold $39.9 million of secondary market eligible residential consumer mortgage loans.
NOTE F: GOODWILL AND IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of identifiable intangible asset are as follows:
Net
Amortization
Amortizing intangible assets:
Core deposit intangibles
77,373
(73,802)
(72,225)
141,873
(101,267)
135,833
(92,735)
Total amortizing intangibles
219,246
(175,069)
44,177
213,206
(164,960)
48,246
The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:
Oct - Dec 2025
3,323
2026
12,446
2027
6,458
2028
4,980
2029
4,117
Thereafter
Shown below are the components of the Company’s goodwill at December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2025:
Additions/Adjustments
2,565
NOTE G: BORROWINGS
During the first quarter of 2025, the Company entered into a new parent company unsecured committed revolving line of credit facility with a commercial bank in an amount of up to $50.0 million to be available for use for general corporate purposes including potential future merger and acquisition activity by its non-Bank subsidiaries. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving line of credit facility will bear interest at either fixed rates determined at closing or floating rates at the monthly Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.25% at the option of the Company. The revolving line of credit facility will mature on February 25, 2026, subject to a 364 day extension with opt-out provided for by either party to the agreement and includes certain financial covenants. The Company has determined it is in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2025.
During 2024, the Company secured $250.0 million of fixed rate FHLB term borrowings. The borrowings consist of: three $50.0 million advances at interest rates ranging from 4.38% to 4.47% that were putable at the option of the FHLB in June 2025 and mature in June 2027 as the option was not exercised; and one $100.0 million advance at a rate of 3.73% that included a put option that was exercised by the FHLB in August 2025.
NOTE H: EARNINGS PER SHARE
The two class method is used in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share. Under the two class method, earnings available to common shareholders for the period are allocated between common shareholders and participating securities according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company has determined that all of its outstanding non-vested stock awards are participating securities as of September 30, 2025.
Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average of the common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted-average of the shares outstanding and the assumed exercise of stock options during the year. The dilutive effect of options is calculated using the treasury stock method of accounting. The treasury stock method determines the number of common shares that would be outstanding if all the dilutive options were exercised and the proceeds were used to repurchase common shares in the open market at the average market price for the applicable time period. There were approximately 0.2 million and 0.4 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively. There were approximately 0.2 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:
(000’s omitted, except per share data)
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards
(242)
(192)
(657)
(524)
Income available to common shareholders
54,846
43,709
155,376
132,164
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic
52,689
52,520
52,726
52,807
Assumed exercise of stock options
115
126
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted
52,804
52,680
52,852
52,911
25
Stock Repurchase Program
At its December 2024 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase, at the discretion of senior management, of up to 2,628,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, in accordance with securities and banking laws and regulations, during the twelve-month period starting January 1, 2025. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion. There were 206,054 shares of treasury stock purchases made under this authorization during the first nine months of 2025, with an average price paid per share of $53.34.
At its December 2023 meeting, the Board approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase, at the discretion of senior management, of up to 2,697,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, in accordance with securities and banking laws and regulations, during the twelve-month period starting January 1, 2024. There were 1,000,000 shares of treasury stock purchases made under this authorization during the first nine months of 2024 with an average price paid per share of $45.84.
NOTE I: COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
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 primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee. These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies. The Company’s liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures related to commitments to extend credit is included in accrued interest and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of condition and detailed in Note E. Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness. The fair value of the standby letters of credit is immaterial for disclosure.
The contract amounts of these commitments and contingencies are as follows:
Commitments to extend credit
1,789,624
1,635,509
Standby letters of credit
83,409
80,245
1,873,033
1,715,754
The Company entered into agreements to invest a total of $10.0 million and $8.5 million in investment tax credits generated by a solar energy producing company during the third quarter of 2024 and second quarter of 2025, respectively. The Company has elected to account for the investments using the proportional amortization method. At September 30, 2025, the balance of the Company’s investment in these tax credits was $4.2 million and the unfunded commitment related to the solar energy tax credit investments was $3.4 million. At December 31, 2024, the balance of the Company’s investment in these tax credits was $1.4 million and the unfunded commitment related to the solar energy tax credit investments was $1.3 million. These amounts were reflected in other assets and accrued interest and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated statements of condition. The Company funded $3.3 million and $6.4 million of the total commitment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and the Company expects to fund the remaining commitment by December 31, 2025 as capital calls are made. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recognized $2.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively, of federal tax credits and $2.7 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of amortization of income tax credit investments in income taxes in the consolidated statements of income related to solar energy tax credits.
Legal Contingencies
On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings or other matters in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses are reasonably estimable, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent such matters could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. The range of losses that are reasonably possible for matters where an exposure is not currently estimable or considered probable is not believed to be material in the aggregate. This is based on information currently available to the Company and involves elements of judgment and significant uncertainties.
NOTE J: FAIR VALUE
Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and require certain disclosures about such fair value instruments. It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. exit price). Inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
Significant valuation assumptions not readily observable in a market.
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following tables set forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers between any of the levels for the periods presented.
Total Fair
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Available-for-sale investment securities:
2,116,941
60,969
Total available-for-sale investment securities
742,371
Equity securities
2,905
Mortgage loans held for sale
339
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
Interest rate swap agreements asset
7,823
Interest rate swap agreements liability
(7,823)
2,119,846
742,710
2,862,725
27
2,025,164
58,622
760,550
2,354
1,470
215
Forward sales commitments
(8)
2,664
(2,664)
2,027,518
762,012
2,789,745
The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:
28
The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are immaterial.
The fair value information of assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis presented below is not as of the period-end, but rather as of the date the fair value adjustment was recorded closest to the date presented.
Individually assessed loans
14,334
19,315
Other real estate owned
5,635
2,781
Mortgage servicing rights
1,263
460
(6,814)
(4,140)
14,418
18,416
Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans. Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using independent appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace, adjusted for non-observable inputs. Thus, the resulting nonrecurring fair value measurements are generally classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value used for other collateral supporting commercial loans generally are based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and, therefore, such valuations classify as Level 3.
Other real estate owned (“OREO”) is valued at the time the loan is foreclosed upon and the asset is transferred to OREO. The value is based primarily on third-party appraisals, less estimated costs to sell, and may be further discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of valuation, and/or management’s expertise and knowledge of the customer and customer’s business. Such non-observable assumptions result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. The carrying value of OREO may be limited by the contractual balance of the related former loan, and when this occurs, OREO is not considered to be carried at fair value or included in the fair value hierarchy disclosures. OREO is reviewed and evaluated on at least an annual basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly, based on the same factors identified above. The Company recovers the carrying value of OREO through the sale of the property. The ability to affect future sales prices is subject to market conditions and factors beyond the Company’s control and may impact the estimated fair value of a property.
29
Originated mortgage servicing rights are recorded at their fair value at the time of sale of the underlying loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the estimated period of net servicing income. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model incorporating inputs that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income. Such inputs include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds and are considered to be unobservable and contribute to the Level 3 classification of mortgage servicing rights. In accordance with GAAP, the Company records impairment charges, on a nonrecurring basis, when the carrying value of a stratum exceeds its estimated fair value. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. There was a valuation allowance of approximately $0.1 million at December 31, 2024. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025 the Company recognized a $0.1 million impairment recovery resulting in no valuation allowance at September 30, 2025.
The Company has recorded contingent consideration liabilities that arise from acquisition activity. The contingent consideration is recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. The valuation of contingent consideration is calculated using an income approach method, which provides an estimation of the fair value of an asset or liability based on future cash flows over a discrete projection period, discounted to present value using an appropriate rate of return. The assumptions used in the valuation calculation are based on significant unobservable inputs, therefore such valuations classify as Level 3.
During the first quarter of 2025, the Company made the final required payment for the CPD contract holdback contingent consideration of $0.1 million and the first required payment for the CPD revenue-based contingent consideration arrangement of $0.6 million. During the third quarter of 2025, the Company made aggregate payments of $0.5 million for contingent consideration arrangements related to a OneGroup acquisition in 2023 and BPA acquisition made in 2025.
The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. The Company did not recognize an impairment charge during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. See Note F for more detail.
The Company determines fair values based on quoted market values, where available, estimates of present values, or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including, but not limited to, 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, may not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of fair value of assets classified as Level 3 on a recurring or non-recurring basis are as follows:
Significant Unobservable
Fair Value at
Input Range
(000's omitted, except per loan data)
Valuation Technique
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Weighted Average)
Fair value of collateral
Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment
27.2
6.8% - 27.2% (27.0%)
Discounted cash flow
Embedded servicing value
1.0
Weighted average constant prepayment rate
10.5% - 18.9% (11.1%)
Weighted average discount rate
4.9% - 5.5% (5.4%)
Discount rate
12.2% - 18.4% (14.7%)
Probability of achievement
30.0% - 82.0% (65.6%)
9.0% - 93.1% (51.0%)
16.1% - 22.8% (16.6%)
5.3% - 5.6% (5.6%)
18.4
82.0
The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of the fair value of assets classified as Level 3 have an inherent measurement uncertainty that, if changed, could result in higher or lower fair value measurements of these assets as of the reporting date. The weighted average of the estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment for individually assessed loans was calculated by dividing the total of the book value of the collateral of the individually assessed loans classified as Level 3 by the total of the fair value of the collateral of the individually assessed loans classified as Level 3. The weighted average of the estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment for other real estate owned was calculated by dividing the total of the differences between the appraisal values of the real estate and the book values of the real estate divided by the totals of the appraisal values of the real estate. The weighted average of the constant prepayment rate for mortgage servicing rights was calculated by adding the constant prepayment rates used in each loan pool weighted by the balance in each loan pool. The weighted average of the discount rate for mortgage servicing rights was calculated by adding the discount rates used in each loan pool weighted by the balance in each loan pool. The weighted average of the discount rate for the contingent consideration was calculated by adding the discount rates used for the calculation of the fair value of each payment of contingent consideration, weighted by the amount of the payment as part of the total fair value of contingent consideration. The weighted average of the probability of achievement was determined by calculating the proportion of the probability-weighted payment of the total maximum payment, weighted by the amount of the payment as part of the total fair value of contingent consideration.
Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial instruments that are not accounted for at fair value at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are presented below. The table presented below excludes other financial instruments for which the carrying value approximates fair value including cash and cash equivalents, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable.
Financial assets:
Net loans
10,574,472
9,969,696
Held-to-maturity securities
Financial liabilities:
Deposits
14,046,118
13,428,682
Other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
462,875
471,305
610,646
620,045
The following is a further description of the principal valuation methods used by the Company to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments.
Loans have been classified as a Level 3 valuation. Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values. Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality.
The fair values of held-to-maturity U.S. Treasury investment securities are based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using quoted market prices for similar securities or model-based valuation techniques. Held-to-maturity U.S. Treasury securities have been classified as a Level 1 valuation. Held-to-maturity government agency mortgage-backed securities have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair values of held-to-maturity government agency mortgage-backed securities are based on current market rates for similar products.
Deposits have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings accounts and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of time deposit obligations are based on current market rates for similar securities.
Borrowings have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of overnight borrowings and securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term, is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. Fair values for other FHLB borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar securities.
Other financial assets and liabilities: cash and cash equivalents have been classified as a Level 1 valuation, while accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair values of each approximate the respective carrying values because the instruments are payable on demand or have short-term maturities and present relatively low credit risk and interest rate risk.
NOTE K: DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company is party to derivative financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage its exposure to fluctuation in interest rates and credit risk. These financial instruments have been limited to interest rate swap agreements and risk participation agreements. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company enters into interest rate swaps to assist customers in managing their interest rate risk. These swaps are considered derivatives, but are not designated as hedging relationships. These instruments have associated interest rate and credit risk. To mitigate the interest rate risk, the Company enters into offsetting interest rate swaps with counterparties, which are also considered derivatives and are not designated as hedging relationships. Interest rate swaps are recorded within other assets or accrued interest and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of condition at their estimated fair value. The terms of the interest rate swaps with the customer and the counterparties offset each other, with the only difference being counterparty credit risk. Any changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts are reported in other banking services noninterest revenue in the consolidated statements of income.
Risk Participation Agreements
The Company may enter into a risk participation agreement (“RPA”) with another institution as a means to assume a portion of the credit risk associated with a loan structure which includes a derivative instrument, in exchange for fee income commensurate with the risk assumed, referred to as an “RPA sold”. In addition, in an effort to reduce the credit risk associated with an interest rate swap agreement with a borrower for whom the Company has provided a loan structured with a derivative, the Company may purchase an RPA from an institution participating in the facility in exchange for a fee commensurate with the risk shared, referred to as an “RPA purchased”.
Forward Sales Commitments
The Company enters into forward sales commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans, and interest rate lock commitments to fund loans at a specified interest rate. The forward sales commitments are utilized to reduce interest rate risk associated with interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale. Changes in the estimated fair value of the forward sales commitments and interest rate lock commitments subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time. At inception and during the life of the interest rate lock commitment, the Company includes the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan as part of the fair value measurement of the interest rate lock commitments.
