First Citizens BancShares Reports Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings
Rhea-AI Summary
First Citizens BancShares (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reported fourth-quarter 2025 results. Net income was $580 million and adjusted net income was $648 million. Net income available to common was $566 million, $45.81 per share; adjusted net income available to common was $634 million, $51.27 per share. Net interest income was $1.72 billion and NIM was 3.20%. Loans grew to $147.93 billion (+2.2% linked quarter). Deposits were $161.58 billion (down 1.0%). Provision for credit losses was $54 million; net charge-offs were $143 million (0.39% of avg loans). Capital ratios remained strong (CET1 11.15%). The bank repurchased $900 million of stock, prepaid $2.5 billion of the Purchase Money Note, issued $500 million Series D preferred, and agreed to acquire 138 BMO branches (assume ~$5.7B deposits) expected to close H2 2026.
Positive
- Repurchased $900 million of Class A common shares in Q4 2025
- Prepaid $2.5 billion of the Purchase Money Note, reducing borrowings
- Quarterly loan growth of $3.17 billion (+2.2%) to $147.93 billion
- Capital ratios remained well above requirements: CET1 11.15%
Negative
- Liquid assets declined by $5.91 billion to $56.01 billion quarter-over-quarter
- Total deposits decreased by $1.61 billion to $161.58 billion
- Noninterest expense increased by $81 million to $1.57 billion versus prior quarter
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
FCNCA was up 0.95% while key regional bank peers were down: HBAN -3.61%, RF -1.53%, MTB -0.93%, CFG -0.19%, SHG -0.37%. The move appears stock-specific rather than sector-driven.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | +0.5% | Strong Q3 earnings, loan and deposit growth, and sizeable share repurchases. |
| Apr 24 | Q1 2025 earnings | Positive | +1.1% | Q1 results with solid NIM, balance sheet growth, and robust capital ratios. |
| Jan 24 | Q4 2024 earnings | Positive | +0.4% | Higher Q4 net income, broad-based loan and deposit growth, and buybacks. |
Recent earnings releases have been followed by modest positive price reactions, suggesting results are generally received constructively.
Over the last year, FCNCA’s earnings reports on Jan 24, 2024, Apr 24, 2025, and Oct 23, 2025 showed solid profitability, ongoing loan and deposit growth, and sustained net interest margins around the mid‑3% range. Management has consistently emphasized strong capital ratios and large share repurchases. The current Q4 2025 report continues this pattern with higher net income, expanding loans, and further capital returns alongside stable credit quality and well-above‑requirement capital levels.
Historical Comparison
In the past 3 earnings releases, FCNCA moved on average +0.65% over 24 hours. The current pre‑earnings gain of 0.95% is slightly above that typical reaction range.
Earnings updates from Q4 2024 through Q3 2025 showed steady profitability, resilient NIM around the mid‑3% range, balance sheet growth, and recurring large buybacks, with the latest Q4 2025 report extending that trajectory.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Q4 2025 earnings with higher net and adjusted income, ongoing loan growth to $147.93 billion, and continued large share repurchases of $900 million. Credit quality improved with lower net charge-offs and a reserve release, while capital ratios remained well above requirements. Investors may watch net interest margin trends, deposit mix and costs, and integration of the planned BMO branch acquisition as key drivers for future results.
Key Terms
net interest margin financial
noninterest income financial
noninterest expense financial
provision for credit losses financial
net charge-offs financial
nonaccrual loans financial
common equity tier 1 regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Chairman and CEO Frank B. Holding, Jr. said: "We delivered solid return metrics in the fourth quarter while credit quality remained stable and we achieved strong loan growth, led by Global Fund Banking. We returned an additional
BMO BRANCH ACQUISITION
On October 16, 2025, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company ("First Citizens Bank"), the wholly owned banking subsidiary of BancShares, announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire 138 branches from BMO Bank N.A. ("BMO Bank") located throughout the Midwest, Great Plains and West regions of the
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Measures referenced below "as adjusted" or "excluding PAA" (or purchase accounting accretion) are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the Financial Supplement available at ir.firstcitizens.com or www.sec.gov for a reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 ("current quarter") was
Adjusted net income for the current quarter was
SEGMENT REPORTING UPDATE
During the current quarter, the composition of the Commercial Bank segment was expanded to include SVB Commercial, which was previously a separate segment, and prior period segment financial information was recast accordingly.
