Welcome to our dedicated page for Business First B news (Ticker: BFST), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Business First B stock.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK, a bank serving personal and commercial customers with banking, treasury management and wealth solutions. Company news commonly covers operating results, earnings-call materials, dividend actions and capital management tied to lending, deposit activity, fees and securities income.
Recurring developments also include commercial and corporate banking initiatives, technology partnerships for loan and deposit operations, subordinated debt financing, shareholder voting matters and governance updates. These items reflect BFST's public-company disclosures around bank growth, regulatory capital support and the operating capabilities of b1BANK.
Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST) completed its acquisition of Progressive Bancorp and Progressive Bank on January 5, 2026, expanding b1BANK's footprint across Louisiana.
The transaction increases Business First's pro forma totals to approximately $8.7 billion in assets, $6.6 billion in total loans, and $7.2 billion in deposits, and adds nine North Louisiana locations. Progressive's reported balances as of September 30, 2025 were $752 million in assets, $669 million in deposits, and $70 million in total equity capital.
Progressive shareholders received Business First common stock (with cash for fractional shares). George Cummings III and David Hampton joined Business First/b1BANK leadership roles; advisors and legal counsel for both parties were disclosed.
Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST) announced a Board-approved stock repurchase program authorizing repurchases of up to $30 million of common stock over a 24-month period beginning Oct. 28, 2025 and ending Oct. 28, 2027. Repurchases may occur in the open market under Rule 10b-18 or via privately negotiated transactions at prices management deems attractive.
The program is discretionary, may be modified, suspended or terminated, and depends on market, financial, regulatory, liquidity and other factors; there is no obligation or assurance that repurchases will occur.
Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ: BFST) reported Q3 2025 net income available to common shareholders of $21.5M or $0.73 diluted per share and non‑GAAP core net income of $21.2M or $0.72 per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025.
Key metrics: net interest income $69.3M, NIM 3.68%, deposits +$87.2M, loans held for investment down $26.6M, shareholders' equity +$30.0M, book value per share $27.23, tangible book value per common share $22.63. Board declared common dividend $0.15 and preferred quarterly dividend $18.75, payable Nov. 30, 2025.
Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST), parent company of b1BANK, has scheduled its Q3 2025 earnings release for October 23, 2025, after market close. The company will host a conference call and webcast on the same day at 4:00 p.m. CST to discuss the financial results.
Investors can join the conference call by dialing 1-800-715-9871 (conference ID: 8427939) or view the webcast and presentation materials through the company's website.
[]Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ: BFST) reported strong Q2 2025 financial results with net income of $20.8 million ($0.70 per diluted share), up $1.6 million from Q1. Core net income reached $19.5 million ($0.66 per diluted share).
Key highlights include a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per common share, successful core conversion to FIS, and branch optimization through the sale of Kaplan branch for an 8% premium. The bank maintained a stable net interest margin of 3.68% and increased tangible book value per share to $28.61.
Notably, BFST announced the acquisition of Progressive Bancorp with $752 million in assets and executed strategic initiatives including branch repositioning and system upgrades, positioning for future growth particularly in the Dallas market.
b1BANK (Nasdaq: BFST) has promoted Heather Roemer to Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. In her expanded role, Roemer will oversee business transformation programs, product management, marketing and communications, human resources, and talent development, while continuing to serve as president of b1 FOUNDATION.
With 16 years of experience at the bank, Roemer has been instrumental in shaping the bank's culture and infrastructure. She will now take on additional responsibilities, including leading integration efforts for future acquisitions. Roemer, a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU and Louisiana State University, has been particularly focused on initiatives in financial literacy, entrepreneurship education, and community empowerment.
Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Progressive Bancorp and its subsidiary Progressive Bank. The strategic acquisition will increase Business First's total assets to $8.5 billion, with total loans exceeding $6.6 billion.
Progressive brings $752 million in assets, $673 million in deposits, and $65 million in equity capital. The transaction will be executed through a stock issuance of approximately 3,050,490 shares, giving Progressive shareholders 9.3% ownership in the combined company. The merger is expected to close in Q1 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST), the parent company of b1BANK, has scheduled its Q2 2025 earnings release for Monday, July 28, 2025. The financial results will be released before market open at 7:00 a.m. CST.
The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on the same day at 9:00 a.m. CST. Investors can join via phone using the toll-free number 1-800-715-9871 (conference ID: 2799880) or access the live webcast through the company's website.
Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST), parent company of b1BANK, welcomes Alejandro M. Sanchez to its Board of Directors, effective March 27, 2025. Sanchez, currently president and CEO of Salva Financial Group of Florida, brings extensive financial sector expertise to the role.
Sanchez's impressive background includes serving as an executive advisor to Nasdaq and holding board positions with Popular (BPOP) and Republic Bancorp (RBCAA). His 25-year tenure as president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association (1998-2023) and presidential appointments to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board under both Bush and Obama administrations highlight his regulatory experience.
A U.S. Air Force veteran (1976-1981), Sanchez holds a Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law. Chairman and CEO Jude Melville emphasized that Sanchez's expertise in regulatory environments and strategic transformations aligns with b1BANK's growth strategy and governance goals.
Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ: BFST) reported strong Q1 2025 financial results with net income of $19.2 million or $0.65 per diluted share, marking increases of $4.1 million and $0.14 respectively from Q4 2024. The company showed solid performance with:
- Net interest income of $66.0 million
- Net interest margin expansion to 3.68%
- Noninterest income growth driven by $1.3 million in loan sales
- Capital growth with tangible book value increasing to $20.84 per share
Notable metrics include:
- Return on average assets: 1.00%
- Common equity to total assets: 9.69%
- Quarterly common dividend declared: $0.14 per share
Credit quality showed some regression with nonperforming loans ratio increasing 27 bps to 0.69%. Deposits decreased by $53.1 million (0.82%), while the securities portfolio grew by $27.0 million (3.02%).