Notional values and fair values of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows:
Derivative Assets
Derivative Liabilities
Consolidated
Notional
Statement of
Condition Location
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under Subtopic 815-20:
6,696
Interest rate swaps
388,999
RPA sold
53,139
RPA purchased
69,388
Total derivatives
465,083
7,992
442,138
9,027
767
210,931
13,170
56,306
277,031
2,871
224,101
The notional amount for interest rate swaps represents the underlying principal amount used to calculate interest payments that are exchanged periodically. The notional amount for risk participation agreements represents the amount of exposure assumed or shared in case of borrower default. The notional amount for commitments to originate real estate loans for sale represents the unpaid principal amount of loans that have been committed to originate.
Fee income earned on interest rate swaps and risk participation agreements is recognized in other banking services noninterest revenues in the consolidated statements of income during the period the derivative instrument is executed. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recognized $0.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of fee income associated with interest rate swaps and risk participation agreements and $1.0 million and $1.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
Cash collateral is posted by the Company with counterparties to secure certain derivatives, which is restricted cash and is included in cash and cash equivalents on the consolidated statements of condition. The amount of such collateral was $14.8 million and $5.1 million at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
The Company assessed its counterparty risk at September 30, 2025 and determined any credit risk inherent in the derivative contracts was not material. Further information about the fair value of derivative financial instruments can be found in Note J to these consolidated financial statements.
NOTE L: SEGMENT INFORMATION
Operating segments are components of an enterprise, which are evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s CODM is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company has identified (1) Banking and Corporate, (2) Employee Benefit Services, (3) Insurance Services, and (4) Wealth Management Services as its reportable segments and determined that segment adjusted income before income taxes is the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation. See “Note A Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025, for further detail on the factors used to identify the Company’s reportable segments and reported measure of segment profit or loss.
CBNA operates the Banking and Corporate segment that provides a wide array of lending and depository-related products and services to individuals, businesses, and governmental units with branch locations in Upstate New York as well as Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. In addition to these general intermediation services, the Banking and Corporate segment provides treasury management solutions and payment processing services. The Banking and Corporate segment also includes certain corporate overhead-related expenses.
The Employee Benefit Services segment, which includes the operating subsidiaries of BPA, BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services, LLC, BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Northeast Retirement Services, LLC, Global Trust Company, Inc., and Hand Benefits & Trust Company, provides employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, retirement plan and health savings account administration, fund administration, transfer agency, actuarial, and health and welfare consulting services.
The Insurance Services segment includes the operating subsidiary OneGroup, a full-service insurance agency offering personal and commercial lines of insurance and other risk management products and services, as well as the Company’s equity method investment in Leap.
The Wealth Management Services segment is comprised of wealth management services including trust services provided by the Nottingham Trust division within the Bank, broker-dealer and investment advisory services provided by Nottingham Investment Services, Inc. and Nottingham Wealth Partners, Inc., as well as asset management services provided by Nottingham Advisors, Inc.
The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in “Note A Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025, except as follows. Segment operating revenues exclude certain items considered non-core to the operating performance of the business including realized and unrealized gains or losses on investment securities. Significant segment expenses are the expense categories significant to the segment, regularly provided to or easily computed from information regularly provided to the CODM and included in segment adjusted income before income taxes. Segment adjusted income before income taxes also excludes certain items considered non-core to the operating performance of the business including amortization of intangible assets, acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, litigation accrual and restructuring expenses. Both segment operating revenues and significant segment expenses include certain intersegment activity associated with transactions between the segments and are eliminated in consolidation. Segment assets include certain segment cash balances held as deposits with CBNA and are eliminated in consolidation.
The CODM uses segment adjusted income before income taxes to measure performance and allocate resources, including employees, property and financial or capital resources, for all of the Company’s segments. The CODM considers current period actual-to-current period budget and current period actual-to-prior period actual variances on a monthly basis for each of the Company’s segments along with comparisons of the actual segment results with one another. Segment adjusted income before income taxes is also used as a factor in the determination of incentive compensation for key employees of the segments including the segment leaders.
There are no transactions with a single customer that result in revenues that exceed ten percent of consolidated total revenues.
Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:
Employee
Wealth
Banking and
Benefit
Insurance
Management
Corporate
Services
Net interest income from external customers
128,025
140
Noninterest revenues from external customers
20,867
34,665
14,136
8,983
78,651
Revenues from external customers
148,892
34,805
206,816
Intersegment revenues
(462)
1,160
83
545
1,326
Total segment operating revenues
148,430
35,965
14,219
9,528
208,142
Reconciliation of revenues (segment operating revenues):
Elimination of intersegment revenues
(1,326)
Other revenues (a)
Total consolidated revenues
207,052
Less segment expenses: (b)
47,226
15,962
8,760
5,458
16,276
1,069
798
10,004
892
422
2,262
2,153
110
4,198
122
243
Other segment items (c)
6,597
1,266
Total segment expenses
92,127
21,464
10,977
6,636
Segment adjusted income before income taxes
56,303
14,501
3,242
2,892
76,938
Reconciliation of profit or loss (segment adjusted income before income taxes):
(3,258)
Acquisition expenses
(747)
Total consolidated income before income taxes
Other segment disclosures:
Interest income
177,144
602
57
157
177,960
Reconciliation of interest income:
Elimination of intersegment interest income
(677)
Total consolidated interest income
Interest expense
49,795
Reconciliation of interest expense:
Elimination of intersegment interest expense
Total consolidated interest expense
Depreciation (d)
3,557
99
3,871
442
1,768
941
107
732,598
91,042
28,712
3,438
572
20,223
19,011
800
Segment assets
16,682,821
232,807
112,965
40,405
17,068,998
Reconciliation of segment assets:
Elimination of intersegment cash and deposits
(111,194)
Total consolidated assets
(a)Other revenues includes $236 of unrealized gain on equity securities.
(b)
The significant expense categories and amounts align with the segment-level information that is regularly provided to the CODM. Intersegment expenses are included within the amounts shown.
(c)Other segment items for each reportable segment includes:
Banking and Corporate – FDIC insurance expense, office supplies and postage expense, fraud losses and other writedowns, education, recruiting and travel expense and various miscellaneous expenses partially offset by a benefit related to the non-service related components of the Company's pension.
Employee Benefit Services – Certain intersegment technology and rent related overhead expense allocations, education, recruiting and travel expense, office supplies and postage expense and various miscellaneous expenses partially offset by a benefit related to the non-service related components of the Company's pension.
Insurance Services – Education, recruiting and travel expense, certain intersegment technology and rent related overhead expense allocations and various miscellaneous expenses partially offset by a benefit related to the non-service related components of the Company's pension.
Wealth Management Services – Education, recruiting and travel expense, certain intersegment technology and rent related overhead expense allocations and various miscellaneous expenses partially offset by a benefit related to the non-service related components of the Company's pension.
(d)The amount of depreciation disclosed by reportable segment is included within the data processing and communications and occupancy and equipment expense captions.
35
112,609
20,260
33,544
8,895
76,351
132,869
33,680
189,096
(545)
1,178
485
1,175
132,324
34,858
13,709
9,380
190,271
(1,175)
(154)
188,942
48,011
16,060
8,781
5,924
13,371
997
871
654
9,106
961
392
147
2,355
1,188
194
171
4,068
244
7,259
393
348
91,879
19,621
10,830
7,376
40,445
15,237
2,879
2,004
60,565
(3,369)
(66)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments
Litigation accrual
(102)
163,765
723
137
164,663
(763)
51,918
3,077
198
105
3,431
711
1,715
774
89,293
27,167
3,435
852,493
5,797
780
25,069
15,156
1,328
42,333
16,171,950
221,671
71,014
36,253
16,500,888
(96,188)
16,404,700
(a)Other revenues includes $255 of realized loss on investment securities and $101 of unrealized gain on equity securities.
(d)The amount of depreciation disclosed by reportable segment is included within the data processing and communications and occupancy and equipment expense captions
372,727
398
59,411
100,230
41,725
27,585
228,951
432,138
100,628
602,076
3,345
1,648
3,907
430,824
103,973
41,953
29,233
605,983
(3,907)
602,556
142,998
48,591
25,991
43,716
3,348
2,706
31,296
2,729
1,254
400
8,332
5,149
405
10,765
689
20,278
4,095
1,311
427
273,756
64,121
32,356
20,357
157,068
39,852
9,597
8,876
215,393
(10,109)
Restructuring expenses
(1,525)
(815)
50
517,411
1,798
519,775
(1,967)
146,650
10,185
528
307
152
1,730
5,259
2,748
(a)Other revenues includes $480 of unrealized gain on equity securities.
(d)
The amount of depreciation disclosed by reportable segment is included within the data processing and communications and occupancy and equipment expense captions.
328,750
394
57,511
98,000
26,796
220,375
386,261
98,394
549,519
(1,501)
3,410
159
1,497
3,565
384,760
101,804
38,227
28,293
553,084
(3,565)
497
550,016
136,292
47,422
25,419
17,739
37,905
3,063
2,533
2,014
28,206
2,897
1,152
463
7,294
3,824
582
10,496
811
20,389
2,805
771
257,147
60,160
31,598
21,419
127,613
41,644
6,629
6,874
182,760
(10,822)
(205)
(221)
473,203
2,048
396
475,752
(2,155)
146,608
9,066
579
310
2,539
5,221
2,494
568
(a)Other revenues includes $487 of realized loss on investment securities and $984 of unrealized gain on equity securities.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) primarily reviews the financial condition and results of operations of Community Financial System, Inc. (the “Company” or “CFSI”) as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, although in some circumstances the first and second quarters of 2025 are also discussed in order to more fully explain recent trends. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 3 through 38. All references in the discussion of the financial condition and results of operations refer to the consolidated position and results of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Unless otherwise noted, the term “this year” and equivalent terms refers to results in calendar year 2025, “last year” and equivalent terms refer to calendar year 2024, “third quarter” refers to the three months ended September 30, 2025, “YTD” refers to the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and earnings per share (“EPS”) figures refer to diluted EPS.
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, and business of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 63.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
As a result of the complex and dynamic nature of the Company’s business, management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying the most appropriate accounting policies for its various areas of operations. The policy decision process not only ensures compliance with the current accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), but also reflects management’s discretion with regard to choosing the most suitable methodology for reporting the Company’s financial performance. It is management’s opinion that the accounting estimates covering certain aspects of the business have more significance than others due to the relative importance of those areas to overall performance, or the level of subjectivity in the selection process. These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could meaningfully differ from these estimates. Management considers its critical accounting estimates those that involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Management believes that the critical accounting estimates include the allowance for credit losses; actuarial assumptions associated with the pension, post-retirement and other employee benefit plans; and the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets. A summary of the critical accounting policies and estimates used by management is disclosed in the MD&A on pages 39-40 of the most recent Form 10-K (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2025. There have been no material changes other than those described below regarding the Allowance for Credit Losses. A summary of new accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note C, “Accounting Policies” on page 12 of this Form 10-Q.
The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) represents management’s judgment of an estimated amount of lifetime losses expected to be incurred on outstanding loans at the balance sheet date. This is estimated using relevant available information from internal and external sources relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The determination of the appropriateness of the ACL is complex and applies significant and highly subjective estimates. The ACL is measured on a collective (pooled) basis for loan segments that share similar risk characteristics, including collateral type, credit ratings/scores, size, duration, interest rate structure, origination vintage and payment structure. The Company utilizes three methods for calculating the ACL: cumulative loss, vintage loss and line loss. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected future credit losses in all three methodologies. Qualitative adjustments are made for differences in loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, acquisition status, current levels of delinquencies, net charge-offs and risk ratings, as well as actual and forecasted macroeconomic variables. Macroeconomic data includes unemployment rates, changes in collateral values such as home prices, commercial real estate prices including office property-specific price forecasts, office property-specific vacancy rates, automobile prices, gross domestic product, and median household income net of inflation. Management utilizes judgment in determining and applying the qualitative factors and weighting the economic scenarios used, which include baseline, upside and downside forecasts. During the first quarter of 2025, the Company updated the ACL model to add 2024 data into the historical data used for calculating the quantitative and qualitative factors as part of the annual model update procedures. In addition, management adjusted the weighting of the three economic scenarios, increasing the weight for the downside scenario from 30% to 40% and decreasing the weight of the upside scenario from 30% to 20%, to capture additional economic uncertainty. The Company also added additional reserves for business lending to capture additional risk in the portfolio due to the increase in size and volume of business loans, which was further increased in the second quarter of 2025. The change in weighting of the economic scenarios increased the ACL by $0.7 million as compared to the prior weighting in use at December 31, 2024. The additional business lending qualitative factor increased the ACL by $6.9 million as compared to the prior factor in use at December 31, 2024.