NET INTEREST INCOME AND MARGIN
- Net interest income was
for the current quarter, a decrease of$1.72 billion from the linked quarter. Net interest income, excluding PAA, was$12 million in both the current and linked quarters.$1.67 billion - Interest income on interest-earning deposits at banks decreased
due to a lower average balance and a decline in yield.$39 million - Interest income on loans decreased
, mainly due to a decline in yield and a$10 million decrease in loan PAA, partially offset by the impact of a higher average balance. Interest income on loans, excluding loan PAA, increased$12 million .$2 million - Interest income on investment securities decreased
due to decreases in the average balance and yield.$9 million - Interest expense on borrowings increased
due to increases in the rate paid and the average balance.$4 million - Interest expense on interest-bearing deposits decreased
due to a lower rate paid, partially offset by the impact of a higher average balance.$50 million
- Interest income on interest-earning deposits at banks decreased
- Net interest margin ("NIM") was
3.20% compared to3.26% in the linked quarter, a decrease of 6 basis points. NIM, excluding PAA, was3.11% , compared to3.15% in the linked quarter, a decrease of 4 basis points.- The yield on average interest-earning assets was
5.48% , a decrease of 16 basis points from the linked quarter, mainly due to the following:- A lower loan yield resulting from lower interest rates and a decline in loan PAA, partially offset by the impact of a higher average balance.
- A lower yield on interest-earning deposits at banks resulting from a decline in the federal funds rate, and a lower average balance.
- The rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities was
3.03% , a decrease of 13 basis points from the linked quarter, primarily due to a lower rate paid on interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by the impact of a higher average balance of interest-bearing deposits.
- The yield on average interest-earning assets was
NONINTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE
- Noninterest income was
, compared to$715 million in the linked quarter, an increase of$699 million . Adjusted noninterest income was$16 million , compared to$529 million in the linked quarter, an increase of$518 million . The increases in noninterest income and adjusted noninterest income were primarily due to an increase of$11 million in rental income on operating lease equipment ($8 million increase when adjusted for depreciation and maintenance expenses). Increases in wealth management services and international fees were partially offset by decreases in client investment fees and lending-related fees. Additionally, a$7 million loss on extinguishment of debt was recognized for the$9 million partial prepayment of the Purchase Money Note.$2.5 billion - Noninterest expense was
, compared to$1.57 billion in the linked quarter, an increase of$1.49 billion . Adjusted noninterest expense was$81 million , compared to$1.37 billion in the linked quarter, an increase of$1.28 billion . The increases in noninterest expense and adjusted noninterest expense were primarily due to the following:$89 million - Personnel cost increased
, primarily driven by higher temporary labor to support technology related projects, performance-based incentive compensation, and health insurance claims as employees reached their out-of-pocket deductibles.$32 million - Equipment expense increased
, largely due to higher software-related costs as BancShares continues to scale its technology platforms.$14 million - Marketing expense increased
, mostly due to marketing promotions for Direct Bank deposits.$12 million - Professional fees increased
, mainly due to consulting services.$8 million - Third-party processing fees increased
.$8 million
- Personnel cost increased
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY
- Loans and leases were
at December 31, 2025, an increase of$147.93 billion or$3.17 billion 2.2% , compared to at September 30, 2025. Commercial Bank segment loan growth of$144.76 billion , mainly concentrated in Global Fund Banking, was partially offset by a decrease in General Bank segment loans of$3.44 billion , which reflected a transfer of$267 million residential mortgage loans to held for sale.$694 million - Total investment securities were
at December 31, 2025, a decrease of$41.56 billion since September 30, 2025. Investment securities were a significant funding source for the$3.56 billion partial prepayment of the Purchase Money Note, which along with the impact of net purchases, maturities and paydowns, contributed to the decrease in investment securities. Purchases of approximately$2.5 billion during the current quarter remained concentrated in short duration available for sale$6.49 billion U.S. treasury and agency mortgage-backed securities. Sales of approximately of investment securities during the current quarter resulted in a realized gain of$2.62 billion .$3 million - Deposits were