One of the most significant estimates and judgments influencing the results of the ACL calculation is the macroeconomic forecasts. Changes in these economic forecasts could significantly affect the estimated expected credit losses and lead to materially different amounts from one period to the next. To illustrate the sensitivity of the ACL calculation to these economic forecasts, management performed a hypothetical sensitivity analysis using a weighting of 100% to the downside forecast, rather than the existing weighting of baseline, upside and downside of 40%, 20% and 40%, respectively. The scenario-weighted average unemployment rate and GDP growth forecasts used in the ACL model at September 30, 2025 were 5.4% and 1.2%, respectively, compared to 4.8% and 1.8%, respectively, at December 31, 2024. The hypothetical downside forecast includes assumptions of a weakening economy represented by a cumulative decline in real GDP of 2.6%, enhanced geopolitical tensions, elevated inflation, a peak unemployment rate of 8.4% and an average unemployment rate of 7.0%. The Company calculated that this hypothetical scenario would increase the ACL and provision for credit losses as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 by approximately $3.6 million, and decrease net income by $2.7 million (net of tax). This change is reflective of the sensitivity of the various economic factors used in the ACL model. The resulting difference is not intended to represent an expected increase in allowance levels, as future conditions are uncertain and there are several other quantitative and qualitative factors that will also fluctuate at the same time that economic conditions are changing, which would affect the results of the ACL calculation. The impact that the economic factors have on the model is affected by the upside or downside severity of the scenarios used, the product type mix, and the interaction of the economic factors with other quantitative and qualitative factors in the model, as changes in any particular factor or input may not occur at the same rate or be directionally consistent across all loan segments. Improvements in one factor may offset deterioration in other factors, both qualitative and quantitative. The third-party downside economic forecast used in the hypothetical scenario described does not predict a severe economic downturn, but rather a moderate recessionary environment. The Company’s geographic distribution of loans primarily outside of major metropolitan areas, combined with low statistical correlation between its historical losses and national economic indicators is reflected in the current methodology that would produce changes to the allowance that are less significant as compared to economic metric-based modeling that is more directly correlated, and therefore sensitive, to fluctuations in historical and projected national economic activity.
40
Supplemental Reporting of Non-GAAP Results of Operations
The Company also provides supplemental reporting of its results on an “operating” or “tangible” basis. Results on an “operating” basis exclude the after-tax effects of acquisition expenses, litigation accrual, restructuring expenses, loss on sales of investment securities, unrealized gain on equity securities and amortization of intangible assets. Results on a “tangible” basis exclude goodwill and intangible asset balances, net of accumulated amortization and applicable deferred tax amounts. Although these items are non-GAAP measures, the Company’s management believes this information helps investors and analysts measure underlying core performance and improves comparability to other organizations that have not engaged in acquisition activity. In addition, the Company provides supplemental reporting for “operating pre-tax, pre-provision net revenues,” which excludes the provision for credit losses, acquisition expenses, litigation accrual, restructuring expenses, loss on sales of investment securities, unrealized gain on equity securities and amortization of intangible assets from income before income taxes. Although operating pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue is a non-GAAP measure, the Company’s management believes this information helps investors and analysts measure and compare the Company’s performance through a credit cycle by excluding the volatility in the provision for credit losses associated with Current Expected Credit Loss (“CECL”) allowance methods, helps investors and analysts measure underlying core performance and improves comparability to other organizations that have not engaged in acquisitions. The Company also provides supplemental reporting of its interest income, net interest income and net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis, which includes an adjustment to interest income and net interest income that represents taxes that would have been paid had nontaxable investment securities and loans been taxable. Although fully tax-equivalent interest income, net interest income and net interest margin are non-GAAP measures, the Company’s management believes this information helps enhance comparability of the performance of assets that have different tax profiles. Reconciliations of GAAP amounts with corresponding non-GAAP amounts are presented in Table 14.
Executive Summary
The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a diversified financial services enterprise providing a broad array of banking and other financial services, including employee benefit services, insurance services and wealth management services, to retail, commercial, institutional and governmental customers. The Company’s banking subsidiary is Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank” or “CBNA”). The Company’s Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPAS”) subsidiary is a leading provider of employee benefits administration, trust services, collective investment fund administration and actuarial consulting services to customers on a national scale. In addition, the Company offers comprehensive financial planning, trust administration and wealth management services through its Nottingham Financial Group operating unit and insurance services through its OneGroup NY, Inc. (“OneGroup”) subsidiary.
The Company’s core operating objectives are: (i) maintain diverse revenue streams to achieve positive operating results in all four of the Company’s business units: banking and corporate, employee benefit services, insurance services, and wealth management services, (ii) increase the noninterest component of total revenues through both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) optimize the branch network and digital banking delivery systems, primarily through disciplined acquisition strategies, de novo expansions and divestitures/consolidations, (iv) build profitable loan and deposit bases using both organic and acquisition strategies, (v) utilize technology to deliver customer-responsive products and services and improve efficiencies, and (vi) manage an investment securities portfolio to complement the Company’s loan and deposit strategies and mitigate interest rate and liquidity risk and optimize net interest income generation.
Significant factors reviewed by management to evaluate achievement of the Company’s operating objectives, results and financial condition include, but are not limited to: net income and earnings per share; return on assets and equity; components of net interest margin; noninterest revenues; noninterest expenses; asset quality metrics; loan and deposit growth; capital management; performance of individual banking and financial services units; performance of specific product lines and customers; liquidity and interest rate sensitivity; enhancements to customer products and services and their underlying performance characteristics; technology advancements; market share; peer comparisons; the performance of recently acquired businesses and the performance of recently opened and consolidated branch offices.
Third quarter 2025 net income increased $11.2 million, or 25.5%, compared to the third quarter of 2024, while YTD net income increased $23.3 million, or 17.6% compared to the equivalent 2024 timeframe. Earnings per share of $1.04 for the third quarter of 2025 was $0.21 more than the third quarter of 2024, while 2025 YTD earnings per share of $2.94 was $0.44 higher than 2024 YTD earnings per share. The quarterly and YTD increases in net income and earnings per share were primarily driven by increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues and a decrease in the provision for credit losses, partially offset by increases in noninterest expenses and income taxes.
Net interest margin increased 27 basis points between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025 and 26 basis points on a YTD basis, while fully tax-equivalent net interest margin, a non-GAAP measure, increased 28 basis points between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025 and 27 basis points on a YTD basis. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased 16 basis points compared to the prior year’s third quarter and 21 basis points compared to the prior YTD period, as the yield on average loans and average investments (including cash equivalents) both improved. The yield on average loans for the third quarter increased 17 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2024 and 25 basis points between comparable YTD periods. The yield on average investments, including cash equivalents, increased 7 basis points compared to the prior year’s third quarter and 5 basis points on a YTD basis. The Company’s total cost of funds decreased 11 basis points from last year’s third quarter and 4 basis points YTD compared to the prior year, as the rate paid on interest-bearing deposits and the rate paid on borrowings both decreased.
Loan balances increased on both an average and ending basis as compared to the prior year third quarter and YTD period, reflective of organic loan growth between the periods. Deposit balances also increased on both an average and ending basis as compared to the third quarter of 2024 and YTD comprised of organic growth in both governmental and non-governmental deposit balances. Investment balances increased on both an average and ending basis as compared to the prior year third quarter and YTD period, driven by purchases of mortgage-backed securities between the periods. Borrowing balances decreased on both an average and ending basis compared to the third quarter of 2024 and YTD reflective of growth in deposit balances outpacing loan growth.
The Company recorded a $5.6 million provision for credit losses during the third quarter and $16.4 million for YTD 2025 resulting in a $2.1 million and $0.2 million lower provision for credit losses than comparable prior year periods, respectively. Third quarter credit quality metrics remain relatively favorable compared to the banking industry. Net charge-offs were $2.5 million, or an annualized 0.09% of average loans, for the third quarter and $10.8 million, or an annualized 0.14% of average loans, for the first nine months of 2025, compared to net charge-offs of $2.8 million, or an annualized 0.11% of average loans, for the prior year’s third quarter and $6.9 million, or an annualized 0.09% of average loans, for the first nine months of 2024. The nonperforming loan ratio of 0.52% at September 30, 2025 decreased 9 basis points from September 30, 2024 and decreased 18 basis points from December 31, 2024 primarily driven by the resolution of two nonperforming business lending relationships in the second quarter. The 30 to 89 day delinquent loan ratio remained low at 0.48%, up slightly from 0.46% at the end of the third quarter of 2024 and down from 0.54% at December 31, 2024.
Banking services noninterest revenues, comprised of deposit service charges and fees, mortgage banking and other banking revenues, increased $0.6 million, or 2.8%, as compared to the prior year’s third quarter, and increased $1.8 million, or 3.1%, between the comparable YTD periods. The YTD growth was primarily due to an increase in other banking revenues driven by increases in bank-owned life insurance income and customer interest rate swap fee revenues. Nonbanking financial services revenues, comprised of employee benefit services, insurance services and wealth management services revenues, increased $1.7 million, or 3.1%, as compared to the prior year’s third quarter and increased $6.7 million, or 4.2%, compared to the prior YTD period, reflecting revenue growth in all three businesses.
Noninterest expenses increased $4.1 million, or 3.3%, between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025 and increased $21.4 million, or 5.9%, between September YTD 2024 and September YTD 2025. The quarterly increase was primarily due to data processing and communications expenses that increased $3.2 million, or 20.3%, combined with lesser increases in occupancy and equipment expenses, legal and professional fees and other expenses, partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits expenses driven by medical rebates and a decrease in performance-based incentive compensation expenses for certain business units. The YTD increase was primarily driven by salaries and employee benefits that increased $7.5 million, or 3.3%, and data processing and communications expenses that increased $6.4 million, or 14.1%, along with lesser increases in occupancy and equipment expenses, legal and professional fees and other expenses. The YTD increase in salaries and employee benefits was driven by merit and market-related increases in employee wages. The increases in data processing and communications expenses reflected the Company’s continued investment in technology initiatives and included a $1.4 million consulting expense in connection with a contract renegotiation with its core system provider which is expected to result in lower future core system costs. Occupancy and equipment expenses included incremental costs associated with the opening of de novo bank branches between the periods.
42
Third quarter and YTD operating net income, a non-GAAP measure, increased $11.4 million, or 24.5%, as compared to the third quarter of 2024 and increased $24.6 million, or 17.4%, compared to September YTD 2024. Third quarter and YTD operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, increased $0.21 compared to the third quarter of 2024 and increased $0.47 compared to September YTD 2024. Third quarter and YTD operating pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share, a non-GAAP measure, increased $0.27 compared to the third quarter of 2024 and increased $0.62 compared to September YTD 2024. These results demonstrate improvement in the Company’s core operating performance between the periods, particularly net interest margin expansion.
Net Income and Profitability
As shown in Table 1, net income for the third quarter and September YTD of $55.1 million and $156.0 million, respectively, increased $11.2 million, or 25.5%, as compared to the third quarter of 2024 and increased $23.3 million, or 17.6%, compared to September YTD 2024. Earnings per share of $1.04 for the third quarter of 2025 was $0.21 higher than the third quarter of 2024, while earnings per share for the first nine months of 2025 of $2.94 was $0.44 higher than the first nine months of 2024. The increase in net income and earnings per share for the quarter and the YTD period was the result of increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues, as well as a decrease in the provision for credit losses, partially offset by increases in noninterest expenses and income taxes. Operating net income, a non-GAAP measure, of $58.1 million and $165.5 million for the third quarter and September YTD 2025, respectively, increased $11.4 million, or 24.5%, as compared to the third quarter of 2024 and increased $24.6 million, or 17.4%, compared to September YTD 2024. Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, of $1.09 for the third quarter increased $0.21 compared to the third quarter of 2024, while operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, of $3.12 for the first nine months of 2025 increased $0.47 compared to the first nine months of 2024.
As reflected in Table 1, third quarter net interest income of $128.2 million increased $15.4 million, or 13.7%, from the comparable prior year period. Net interest income of $373.1 million for the first nine months of 2025 increased $44.0 million, or 13.4%, compared to the first nine months of 2024. The quarterly and YTD increases were the result of higher yields on interest-earning assets, a decrease in the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities and an increase in interest-earning assets from organic loan growth.
Reflective of a relatively stable economic environment and an increase in loans outstanding, the provision for credit losses of $5.6 million for the third quarter and $16.4 million for September YTD decreased $2.1 million and $0.2 million as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively. While certain macroeconomic concerns persist related to non-owner occupied and multifamily CRE, the Company’s exposure to these portfolios remains diverse both geographically and by property type, and relatively low at 15% of total assets and 24% of total loans.
Third quarter and year-to-date noninterest revenues were $78.9 million and $229.4 million, respectively, up $2.7 million, or 3.5%, from the third quarter of 2024 and up $8.6 million, or 3.9%, from the first nine months of 2024. Total operating noninterest revenues, a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter and September YTD were $78.7 million and $229.0 million, respectively, an increase of $2.3 million, or 3.0%, and $8.6 million, or 3.9%, from the prior third quarter and YTD period, respectively. The increase over the prior year third quarter was driven by a $1.7 million, or 3.1%, increase in nonbanking financial services business revenues and a $0.6 million, or 2.8%, increase in banking noninterest revenues. The increase over the prior September YTD period was driven by a $6.7 million, or 4.2%, increase in nonbanking financial services business revenues and a $1.8 million, or 3.1%, increase in banking noninterest revenues.
Noninterest expenses of $128.3 million and $382.7 million for the third quarter and September YTD periods, respectively, reflected an increase of $4.1 million, or 3.3%, from the third quarter of 2024 and an increase of $21.4 million, or 5.9%, from the first nine months of 2024. The increase in noninterest expenses for the third quarter was primarily due to increases in data processing and communications expenses, occupancy and equipment expenses, legal and professional fees and acquisition expenses, partially offset by a decrease in salaries and employee benefits expenses. The increase in noninterest expenses for the YTD period was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, data processing and communications, occupancy and equipment expenses, legal and professional fees and other expenses. The increase in noninterest expenses also includes the impact of $1.5 million of restructuring expenses in the second quarter of 2025 associated with severance payments accrued for a workforce optimization plan due to planned branch consolidations and other operational initiatives. Operating noninterest expenses increased $3.5 million, or 2.9%, from the prior year third quarter, and $20.1 million, or 5.7%, from the prior September YTD.
The effective income tax rates were 24.7% and 23.3% for third quarter and YTD 2025, respectively, as compared to 23.0% and 22.9% for the comparable prior year periods.
A condensed income statement is as follows:
Table 1: Condensed Income Statements
(000's omitted, except per share data)
Noninterest revenues
Noninterest expenses
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
53,036
53,075
53,120
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the amount by which interest, dividends and fees on interest-earning assets (loans, investments and cash equivalents) exceeds the cost of funds, which consists primarily of interest paid to the Company's depositors and interest paid on borrowings. Net interest margin is the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities as a percentage of interest-earning assets.
Net interest income totaled $128.2 million for the third quarter of 2025 compared to $112.7 million for the third quarter of 2024. As shown in Table 2a, fully tax-equivalent net interest income, a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter was $129.0 million, an increase of $15.4 million from the prior year third quarter. The increase was driven by a 16 basis point increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets, a $596.7 million increase in average interest-earning asset balances and a 17 basis point decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a $479.8 million increase in average interest-bearing liability balances in comparison to the third quarter of 2024. As reflected in Table 3 for the quarter, the favorable net interest income impacts of the volume increase in average interest-earning asset balances of $6.8 million, the increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets of $6.6 million and the decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities of $4.3 million were partially offset by the volume increase in average interest-bearing liability balances of $2.3 million.
Net interest income totaled $373.1 million for the first nine months of 2025 compared to $329.1 million for the first nine months of 2024. As reflected in Table 2b, September YTD fully tax-equivalent net interest income, a non-GAAP measure, of $375.8 million increased $43.8 million, or 13.2%, from the year-earlier period. The September YTD increase resulted from a $623.0 million increase in average interest-earning asset balances and a 21 basis point increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets and a 9 basis point decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a $547.4 million increase in average interest-bearing liability balances. As reflected in Table 3 for September YTD, the favorable net interest income impacts of the increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets of $23.3 million, the volume increase in average interest-earning asset balances of $20.7 million and the decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities of $7.9 million were partially offset by the negative impact from the volume increase in average interest-bearing liability balances of $8.2 million.
Net interest margin of 3.30% and fully tax-equivalent net interest margin, a non-GAAP measure, of 3.33% for the third quarter of 2025 increased 27 and 28 basis points, respectively, compared to their respective prior year periods. September YTD net interest margin of 3.26% and fully tax-equivalent net interest margin, a non-GAAP measure, of 3.29%, increased 26 and 27 basis points, respectively, compared to their respective prior year periods. The increase was primarily the result of higher yields on interest-earning assets and a higher proportion of those assets being comprised of higher yielding loan balances due to organic loan growth, as well as a decrease in the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by an increase in the balance of interest-bearing liabilities.
44
The 16 basis point increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter was the result of increases in both the yield on average loans and the yield on average investments, including cash equivalents. The yield on average loans for the third quarter increased 17 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2024. The third quarter of 2025 yield on average investments including cash equivalents increased 7 basis points compared to the prior year while the yield on average investments excluding cash equivalents increased 9 basis points for the same timeframe. The 25 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets for the first nine months of 2025 was the result of a 25 basis point increase in the yield on average loans and a 6 basis point increase in the yield on average investments, including cash equivalents, compared to the prior YTD period. Excluding cash equivalents, the yield on average investments increased 10 basis points compared to the prior YTD period. The increase in loan yields were reflective of an increase in the proportion of higher rate loans originated over recent periods and the increase of certain adjustable-rate loan yields. As the majority of the Company’s investment portfolio, excluding cash equivalents, is comprised of fixed rate securities, the increase in investment yields were driven by the maturities of certain lower-yielding available-for-sale investment securities and the purchase of certain higher-yielding government agency mortgage-backed securities between the periods.
The third quarter and YTD average book balance of investments, including cash equivalents, increased $87.8 million and $86.3 million, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods. Investment purchases outpaced sales, maturities, calls and principal payments during the third quarter and YTD periods, driven by $94.0 million of YTD government agency mortgage-backed securities purchases classified as held-to-maturity. The cash equivalents component of average interest-earning assets increased $8.1 million and $6.4 million for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Average loan balances increased $508.9 million for the quarter and $536.7 million YTD as compared to the prior year, with increases in all five major loan portfolios between both periods due to organic growth.
The rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities decreased 17 basis points compared to the prior year quarter as the average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits decreased 11 basis points and the average rate paid on external borrowings decreased 25 basis points from the comparable prior period. For the first nine months of 2025, the rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities decreased 9 basis points from the comparable prior year period as the rate paid on average interest-bearing deposits decreased 6 basis points and the rate paid on average external borrowings decreased 21 basis points. The decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing deposits and on average borrowings was due to market-related interest rate changes between the periods, as well as a change in the proportion of overnight borrowings and term borrowings to total borrowings.
Average interest-bearing deposits increased $638.6 million compared to the prior year quarter and $590.1 million compared to the prior YTD period. The quarterly and YTD increases in average interest-bearing deposits were due primarily to increases in non-time deposits, including money market, savings and interest checking deposits. The average borrowing balance, which primarily includes borrowings at the FHLB and securities sold under agreement to repurchase (customer repurchase agreements), decreased $158.9 million and $42.7 million for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively. The decrease in average borrowings from the prior year quarter and YTD periods was primarily due to the increase in deposit balances outpacing the growth of interest earning assets.
Tables 2a and 2b below sets forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the periods indicated. Interest income and yields are on an FTE basis using a marginal income tax rate of 25.3% in 2025 and 24.4% in 2024. Average balances are computed by totaling the daily ending balances in a period and dividing by the number of days in that period. Loan interest income and yields include amortization of deferred loan income and costs, loan prepayments, late and other fees and the amortization or accretion of acquired loan purchase discounts and premiums, which decreased loan interest income by $5.4 million and $15.4 million for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, and $5.2 million and $15.0 million for the prior third quarter and YTD periods, respectively. Average loan balances include acquired loan purchase discounts and premiums, nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
45
Table 2a: Quarterly Average Balance Sheet
Avg.
Average
Yield/Rate
(000's omitted except yields and rates)
Interest
Paid
Interest-earning assets:
Cash equivalents
46,550
3.92
38,481
474
4.90
Taxable investment securities (1)
4,268,660
21,567
2.00
4,165,783
20,075
1.92
Nontaxable investment securities (1)
413,663
3.29
436,762
3,586
3.27
Loans (net of unearned discount) (2)
10,664,241
152,710
5.68
10,155,343
140,637
5.51
Total interest-earning assets
15,393,114
178,163
4.59
14,796,369
164,772
4.43
Noninterest-earning assets
1,361,981
1,261,850
16,755,095
16,058,219
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
8,086,979
23,150
1.14
7,462,225
20,732
1.11
Time deposits
2,088,861
17,570
3.34
2,074,978
19,860
3.81
Customer repurchase agreements
187,845
662
1.40
241,454
1,054
1.74
151,495
1,733
4.54
212,520
3,008
5.63
FHLB and other borrowings
531,979
6,003
4.48
576,225
4.49
Total interest-bearing liabilities
11,047,159
1.76
10,567,402
1.93
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Noninterest checking deposits
3,640,964
3,611,755
185,856
169,271
Shareholders' equity
1,881,116
1,709,791
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
Net interest earnings (FTE) (non-GAAP)
129,045
113,617
Net interest spread (GAAP)
2.81
2.48
Net interest spread (FTE) (non-GAAP)
2.83
Net interest margin (GAAP)
3.30
3.03
Net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP)
3.33
3.05
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (non-GAAP) (3)
880
(1)Averages for investment securities are based on amortized cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is reflected as a component of noninterest-earning assets, shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.
(2)Includes nonaccrual loans. The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.
(3)The FTE adjustment represents taxes that would have been paid had nontaxable investment securities and loans been fully taxable.
Table 2b: Year-to-Date Average Balance Sheet
111,988
3,570
4.26
105,638
4,178
5.28
4,246,049
64,006
2.02
4,119,145
59,052
1.91
416,888
10,334
3.31
463,867
11,517
3.32
10,508,578
442,556
9,971,843
401,689
5.38
15,283,503
520,466
4.55
14,660,493
476,436
4.34
1,312,718
1,218,185
16,596,221
15,878,678
8,027,605
65,896
1.10
7,570,758
61,864
1.09
2,121,987
54,747
3.45
1,988,687
55,902
3.75
226,040
2,315
1.37
269,037
3,481
1.73
75,377
2,566
111,226
4,686
573,854
19,159
4.46
465,464
15,877
4.56
Federal Reserve short-term borrowings
72,263
2,643
4.88
11,024,863
1.75
10,477,435
1.84
3,561,663
3,572,534
175,429
153,623
1,834,266
1,675,086
375,783
331,983
2.78
2.47
2.80
3.26
3.00
3.02
2,658
2,839
As discussed above and disclosed in Table 3 below, the change in net interest income (FTE basis) may be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of the changes in interest income and interest expense for each underlying category.
Table 3: Rate/Volume
Three months ended September 30, 2025
Nine months ended September 30, 2025
versus September 30, 2024
Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)
Volume
Change
Interest earned on:
89
(103)
(14)
239
(847)
(608)
Taxable investment securities
504
988
1,492
1,854
3,100
4,954
Nontaxable investment securities
(160)
(1,163)
(20)
(1,183)
Loans (net of unearned discount)
7,191
4,882
12,073
22,154
18,713
40,867
Total interest-earning assets (2)
6,613
13,391
20,703
23,327
44,030
Interest paid on:
1,775
643
3,748
4,032
132
(2,422)
(2,290)
3,609
(4,764)
(1,155)
(210)
(182)
(392)
(317)
(849)
(1,166)
(764)
(511)
(1,275)
(1,329)
(791)
(2,120)
(499)
(498)
3,626
(344)
3,282
(2,643)
Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)
2,254
(4,291)
(2,037)
8,151
(7,921)
230
Net interest earnings (FTE) (non-GAAP) (2)
4,711
10,717
15,428
14,509
29,291
43,800
Noninterest Revenues
The Company’s sources of noninterest revenues are of four primary types: 1) general banking services related to loans, including mortgage banking, deposits and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network and digital banking channels (performed by CBNA); 2) employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, transfer agency, actuarial, benefit plan administration and recordkeeping services (performed by BPAS and its subsidiaries); 3) wealth management services, comprised of trust services (performed by the Nottingham Trust division within CBNA), broker-dealer and investment advisory products and services (performed by Nottingham Investment Services, Inc. (“NISI”) and Nottingham Wealth Partners, Inc.) and asset management services (performed by Nottingham Advisors, Inc.), collectively referred to as Nottingham Financial Group; and 4) insurance and risk management products and services (performed by OneGroup). Additionally, the Company has other activities that impact noninterest revenues, including income earned on bank owned life insurance and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investment securities.
Table 4: Noninterest Revenues
Deposit service charges and fees
8,316
8,159
24,009
23,233
Debit interchange and ATM fees
6,757
20,006
20,105
Other banking revenues
Noninterest revenues/total revenues
38.1
40.3
40.2
Operating noninterest revenues/operating revenues (FTE basis) (non-GAAP) (1)
37.9
39.9
As displayed in Table 4, noninterest revenues totaled $78.9 million for the third quarter of 2025 and $229.4 million for the first nine months of 2025. This represents an increase of $2.7 million, or 3.5%, for the quarter and an increase of $8.6 million, or 3.9%, for the YTD period in comparison to the equivalent 2024 periods. Noninterest revenues for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2024 include a $1.0 million unrealized gain on equity securities associated with the conversion of certain Visa Class B shares to Visa Class C shares. Operating noninterest revenues, a non-GAAP measure as defined in the table above, totaled $78.7 million for the third quarter of 2025, an increase of $2.3 million, or 3.0%, from the prior year’s third quarter and totaled $229.0 million for the first nine months of 2025, an increase of $8.6 million, or 3.9%, from the first nine months of 2024.
Employee benefit services revenues increased $1.2 million, or 3.6%, and $2.4 million, or 2.5%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, as compared to the equivalent prior year periods, driven by revenue growth in the recordkeeping and third-party administration services business line due in part to revenue growth from acquisitions.
Insurance services revenues increased $0.5 million, or 3.6%, and $3.7 million, or 9.6%, for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, primarily due to revenue growth from acquisitions and an increase in contingent commissions.
Wealth management services revenues were consistent for the third quarter of 2025 and increased $0.7 million, or 2.6%, for September 2025 YTD as compared to the same time periods of 2024, reflective of generally favorable market conditions.
Banking noninterest revenues increased $0.6 million, or 2.8%, between the third quarter of 2024 and 2025 and increased $1.8 million, or 3.1%, between the first nine months of 2024 and 2025. The growth between both periods was driven by increases in other banking revenues (an increase of $0.2 million for the quarter and $1.7 million YTD) and deposit service charges and fees (an increase of $0.2 million for the quarter and $0.8 million YTD). Mortgage banking revenues increased $0.1 million for the quarter and decreased $0.5 million YTD and debit interchange and ATM fees increased $0.1 million for the quarter and decreased $0.1 million YTD. The YTD increase in other banking revenues is primarily driven by an increase in bank-owned life insurance income, while the decrease in mortgage banking revenues for the YTD period was due to the prior year including a more significant increase in the value of mortgage servicing rights.
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The ratio of noninterest revenues to total revenues was 38.1% for both the third quarter of 2025 and September YTD 2025, compared to 40.3% for the prior year’s third quarter and 40.2% for September YTD 2024. The quarterly decrease was due to net interest income increasing 13.7% while noninterest revenues increased 3.5%. The YTD decrease was the result of net interest income increasing 13.4% while noninterest revenues increased 3.9%.
The ratio of operating noninterest revenues to operating revenues (FTE), a non-GAAP measure as defined in the table above, was 37.9% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to 40.2% and 39.9% for the corresponding periods of 2024. The decrease between the quarterly periods was due to an 8.1% increase in fully tax-equivalent net interest income, a non-GAAP measure, while operating noninterest revenues, a non-GAAP measure, increased 3.0%. The year-to-date decrease was a function of an 8.5% increase in fully tax-equivalent net interest income, a non-GAAP measure, while operating noninterest revenues, a non-GAAP measure, increased 3.9%.
Noninterest Expenses
Table 5 below sets forth the quarterly and YTD results of the major noninterest expense categories for the current and prior year, as well as efficiency ratios (defined below), a standard measure of expense utilization effectiveness commonly used in the banking industry.
Table 5: Noninterest Expenses
102
(50)
747
66
815
205
(156)
1,525
8,190
8,232
25,372
24,411
Noninterest expenses/average assets
3.04
3.08
Operating noninterest expenses(1) /average assets (non-GAAP)
2.99
2.98
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)
62.0
65.7
63.5
Operating efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)(2)
59.9
63.6
61.2
63.4
As shown in Table 5, the Company recorded noninterest expenses of $128.3 million and $382.7 million for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2025, respectively, representing an increase of $4.1 million, or 3.3%, and an increase of $21.4 million, or 5.9%, from the prior year periods, respectively. The change for the third quarter was primarily attributable to an increase in data processing and communications ($3.2 million), while salaries and employee benefits decreased $1.5 million. The change for the YTD period was primarily attributable to an increase in salaries and employee benefits ($7.5 million), as well as data processing and communications ($6.4 million). The remaining change to noninterest expenses is attributable to occupancy and equipment (an increase of $0.8 million for the quarter and $2.9 million YTD), business development and marketing (an increase of $0.2 million for the quarter and YTD), legal and professional fees (an increase of $0.7 million for the quarter and $2.1 million YTD), amortization of intangible assets (a decrease of $0.1 million for the quarter and $0.7 million YTD), litigation accrual (a decrease of $0.1 million for the quarter and $0.3 million YTD), acquisition expenses (an increase of $0.7 million for the quarter and $0.6 million YTD), acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments (an increase of $0.2 million for the quarter and YTD), restructuring expenses (consistent for the quarter and an increase of $1.5 million YTD) and other expenses (consistent for the quarter and an increase of $1.0 million YTD).
The decrease in salaries and benefits expense for the quarter was driven by lower employee medical costs that reflected rebates received and a decrease in performance-based incentive compensation expense for certain business units. The increases in salaries and benefits expense for the YTD period were driven by merit and market-related increases in employee wages and select staff additions. Data processing increases were reflective of the Company’s continued investment in key technologies, including artificial intelligence applications, customer payment fraud and cybersecurity risk management software, credit administration software and other workflow modernization initiatives as well as a $1.4 million consulting expense in connection with a contract renegotiation with its core system provider which is expected to result in lower future core system costs. Increases in occupancy and equipment expenses were primarily due to higher property maintenance costs along with incremental expenses associated with the Bank’s de novo branches opened between the periods. The Company also recorded $1.5 million in costs in the second quarter of 2025 that related to severance payments accrued for a workforce optimization plan due to planned branch consolidations and other consumer banking operational initiatives.
The Company’s efficiency ratio was 62.0% for the third quarter of 2025, 3.7 percentage points favorable to the comparable quarter of 2024. This resulted from total revenues increasing 9.6%, primarily due to higher net interest income, while total noninterest expenses increased 3.3% due to the factors noted above. The efficiency ratio of 63.5% for September YTD 2025 was 2.2 percentage points favorable to the 65.7% efficiency ratio for September YTD 2024. The improvement in the efficiency ratio between the comparable YTD periods was the result of total revenues increasing 9.6% primarily due to increases in net interest income, while total noninterest expenses increased 5.9% due to the factors noted above.
The Company’s operating efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure as defined in the table above, was 59.9% for the third quarter, 3.7 percentage points favorable to the comparable quarter of 2024. This resulted from operating revenues (FTE), a non-GAAP measure as described above, increasing 9.3% while operating noninterest expenses, a non-GAAP measure as described above, increased 2.9%. The Company’s operating efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure as defined in the table above, of 61.5% for the first nine months of 2025 was 1.9 percentage points favorable compared to the first nine months of 2024 due to operating revenues (FTE), a non-GAAP measure as described above, increasing by 9.5% while operating noninterest expenses, a non-GAAP measure as described above, increased 6.2%.
Annualized current quarter noninterest expenses as a percentage of average assets decreased 0.04 percentage points versus the third quarter of the prior year as noninterest expenses increased 3.0% while average assets increased 4.3%. On a YTD basis, annualized noninterest expenses as a percentage of average assets increased 0.04 percentage points as noninterest expenses increased 6.2% while average assets increased 4.5%. Noninterest expenses increased between both periods due to the factors noted above and average assets increased between both periods primarily due to interest-earning asset growth.
Annualized current quarter operating noninterest expenses, a non-GAAP measure as defined in the table above, as a percentage of average assets decreased 0.05 percentage points versus the third quarter of the prior year as noninterest expenses increased 2.9% while average assets increased 4.3%. On a YTD basis, annualized noninterest expenses as a percentage of average assets increased 0.05 percentage points as noninterest expenses increased 6.0% while average assets increased 4.5%. Noninterest expenses increased between both periods due to the factors noted above and average assets increased between both periods primarily due to interest-earning asset growth.
Income Taxes
The third quarter and YTD 2025 effective income tax rates were 24.7% and 23.3%, respectively, as compared to 23.0% and 22.9% for the comparable periods of 2024. The increases in the third quarter and YTD 2025 effective income tax rates are primarily attributable to an increase in certain state income taxes. The Company recorded a $0.1 million and $0.7 million income tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation for the third quarter and YTD 2025, respectively. The Company recorded a $0.2 million tax expense associated with stock-based compensation for YTD 2024, while the tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation was immaterial for the third quarter of 2024. The third quarter and YTD 2025 tax expense associated with the amortization of income tax credit investments was $2.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively, as compared to $0.3 million and $0.9 million for the comparable periods of 2024. The effective tax rates adjusted to exclude the income tax impact of stock-based compensation and amortization of income tax credit investments for the third quarter and YTD 2025 were 20.8% and 20.6%, respectively, as compared to 22.6% and 22.3% for the comparable periods of 2024, due to an increase in federal income tax credits associated with the Company’s investment in tax credits generated by a solar energy producing company.
Investment Securities
The carrying value of investment securities (including unrealized gains and losses) was $4.38 billion at the end of the third quarter, an increase of $162.1 million, or 3.8%, from December 31, 2024 and an increase of $93.0 million, or 2.2%, from September 30, 2024. The book value of investment securities (excluding unrealized gains and losses) of $4.68 billion at the end of the third quarter increased $53.6 million, or 1.2%, from December 31, 2024 and increased $73.1 million, or 1.6%, from September 30, 2024, driven by U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities purchases. During the first nine months of 2025, the Company purchased $92.8 million of government agency mortgage-backed securities with an average yield of 5.42%, which the Company classified as held-to-maturity. These additions were offset by $57.2 million of investment maturities, calls and principal payments during the first nine months of 2025. Additionally, there was $28.6 million of net accretion on investment securities during the first nine months of 2025. The effective duration of the investment securities portfolio was 5.6 years at the end of the third quarter of 2025, as compared to 6.2 years at the end of 2024 and 6.4 years at the end of the third quarter of 2024.
The change in the carrying value of investment securities is also impacted by the amount of net unrealized gains or losses. At September 30, 2025, the investment portfolio (excluding held-to-maturity investment securities) had a $296.0 million net unrealized loss, a $108.6 million decrease from the $404.6 million net unrealized loss at December 31, 2024 and a $19.9 million decrease from the $315.9 million net unrealized loss at September 30, 2024. These decreases were principally driven by the general downward movements in medium to long-term interest rates, as well as the volume and rates associated with the securities maturities that occurred during the past 12 months.
The following table sets forth the carrying value of the Company’s investment securities portfolio:
Table 6: Investment Securities
2,142,622
401,952
326,509
7,673
7,187
2,885,943
1,131,278
187,772
1,319,050
Equity and Other Securities:
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock
36,907
45,408
40,717
Federal Reserve Bank common stock
33,331
33,442
Other equity securities without readily determinable fair value
6,313
6,293
Total equity securities without readily determinable fair value
76,039
85,163
80,452
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value
2,106
Total equity and other securities
82,558
Total investment securities
4,380,564
4,218,386
4,287,551
Loans ended the third quarter at $10.75 billion, $317.9 million, or 3.0%, higher than December 31, 2024 and $498.6 million, or 4.9%, higher than September 30, 2024 ending loans.
Mortgages on commercial property combined with general-purpose business lending to commercial, industrial, non-profit and governmental customers and vehicle dealer floor plan financing is characterized as the Company’s business lending activity. The business lending portfolio increased $272.2 million, or 6.2%, from September 30, 2024, and $158.7 million, or 3.5%, from December 31, 2024, driven by organic growth over both periods. As compared to December 31, 2024, multifamily increased $170.9 million, or 23.6% and business non-real estate loans, including commercial and industrial lending, increased $95.6 million, or 8.4%, while non-owner occupied CRE decreased $103.4 million, or 5.8%, and owner-occupied CRE decreased $4.4 million, or 0.5%. The change from December 31, 2024 includes $52.6 million of construction loans that were reclassified from non-owner occupied to multifamily during the third quarter of 2025. While certain macroeconomic concerns persist related to non-owner occupied and multifamily CRE, the Company’s exposure to these portfolios is diverse both geographically and by industry type, and remains relatively low at 15% of total assets and 24% of total loans. CRE lending represents 73.5% of the total business lending portfolio at September 30, 2025, compared to 74.7% at December 31, 2024 and 75.1% at September 30, 2024. Other commercial and industrial lending represents the remaining 26.5% of total business lending at September 30, 2025, compared to 25.3% at December 31, 2024 and 24.9% at September 30, 2024. The Company’s largest non-owner occupied CRE lending concentration by property type is multifamily at 26.1% of total CRE lending, followed by office and commercial construction, at 10.4% and 9.4%, respectively. The Company’s largest owner-occupied lending concentration by industry is retail trade at 8.2% of total CRE lending, followed by real estate rental and leasing and arts, entertainment and recreation that comprise 2.6% and 2.4%, respectively, of total CRE lending. These levels demonstrate the Company’s diversity in the lending portfolio, as there are no significant industry or geographic concentrations, no metropolitan statistical area (“MSA”) accounting for more than 14% of the CRE portfolio and a very low level of CRE lending being conducted in major metropolitan areas. See Table 7 below for concentrations of CRE lending by borrower type and Table 8 below for concentrations of CRE by property location.
53
The business loan balance increases are reflective of continued high demand for multi-family housing, expansion of internal resources and proactive business development and pricing in the Company’s market areas, as well as the Company’s strong liquidity profile relative to competitors that creates opportunities to gain market share. The Company strives to generate growth in its business portfolio in a manner that adheres to its goals of maintaining strong credit quality and producing profitable margins. The Company continues to invest in additional personnel, technology and business development resources to further strengthen its capabilities in this important product category. To assist business lending customers in managing their interest rate risk, the Company enters into interest rate swaps which have associated interest rate and credit risk; for additional detail on the Company’s use of interest rate swaps, see Note K beginning on page 32 of this Form 10-Q.
The following table presents the concentration by borrower type of the Company’s CRE loan balances as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
Table 7: Concentrations of CRE Lending by Borrower Type
Percentage of
(000’s omitted, except percentages)
Multifamily and non-owner occupied CRE by property type:
Multifamily
26.1
21.5
Office
357,025
10.4
368,387
11.0
Commercial Construction
321,076
9.4
395,482
11.7
Lodging
316,664
9.2
336,221
10.0
Retail
265,538
7.7
256,351
7.6
Other Lessors of CRE
181,929
5.3
200,215
6.0
Warehouse/Industrial
164,516
4.8
149,722
4.5
Nursing/Assisted Living
52,989
56,159
1.7
Residential Construction
3,246
0.1
4,278
All Other
8,716
0.4
8,284
0.2
Total multifamily and non-owner occupied CRE
2,566,689
74.9
2,499,213
74.3
Owner-occupied CRE by industry:
Retail Trade
282,436
8.2
293,208
8.7
Real Estate Rental and Leasing
88,589
2.6
81,802
2.4
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
82,976
87,709
Health Care and Social Assistance
80,770
85,151
2.5
Other Services
79,167
2.3
81,688
Manufacturing
53,111
Agriculture and Forestry
51,137
51,602
Accommodation and Food Services
41,495
1.2
39,385
Wholesale Trade
22,574
0.7
25,312
0.8
Construction
18,911
0.6
16,791
0.5
Transportation and Warehousing
10,989
11,547
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
9,449
7,603
Educational Services
4,618
34,678
28,809
Total owner occupied CRE
25.1
25.7
Total CRE
3,427,088
100.0
3,363,996
54
The following table presents the geographic concentrations of the Company’s CRE loan balances by property location (MSA) as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
Table 8: Concentrations of CRE by Property Location
Multifamily CRE
Owner occupied CRE
Non-owner occupied CRE
Amortized Cost
Percentage of Total CRE
MSA:
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
98,378
2.9
101,087
249,467
7.3
448,932
13.1
Burlington-South Burlington, VT
208,300
6.1
34,613
136,640
4.0
379,553
11.1
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
103,104
3.0
57,584
141,184
4.1
301,872
8.8
Rochester, NY
37,174
1.1
100,718
145,636
4.2
283,528
Syracuse, NY
12,399
81,487
134,191
3.9
228,077
6.7
Scranton Wilkes-Barre, PA
64,078
1.9
62,752
1.8
98,987
225,817
6.6
Utica-Rome, NY
54,089
1.6
42,862
1.3
54,356
151,307
Glens Falls, NY
43,369
3,615
20,072
67,056
2.0
All Other MSA - NY(1)(2)
72,721
2.1
64,751
88,696
226,168
All Other MSA - PA(1)(2)
17,035
63,426
146,120
4.3
226,581
All Other MSA(1)
92,210
2.7
41,223
221,807
6.5
355,240
Non-MSAs:
NY
50,830
159,072
4.6
184,194
5.4
394,096
11.5
All Other Non-MSA
41,303
47,209
1.4
50,349
138,861
3.8
48.8
104,274
3.1
104,162
250,019
7.4
458,455
13.6
172,602
5.1
38,500
153,102
364,204
10.8
30,391
0.9
101,207
144,261
275,859
37,587
59,919
172,484
269,990
8.0
12,372
71,519
145,796
229,687
6.8
61,857
60,603
101,573
224,033
39,294
35,885
63,696
138,875
Ithaca, NY
30,966
12,132
23,481
66,579
87,605
60,698
107,881
3.2
256,184
17,017
63,142
97,908
178,067
50,505
43,928
249,527
343,960
10.2
53,690
161,967
198,312
5.9
413,969
12.3
25,954
51,121
67,059
144,134
4.4
52.8
The MSAs within these captions are individually less than 2% of total CRE exposure.
(2)
The MSAs within these captions include certain counties in adjacent states with a high degree of economic and social integration with the respective core city in New York or Pennsylvania.
55
Consumer mortgages increased $117.0 million, or 3.4%, from one year ago and increased $54.5 million, or 1.6%, from December 31, 2024, with the increases over both periods representing organic growth, including the impact of certain secondary market sales of new volume production. The Company sold $32.6 million and $66.7 million of consumer mortgage production during the three and nine months ended 2025, respectively. Over the past year, the Company produced organic growth in the consumer mortgage segment due to the Company’s competitive product offerings, recruitment of additional mortgage loan originators and proactive business development efforts, while also benefitting from the comparatively stable housing market conditions in the Company’s primary markets relative to the national environment. Home equity loans increased $50.0 million, or 10.8%, from one year ago and increased $33.5 million, or 7.0%, from December 31, 2024, in part a result of competitive pricing and lower levels of payoffs and paydowns related to consumer mortgage refinancing in a relatively high interest rate environment.
Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly in the branches and online (referred to as “consumer direct”) and indirectly in automobile, marine and recreational vehicle dealerships (referred to as “consumer indirect”), increased $59.4 million, or 3.0%, from one year ago, and increased $71.2 million, or 3.6%, from December 31, 2024. The moderate increases were primarily due to increasingly competitive market conditions as certain competitors increased their activities, making growth in market share and expansion of the dealer network more challenging. The Company is focused on maintaining a profitable in-market and contiguous market indirect portfolio by providing competitive market offerings to its customers and pursuing the expansion of its dealer network. These loans have historically provided attractive returns, and the Company strives to grow these key portfolios despite the strong competition from the financing subsidiaries of vehicle manufacturers and other financial intermediaries
Asset Quality
The following table sets forth the allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan category as of the end of the periods indicated, as well as the proportional share of each category’s loan balance to total loans. This allocation is based on management’s assessment, as of a given point in time, of the risk characteristics of each of the component parts of the total loan portfolio and is subject to change when the risk factors of each component part change. The allocation is not indicative of the specific amount of future net charge-offs that is expected to be incurred in each of the loan categories, nor should it be taken as an indicator of future loss trends. The allocation of the allowance to each category does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any category. As shown in Table 9, total allowance for credit losses at the end of the third quarter was $84.9 million, an increase of $8.8 million, or 11.5%, from one year earlier and an increase of $5.8 million, or 7.4%, from the end of 2024.
Table 9: Allowance for Credit Losses by Loan Type
(000’s omitted except for ratios)
Percent of Total Loan Balances
43.4
43.2
42.8
33.0
33.5
33.4
17.1
16.9
17.4
4.7
As demonstrated in Table 9, the consumer direct, consumer indirect and the business lending portfolios carry higher credit risk than the consumer mortgage and home equity portfolios; therefore, the Company allocates a higher proportional allowance to these portfolios. The unallocated allowance is maintained for potential losses not captured in the specific allowance categories due to model imprecision. The unallocated allowance of $1.0 million at September 30, 2025 was consistent with December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024.
Allowance for credit losses and loan net charge-off ratios are as follows:
Table 10: Loan Ratios
Allowance for credit losses/total loans
0.79
0.76
0.74
Allowance for credit losses/nonperforming loans
108
Nonaccrual loans/total loans
0.64
0.58
Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans
172
129
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans outstanding (quarterly):
0.03
0.13
0.08
0.02
0.33
0.31
0.27
0.97
0.68
0.92
0.07
0.05
Total loans
0.09
0.12
Net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2025 were $2.5 million, a decrease of $0.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2024. The business lending and consumer mortgage portfolios experienced lower net charge-off levels compared with the third quarter of 2024 while the consumer installment and home equity portfolios were above prior year levels. The total net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs annualized as a percentage of average loans outstanding for the quarter) for the third quarter was 0.09%, 3 basis points lower than the ratio for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2 basis points lower than the ratio for the third quarter of 2024. The net charge-off ratios for the third quarter of 2025 for the business lending and consumer mortgage portfolios were below the Company’s average for the trailing eight quarters, while the net charge-off ratio for the consumer installment and home equity portfolios were above the Company’s average for the trailing eight quarters.
Other real estate owned (“OREO”) at September 30, 2025 was $7.9 million. This compares to $2.8 million at December 31, 2024 and $2.3 million at September 30, 2024. At September 30, 2025, OREO consisted of 40 residential properties with a total value of $2.5 million and one commercial lending relationship consisting of multiple properties with an aggregate value of $5.4 million. This compares to 44 residential properties with a total value of $2.8 million and no commercial properties at December 31, 2024, and 34 residential properties with a total value of $2.3 million at September 30, 2024. The increase in OREO over the last twelve months was primarily driven by commercial OREO related to a non-owner occupied CRE loan that was charged off in the second quarter of 2025, while the increase in residential OREO is related to the Company working through a backlog of residential foreclosures that arose due to pandemic-related moratoriums that have since been lifted.
Approximately 38% of the nonperforming loans at September 30, 2025 were related to the business lending portfolio, which is comprised of business loans broadly diversified by industry, geography and property type. Of the nonperforming loans in the business lending portfolio, other commercial and industrial loans represents 60% of the balance, owner-occupied CRE represents 33% of the balance and non-owner occupied CRE represents 7% of the balance. There were no nonperforming multifamily loans at September 30, 2025. Nonperforming business loans decreased 43 basis points as compared to December 31, 2024 and decreased 23 basis points as compared to September 30, 2024. The decrease in nonperforming business loans as compared to December 31, 2024 is primarily related to the charge-off of one non-owner occupied CRE loan relationship previously mentioned and the substantial repayment of one multifamily CRE nonperforming loan relationship.
Approximately 56% of nonperforming loans at September 30, 2025 were comprised of consumer mortgages. Collateral values of residential properties within most of the Company’s market areas have generally remained stable or increased over the past several years. Inflation rates have trended lower and become more stable, and the unemployment rate remains low; this has contributed to the credit performance in the consumer mortgage loan portfolio remaining favorable. The remaining 6% of nonperforming loans relate to consumer installment and home equity loans, with home equity nonperforming loan levels being driven by the same factors that were identified for consumer mortgages. The allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans ratio, a general measure of coverage adequacy, was 152% at the end of the third quarter, as compared to 108% at year-end 2024 and 121% at September 30, 2024. The increase in this ratio versus the end of 2024 and one year ago was due to the allowance for credit losses increasing proportionally more than nonperforming loan levels.
The Company’s asset quality metrics, including net charge-offs and delinquent and nonperforming loans, remain relatively favorable compared to the banking industry, reflecting the Company’s robust risk management practices and disciplined credit quality standards.
The Company’s senior management, special asset officers and business lending management review all delinquent and nonaccrual loans and OREO regularly in order to identify deteriorating situations, monitor known problem credits and discuss any needed changes to collection efforts, if warranted. Based on this analysis, a relationship may be assigned a special assets officer or other senior lending officer to meet with the borrowers, assess the collateral and recommend an action plan. This plan could include foreclosure, restructuring loans, issuing demand letters or other actions. The Company’s larger criticized credits (greater than $2.0 million exposure) are also reviewed on a quarterly basis by banking senior management, senior credit administration management, special assets officers and business lending management to monitor their status and discuss relationship management plans. Business lending management reviews the criticized business loan portfolio on a monthly basis.
Delinquent loans (defined as loans 30 days or more past due or in nonaccrual status) as a percent of total loans was 1.00% at the end of the third quarter, 24 basis points below the 1.24% at year-end 2024 and 7 basis points below the 1.07% at September 30, 2024. The business lending delinquency ratio at the end of the third quarter of 0.51% was 47 basis points below the level of 0.98% at December 31, 2024 and 23 basis points below the level of 0.74% at September 30, 2024. The changes in the delinquent loan ratios over the indicated prior periods were related to the previously mentioned charged-off and substantially repaid CRE loans. The delinquency rates for all loan portfolios decreased as compared to the levels at December 31, 2024. The delinquency rates for business lending and home equity decreased as compared to the levels at September 30, 2024, while consumer mortgage and consumer installment increased.
The Company recorded a $5.6 million provision for credit losses in the third quarter of 2025. The third quarter provision for credit losses was $2.1 million lower than the equivalent prior year period’s provision for credit losses of $7.7 million, primarily due to strong loan growth and increase in non-economic qualitative factors in the prior year quarter. The allowance for credit losses of $84.9 million as of September 30, 2025 increased $8.8 million from the level one year ago. The current quarter provision for credit losses is primarily reflective of organic loan growth and a relatively stable economic environment. The allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio was 0.79% at September 30, 2025, 3 and 5 basis points higher than the levels at December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, respectively. Refer to Note E: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of management’s methodology used to estimate the allowance for credit losses.
As of September 30, 2025, the net purchase discount related to the $795.8 million of remaining non-purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loan balances acquired through acquisition transactions was approximately $15.4 million, or 1.9% of that portfolio.
As shown in Table 11, average deposits of $13.82 billion in the third quarter were $667.8 million, or 5.1%, higher than the third quarter of 2024 and increased $341.6 million, or 2.5%, from the fourth quarter of last year. On an ending basis, total deposits increased $615.1 million, or 4.6%, from December 31, 2024 and were $580.7 million, or 4.3%, higher than one year prior. Average noninterest checking deposits as a percentage of average total deposits was 26.4% in the third quarter compared to 27.5% in the third quarter of 2024 and 26.7% in the fourth quarter of last year. Average non-maturity deposits represented 84.9% of the Company’s average deposit funding base in the third quarter of 2025 and time deposits represented 15.1% of total average deposits. In comparison, time deposits represented 15.8% of total average deposits during the third quarter of 2024 and 16.2% of total average deposits during the fourth quarter of last year. The quarterly average cost of deposits was 1.17% for the third quarter of 2025, compared to 1.23% in the third quarter of 2024, reflective of the decrease in certain deposit interest rates as a result of changing market conditions, including a general decline in market interest rates, as well as the decrease in proportion of relatively higher-cost time deposits. The Company continues to focus on expanding its deposit relationship base through its competitive product offerings, high-quality customer service and market expansion initiatives.
58
The Company’s deposit base is well diversified across customer segments, which as of September 30, 2025 is comprised of approximately 56% consumer, 29% business and 15% governmental, and broadly dispersed with an average consumer deposit balance per account of approximately $12,000 and average business deposit relationship of approximately $82,000, while the Company’s total average deposit balance per account is under $20,000. In addition, at the end of the quarter, 64% of the Company’s total deposit balances were in checking and predominantly low-rate savings accounts and the weighted-average age of the Company’s non-maturity deposit accounts was approximately 15 years. The total estimated amount of deposits that exceeded the $250,000 insured limit provided by the FDIC, net of collateralized and intercompany deposits, was approximately $2.58 billion at September 30, 2025. This amount is determined by adjusting the amounts reported in the Bank Call Report by intercompany deposits, which are not external customers and are therefore eliminated in consolidation, and governmental deposits whose uninsured balances are collateralized by certain pledged investment securities. The Bank Call Report estimated uninsured deposit balances at September 30, 2025, reported gross, totaled $4.74 billion, which includes intercompany account balances of $290.9 million, and collateralized deposits of $1.87 billion. Estimated insured deposits, net of collateralized and intercompany deposits, represent 82% of ending total deposits at September 30, 2025. These estimates are based on the determination of known deposit account balances of each depositor and the insurance guidelines provided by the FDIC.
Average non-governmental deposits for the third quarter of 2025 increased $352.6 million, or 3.1%, versus the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased $353.5 million, or 3.1%, versus the year-earlier period, primarily driven by higher average balances of business money market deposits, in part due to the addition of a new account containing customer funds from the BPAS subsidiary. Average reciprocal deposits for the third quarter of 2025 increased $135.4 million versus the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased $151.1 million from the third quarter of 2024, primarily driven by higher average balances in non-maturity reciprocal deposit products. Average governmental deposits for the third quarter decreased $146.4 million, or 7.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by seasonal outflows of governmental deposits, and increased $163.2 million, or 9.4%, from the third quarter of 2024. Average governmental deposits as a percentage of total average deposits increased from 13.2% in the third quarter of 2024 to 13.7% in the third quarter of 2025. The increase in average governmental, non-governmental and reciprocal deposit balances from the prior year’s third quarter were reflective of competitive price offerings and expansion of the Company’s deposit relationship base due to the Company’s business development efforts.
Table 11: Quarterly Average Deposits
3,603,416
Interest checking deposits
2,913,860
2,903,412
2,829,111
Savings deposits
2,346,026
2,226,716
2,212,598
Money market deposits
2,827,093
2,559,531
2,420,516
2,182,140
13,816,804
13,475,215
13,148,958
Nongovernmental deposits
11,757,382
11,404,786
11,403,872
Governmental deposits
1,893,794
2,040,234
1,730,595
Reciprocal deposits
165,628
30,195
14,491
Borrowings
Borrowings, excluding securities sold under agreement to repurchase, at the end of the third quarter of 2025 totaled $539.2 million. This was $198.1 million, or 26.9%, lower than borrowings at December 31, 2024 and $91.8 million, or 14.5%, below the balance at September 30, 2024. The decrease from the end of the prior year’s third quarter was primarily attributable to a decrease in FHLB and other borrowings of $159.7 million, partially offset by an increase in overnight borrowings of $67.9 million. The decrease from the end of 2024 was primarily driven by decreases in FHLB and other borrowings of $148.0 million and overnight borrowings of $50.1 million. The decreases in other FHLB borrowings between the periods were mainly driven by the FHLB exercising their put option on a $100.0 million advance with a rate of 3.73% in August 2025 along with the scheduled paydowns of amortizing advances.
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, also referred to as customer repurchase agreements, represent collateralized governmental and commercial funding from customers that price and operate similar to a deposit instrument. Customer repurchase agreements were $224.2 million at the end of the third quarter of 2025, $37.4 million lower than December 31, 2024, and $93.3 million lower than September 30, 2024, driven by lower governmental balances due in part to certain customers transferring funds to the Company’s reciprocal deposit product offerings.
Shareholders’ Equity and Regulatory Capital
Total shareholders’ equity of $1.94 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2025 represents an increase of $176.1 million, or 10.0%, from the balance at December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily driven by net income of $156.0 million, a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $94.9 million and stock-based compensation of $7.9 million, partially offset by common stock dividends declared of $73.4 million and common stock repurchased as part of the Company’s publicly announced stock repurchase program of $11.0 million. The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss was predominantly comprised of $94.8 million of other comprehensive income related to the Company’s investment securities portfolio, including a net increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on the available-for-sale investment portfolio as medium and long-term market interest rates decreased between the periods. Over the past 12 months, total shareholders’ equity increased $154.0 million, as net income, an increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on investments, the issuance of common stock in association with the employee stock plans and adjustments to the overfunded status of the Company’s employee retirement plans more than offset common stock dividends declared and common stock repurchased.
The dividend payout ratio (dividends declared divided by net income) for the first nine months of 2025 was 47.0%, compared to 54.1% for the first nine months of 2024. Third quarter dividends declared increased 2.3% compared to one year earlier, as the Company’s quarterly dividend per share was raised from $0.45 to $0.46 in the third quarter of 2024, and from $0.46 to $0.47 in the third quarter of 2025, while total shares outstanding increased 0.2% due to issuances from the Company’s employee stock plans, partially offset by common stock repurchases between the periods. The substantial decrease in the dividend payout ratio was due to the 25.5% growth in third quarter net income versus one year prior significantly exceeding the percentage increase of dividends declared for the same periods. The one cent, or 2.2%, increase in the quarterly common stock dividend to $0.47 per share on its common stock declared in the third quarter of 2025 marked the 33rd consecutive year of dividend increases for the Company.
The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s dividend paying ability and financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and the Bank’s assets and certain liabilities and off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank's capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
The Company and the Bank are required to maintain a capital conservation buffer (“CCB”), composed entirely of common equity Tier 1 capital, in addition to minimum risk-based capital ratios. The required capital conservation buffer is 2.5% as of September 30, 2025, December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024. Therefore, to satisfy both the minimum risk-based capital ratios and the CCB as of those dates, the Company and the Bank must maintain:
(i) Common equity Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets (“Common equity tier 1 capital ratio”) of at least 7.0%,
(ii) Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets (“Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio”) of at least 8.5%, and
(iii) Total capital (Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to total risk-weighted assets (“Total risk-based capital ratio”) of at least 10.5%.
In addition, the Company and Bank must maintain a ratio of ending Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average assets (“Tier 1 leverage ratio”) of at least 5.0% to be considered “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.
As of September 30, 2025, December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, the Company and Bank meet all applicable capital adequacy requirements to be considered “well capitalized”. The regulatory capital ratios for the Company and Bank are presented below.
Table 12: Regulatory Ratios
Community
Financial
System, Inc.
Bank, N.A.
Tier 1 leverage ratio
9.46
8.09
9.19
7.69
9.12
7.55
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
14.53
12.50
14.23
11.96
14.07
11.69
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
Total risk-based capital ratio
15.34
13.32
15.01
12.74
14.83
12.46
The Company’s tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.46% at the end of the third quarter, an increase of 27 basis points from December 31, 2024 and 34 basis points above its level one year earlier. The increase in the Tier 1 leverage ratio in comparison to December 31, 2024 was the result of ending shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles net of deferred tax liabilities associated with intangibles (“net intangibles”) and other comprehensive income or loss items, increasing 5.7%, while average assets, excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on available-for-sale investment securities, increased a lesser 2.6%. The Tier 1 leverage ratio also increased compared to the prior year’s third quarter as shareholders’ equity, excluding net intangibles and other comprehensive income or loss items, increased 8.0%, while average assets, excluding net intangibles and the market value adjustment, increased a lesser 4.1%. The increases in shareholders’ equity, excluding net intangibles and other comprehensive income or loss items, were primarily a result of net earnings retention while the increases in average assets, excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on available-for-sale investment securities, were primarily driven by organic loan growth.
The shareholders’ equity-to-assets ratio was 11.43% at the end of the third quarter of 2025 compared to 10.76% at December 31, 2024 and 10.88% at September 30, 2024. The tangible equity-to-tangible assets ratio, a non-GAAP measure, of 6.73% increased 0.90 percentage points from December 31, 2024 and increased 0.76 percentage points versus September 30, 2024 (see Table 14 for Reconciliation of Quarterly GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures). The increase in the tangible equity-to-tangible assets ratio, a non-GAAP measure, from one year prior was driven by a $155.0 million, or 16.7%, increase in tangible equity, a non-GAAP measure, while tangible assets, a non-GAAP measure, increased $554.1 million, or 3.6%. The increase in the tangible equity-to-tangible assets ratio, a non-GAAP measure, from December 31, 2024 was driven by a $177.1 million, or 19.6%, increase in tangible equity, a non-GAAP measure, while tangible assets, a non-GAAP measure, increased $572.8 million, or 3.7%. The increases in tangible equity, a non-GAAP measure, were mainly due to net earnings retention and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the investment securities portfolio in the declining rate environment, while the increases in tangible assets, a non-GAAP measure, were due primarily to the organic loan growth described above.
Liquidity
Liquidity risk is a measure of the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss. The Company maintains appropriate liquidity levels in both normal operating conditions as well as stressed environments. The Company must be capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position remains an important management objective. The Bank has appointed the Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”) to manage liquidity risk using policy guidelines and limits on indicators of potential liquidity risk. The indicators are monitored using a scorecard with three risk level limits. These risk indicators measure core liquidity and funding needs, capital at risk, and change in available funding sources. The risk indicators are monitored using such metrics as the core basic surplus ratio, unencumbered securities to average assets, free loan collateral to average assets, loans to deposits, deposits to total funding, and borrowings to total funding ratios.
Given the uncertain nature of the Company’s customers' demands, as well as the Company's desire to take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities, the Company must have adequate sources of on and off-balance sheet funds available that can be utilized when needed. Accordingly, in addition to the liquidity provided by balance sheet cash flows, liquidity must be supplemented with additional sources such as borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) and the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) and credit lines from correspondent banks. Other funding alternatives may also be appropriate from time to time, including wholesale and retail repurchase agreements, large certificates of deposit and the brokered CD market. The primary sources of funds are deposits, which totaled $14.06 billion at September 30, 2025. The primary sources of non-deposit funds are customer repurchase agreements, FHLB and FRB overnight advances, and term borrowings. At September 30, 2025, there were $224.2 million of customer repurchase agreements, $67.9 million of overnight borrowings, and $462.9 million of FHLB term borrowings outstanding.
61
The Company’s primary sources of available liquidity include unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, borrowing capacity at the FHLB and FRB, as well as net unpledged investment securities that could be sold, subject to market conditions, or used to collateralize additional funding. Table 13 below details the available sources of liquidity at September 30, 2025. In addition, there was $75.0 million available in unsecured lines of credit with correspondent banks at September 30, 2025. The Company’s sources of immediately available liquidity of $6.20 billion as of September 30, 2025 represent approximately 240% of the Company’s estimated uninsured deposits (deposits in excess of FDIC limits), net of collateralized and intercompany deposits (“net estimated uninsured deposits”), estimated to be approximately $2.58 billion.
Table 13: Sources of Liquidity
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents
230,487
191,894
341,001
FHLB borrowing capacity
1,456,787
1,185,087
1,272,973
FRB borrowing capacity
2,757,511
2,670,278
1,191,235
Net unpledged investment securities
1,754,153
1,726,680
1,691,165
Total sources of liquidity
6,198,938
5,773,939
4,496,374
Net estimated uninsured deposits
2,578,450
2,347,825
2,263,747
Total sources of liquidity/net estimated uninsured deposits
246
To measure intermediate risk over the next twelve months, the Company reviews a sources and uses projection. As of September 30, 2025, there is sufficient liquidity available during the next year to cover projected cash outflows. In addition, stress tests on the cash flows are performed for various scenarios ranging from high probability events with a low impact on the liquidity position to low probability events with a high impact on the liquidity position. The results of the stress tests as of September 30, 2025 indicate the Company has sufficient sources of liquidity for the next year in all simulated stressed scenarios.
To measure longer-term liquidity, a baseline projection of growth in interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for five years is made to reflect how liquidity levels could change over time. This five-year measure reflects ample liquidity for loan and other asset growth over the next five years.
The possibility of a funding crisis exists at all financial institutions. A funding crisis would most likely result from a shock to the financial system which disrupts orderly short-term funding operations or from a significant tightening of monetary policy that limits the national money supply. Accordingly, management has addressed this issue by formulating a Liquidity Contingency Plan, which has been reviewed and approved by both the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the Company’s ALCO. The plan addresses the actions that the Company would take in response to both a short-term and long-term funding crisis. Triggers within the plan and liquidity risk monitor are not by themselves definitive indicators of insufficient liquidity, but rather a mechanism for management to monitor conditions and possibly provide advance warning which could avert or reduce the impact of a crisis. Liquidity triggers are set based on a variety of factors, including Company history, trends, and current operating performance, industry observations, and, as warranted, changes in internal and external economic factors. Indicators include: core liquidity and funding needs such as the core basic surplus, unencumbered securities to average assets, and free FHLB and FRB loan collateral to average assets; heightened funding needs indicators such as average loans to average deposits, average governmental and nongovernmental deposits to total funding, and average borrowings to total funding; capital at risk indicators including regulatory ratios; asset quality indicators; and decrease in funds availability indicators which are a combination of internal and external factors such as increased restrictions on borrowing or downturns in the credit market. The Company has established three risk levels for these liquidity triggers that inform the response based on the severity of the circumstances. Responses vary from an assessment of possible funding deficiencies with no impact on normal business operations to immediate action required due to impending funding problems. For more information regarding the risk factor associated with the possibility of a funding crisis, refer to the discussion under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “could,” “target,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “believe,” or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the Company’s plans, objectives and intentions are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control). Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include: (1) adverse developments in the banking industry related to bank failures and the potential impact of such developments on customer confidence and regulatory responses to these developments; (2) current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects of changes in housing or vehicle prices, higher unemployment rates, disruptions in the commercial real estate market, labor shortages, supply chain disruption, inability to obtain raw materials and supplies, U.S. fiscal debt, budget and tax matters, geopolitical matters and conflicts, the effects of announced or future tariff increases, changes in global trade policies, and any changes in global economic growth; (3) the effect of, and changes in, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including future changes in Federal and state statutory income tax rates and interest rate and other policy actions of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (4) the effect of changes in the level of checking or savings account deposits on the Company’s funding costs and net interest margin including the possibility of a sudden withdrawal of the Company’s deposits due to rapid spread of information or disinformation regarding the Company’s well-being; (5) future provisions for credit losses on loans and debt securities; (6) changes in nonperforming assets; (7) the effect of a fall in stock market or bond prices on the Company’s fee income businesses, including its employee benefit services, wealth management, and insurance businesses; (8) risks related to credit quality; (9) inflation, interest rate, liquidity, market and monetary fluctuations; (10) the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies where the Company conducts its business; (11) the timely development of new products and services and customer perception of the overall value thereof (including features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services; (12) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; (13) technological changes and implementation and financial risks associated with transitioning to new technology-based systems involving large multi-year contracts; (14) the ability of the Company to maintain the security, including cybersecurity, of its financial, accounting, technology, data processing and other operating systems, facilities and data, including customer data; (15) effectiveness of the Company’s risk management processes and procedures, reliance on models which may be inaccurate or misinterpreted, the Company’s ability to manage its credit or interest rate risk, the sufficiency of its allowance for credit losses and the accuracy of the assumptions or estimates used in preparing the Company’s financial statements and disclosures; (16) failure of third parties to provide various services that are important to the Company’s operations; (17) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith, including differences in the actual financial results of the acquisition or merger compared to expectations and the realization of anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements; (18) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; (19) the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including changes in laws and regulations concerning taxes, accounting, banking, service fees, risk management, securities, capital requirements and other aspects of the financial services industry; (20) changes in the Company’s organization, compensation and benefit plans and in the availability of, and compensation levels for, employees in its geographic markets; (21) the outcome of pending or future litigation and government proceedings; (22) the effect of opening new branches to expand the Company’s geographic footprint, including the cost associated with opening and operating the branches and the uncertainty surrounding their success including the ability to meet expectations for future deposit and loan levels and commensurate revenues; (23) the effects of natural disasters could create economic and financial disruption; (24) the effects from changes in governmental leadership which expose the Company and its customers to a variety of political, economic, and regulatory risks, including the risk of changes in laws (including labor, trade, tax and other laws) and the potential for disruption in governmental agencies, services provided by the government, and funding of government sponsored projects; (25) the effect of total or partial governmental shutdowns; (26) material differences in the actual financial results of investment activities compared with the Company's initial expectations, including the growth of the Insurtech market; (27) other risk factors outlined in the Company’s filings with the SEC from time to time; and (28) the success of the Company at managing the risks of the foregoing.
The foregoing list of important factors is not all-inclusive. For more information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations, refer to the discussion under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made. If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.
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Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
Table 14: GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
Operating pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)
Net income (GAAP)
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)
78,733
64,739
219,845
188,730
(236)
(101)
82,502
68,274
231,764
199,325
Operating pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share (non-GAAP)
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)
0.34
0.25
0.89
1.38
1.08
3.83
3.24
0.15
0.32
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share (non-GAAP)
1.49
1.23
4.14
3.56
(0.01)
(0.02)
0.20
1.56
1.29
4.37
Operating net income (non-GAAP)
Tax effect of acquisition expenses
(155)
(15)
(168)
Subtotal (non-GAAP)
55,680
43,952
156,680
132,847
Tax effect of acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments
43,831
132,726
Tax effect of litigation accrual
(23)
(49)
43,910
156,640
132,898
Tax effect of restructuring expenses
(314)
157,851
Tax effect of loss on sales of investment securities
(110)
44,107
133,275
Tax effect of unrealized gain on equity securities
220
55,493
44,029
157,470
132,511
Tax effect of amortization of intangible assets
(762)
(2,082)
(2,413)
58,074
46,636
165,497
140,920
Operating diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP)
1.05
2.96
2.51
2.97
2.49
(0.04)
0.88
3.12
2.65
Return on assets
Average total assets
Return on assets (GAAP)
1.30
1.26
1.12
Operating return on assets (non-GAAP)
1.16
1.33
1.19
Return on equity
Average total equity
Return on equity (GAAP)
11.62
10.21
11.37
10.58
Operating return on equity (non-GAAP)
12.25
10.85
12.06
11.24
Net interest margin
Total average interest-earning assets
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (non-GAAP)
Fully tax-equivalent net interest income (non-GAAP)
65
Operating noninterest revenues (non-GAAP)
Noninterest revenues (GAAP)
Total operating noninterest revenues (non-GAAP)
Operating noninterest expenses (non-GAAP)
Noninterest expenses (GAAP)
Total operating noninterest expenses (non-GAAP)
124,314
120,822
370,312
350,194
Operating revenues (non-GAAP)
Net interest income (GAAP)
Total revenues (GAAP)
Total operating revenues (non-GAAP)
Total noninterest revenues (GAAP) – numerator
Total revenues (GAAP) – denominator
Noninterest revenues/total revenues (GAAP)
Operating noninterest revenues/operating revenues (FTE) (non-GAAP)
Total operating noninterest revenues (non-GAAP) – numerator
Total operating revenues (FTE) (non-GAAP) – denominator
207,696
189,968
604,734
552,358
Total noninterest expenses (GAAP) – numerator
Operating efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)
Total operating noninterest expenses (non-GAAP) – numerator
Return on tangible equity (non-GAAP)
Average shareholders’ equity
Average goodwill and intangible assets, net
(897,943)
(903,281)
(899,287)
(903,542)
Average deferred taxes on goodwill and intangible assets, net
44,233
44,376
44,374
44,515
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)
1,027,406
850,886
979,353
816,059
21.27
20.53
21.30
21.72
Operating return on tangible equity (non-GAAP)
22.43
21.80
22.60
23.07
Total tangible assets (non-GAAP)
Total assets (GAAP)
(899,967)
(901,471)
(900,623)
Deferred taxes on goodwill and intangible assets, net
44,130
44,618
43,832
16,101,967
15,529,191
15,547,909
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP)
Shareholders’ equity (GAAP)
1,083,113
905,982
928,156
Shareholders’ equity-to-assets ratio at quarter end
Total shareholders' equity (GAAP) - numerator
Total assets (GAAP) - denominator
Shareholders’ equity-to-assets ratio at quarter (GAAP)
11.43
10.76
10.88
Tangible equity-to-tangible assets ratio at quarter end (non-GAAP)
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP) - numerator
Total tangible assets (non-GAAP) - denominator
6.73
5.83
5.97
Book value (GAAP)
Total shareholders’ equity (GAAP) – numerator
Period end common shares outstanding – denominator
52,662
52,668
52,546
36.82
33.47
33.97
Tangible book value (non-GAAP)
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP) – numerator
20.57
17.20
17.66
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates, prices or credit risk. Credit risk associated with the Company’s loan portfolio has been previously discussed in the asset quality section of the MD&A. Management believes that the tax risk of the Company’s municipal investments associated with potential future changes in statutory, judicial and regulatory actions is minimal. Treasury, agency, mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligation securities issued by government agencies comprise 90.8% of the total portfolio and are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services and AA+ by Standard & Poor’s. Obligations of state and political subdivisions account for 9.1% of the total portfolio, of which 95.7% carry a minimum rating of A-. The remaining 0.1% of the portfolio is comprised of other investment grade securities. The Company does not have material foreign currency exchange rate risk exposure. Therefore, almost all of the market risk in the investment portfolio is related to interest rates.
The ongoing monitoring and management of both interest rate risk and liquidity over the short- and long-term time horizons is an important component of the Company's asset/liability management process, which is governed by guidelines established in the policies reviewed and approved annually by the Company’s Board. The Board delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the ALCO, which meets each month. The committee is made up of the Company's senior management, corporate finance and risk personnel as well as regional and line-of-business managers who oversee specific earning asset classes and various funding sources. As the Company does not believe it is possible to reliably predict future interest rate movements, it has maintained an appropriate process and set of measurement tools, which enable it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments. The primary tool used by the Company in managing interest rate risk is income simulation. This begins with the development of a base case scenario, which projects net interest income (“NII”) over the next twelve-month period. The base case scenario NII may increase or decrease significantly from quarter to quarter reflective of changes during the most recent quarter in the Company’s: (i) earning assets and liabilities balances, (ii) composition of earning assets and liabilities, (iii) earning asset yields, (iv) cost of funds and (v) various model assumptions including loan and time deposit spreads and core deposit betas, as well as current market interest rates, including the slope of the yield curve and projected changes in the slope of the yield curve over the twelve month period. The direction of interest rates, the slope of the yield curve, the modeled changes in deposit balances and the cost of funds, including the Company’s deposit and funding betas, are not easily predicted in the current market environment, and therefore a wide variety of strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios are modeled on an ongoing basis.
The following reflects the Company's estimated NII sensitivity as compared to the base case scenario over the subsequent twelve months based on:
Net Interest Income Sensitivity Model
Calculated annualized increase
(decrease) in projected net interest
income at September 30, 2025
Interest rate scenario
(%)
+200 basis points
(6,608)
(1.3)
+100 basis points
(2,990)
(0.6)
-100 basis points
2,770
-200 basis points
1,983
Projected NII over the 12-month forecast period decreases in the up 100 and up 200 interest rate environments largely due to deposits and overnight borrowings repricing higher in year 1, which are only partially offset by loans repricing higher.
Projected NII increases in the down 100 and down 200 interest rate environments largely due to lower funding costs which are partially offset by lower income on loans.
The analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions: the nature and timing of interest rate levels (including yield curve shape), prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and other factors. While the assumptions are developed based upon a reasonable outlook for national and local economic and market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive efficacy of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that the ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates and other developments.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a -15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), designed to ensure information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is: (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, it has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2025.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company regularly assesses the adequacy of its internal controls over financial reporting. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above that occurred during the Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings or other matters in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. Information on current legal proceedings and other matters is set forth in Note I to the consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There has not been any material change in the risk factors disclosure from that contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
a) Not applicable.
b) Not applicable.
c) At its December 2024 meeting, the Board approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase, at the discretion of senior management, of up to 2,628,000 shares, or 5.0% of the Company’s common stock outstanding, in accordance with securities and banking laws and regulations, during the twelve-month period starting January 1, 2025. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion.
The following table presents stock purchases made during the third quarter of 2025:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Total Number of Shares
Maximum Number of
Number of
Purchased as Part of
Shares That May Yet Be
Price Paid
Publicly Announced
Purchased Under the Plans
Period
Purchased
Per Share
Plans or Programs
or Programs
July 1-31, 2025
5,404
58.82
2,628,000
August 1-31, 2025
206,322
53.34
206,054
2,421,946
September 1-30, 2025
127
59.60
Total (1)
211,853
53.49
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5. Other Information
c) Certain of the Company’s officers or directors have made elections to participate in, and are participating in, the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan, deferred compensation plans and 401(k) Plan, and have made, and may from time to time make, elections to have shares withheld to cover withholding taxes or pay the exercise price of options or the settlement of restricted stock, each of which may be designed to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act or may constitute non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K). During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025, none of the Company’s directors or officers informed the Company of the adoption of or termination of a “Rule 10b5-1 trading agreement” or a “non - Rule 10b5-1 trading agreement,” as those terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
31.1
Certification of Dimitar A. Karaivanov, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(1)
31.2
Certification of Marya Burgio Wlos, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
32.1
Certification of Dimitar A. Karaivanov, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2)
32.2
Certification of Marya Burgio Wlos, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2)
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. (1)
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (1)
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (1)
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (1)
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (1)
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (1)
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) (1)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Community Financial System, Inc.
Date: November 6, 2025
/s/ Dimitar A. Karaivanov
Dimitar A. Karaivanov, President and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Marya Burgio Wlos
Marya Burgio Wlos, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
73