at December 31, 2025, a decrease of$161.58 billion or$1.61 billion 1.0% , since September 30, 2025, primarily attributable to a decline in Commercial Bank segment deposits of , mainly driven by expected seasonal outflows and the continued migration into off-balance sheet client funds within Global Fund Banking. Additionally, Direct Bank deposits declined$1.34 billion and General Bank segment deposits increased$344 million .$200 million - Noninterest-bearing deposits declined by
($2.10 billion 4.9% from the linked quarter) and represented25.2% of total deposits as of December 31, 2025, compared to26.2% at September 30, 2025. The cost of average total deposits was2.09% for the current quarter, compared to2.25% for the linked quarter. - Borrowings were
at December 31, 2025, a decrease of$36.01 billion , compared to$2.67 billion at September 30, 2025, mainly due to the$38.68 billion partial prepayment of the Purchase Money Note.$2.5 billion - Funding mix remained stable with
81.8% of total funding comprised of deposits. - Interest-earning deposits at banks were
at December 31, 2025, a decrease of$19.80 billion compared to$5.00 billion at September 30, 2025, a function of the balance sheet trends discussed above.$24.80 billion
PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY
- Provision for credit losses totaled
for the current quarter, compared to$54 million for the linked quarter. The current quarter provision for credit losses included a provision for loan and lease losses of$191 million , partially offset by a benefit for off-balance sheet credit exposure of$59 million .$5 million - The provision for loan and lease losses for the current quarter was
, compared to$59 million for the linked quarter. The$214 million decrease was mainly attributable to a decline in net charge-offs of$155 million , along with the impact of an$91 million reserve release in the current quarter, compared to a$86 million reserve release in the linked quarter.$20 million - The
reserve release in the current quarter was driven by lower specific reserves for individually evaluated loans, loan growth concentrated in capital call lines which have a lower loss rate relative to our other loan portfolios, and improvements in the economic outlook and credit quality.$86 million - The benefit for off-balance sheet credit exposure for the current quarter was
, compared to$5 million in the linked quarter.$23 million
- The provision for loan and lease losses for the current quarter was
- Net charge-offs were
($143 million 0.39% of average loans) for the current quarter, compared to ($234 million 0.65% of average loans) for the linked quarter. The decrease was mainly due to an$91 million charge-off in the linked quarter on a single supply chain finance client in the Commercial Bank segment.$82 million - Nonaccrual loans were
($1.31 billion 0.88% of loans) at December 31, 2025, compared to ($1.41 billion 0.97% of loans) at September 30, 2025. The decrease in nonaccrual loans was mainly in Tech and Healthcare within the Commercial Bank segment. - The allowance for loan and lease losses totaled
at December 31, 2025, compared to$1.57 billion at September 30, 2025. The decrease is discussed above. The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of loans was$1.65 billion 1.06% at December 31, 2025, compared to1.14% at September 30, 2025.
CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY
- Capital ratios remained well above regulatory requirements. The estimated total risk-based capital, Tier 1 risk-based capital, Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital, and Tier 1 leverage ratios were
13.71% ,11.91% ,11.15% , and9.29% , respectively, at December 31, 2025. During the current quarter, BancShares issued Series D perpetual preferred stock for an aggregate amount of , which is included in Tier 1 capital.$500 million - During the current quarter, we repurchased 479,470 shares of our Class A common stock for
and paid a dividend of$900 million per share on our Class A and Class B common stock. Shares repurchased during the current quarter represented$2.10 4.13% of Class A common shares and3.80% of total Class A and Class B common shares outstanding at September 30, 2025.- From inception of the 2024 Share Repurchase Plan through December 31, 2025, we have repurchased 2,393,103 shares of our Class A common stock for
, representing$4.69 billion 17.69% of Class A common shares and16.47% of total Class A and Class B common shares outstanding as of June 30, 2024. - As of December 31, 2025, the total capacity remaining under the 2025 Share Repurchase Plan was
.$2.81 billion
- From inception of the 2024 Share Repurchase Plan through December 31, 2025, we have repurchased 2,393,103 shares of our Class A common stock for
- Liquidity position remains strong as liquid assets were
at December 31, 2025, compared to$56.01 billion at September 30, 2025. The decrease of$61.92 billion is due to the decreases in interest-earning deposits at banks and investment securities as further discussed above in the Balance Sheet Summary.$5.91 billion
EARNINGS CALL/ WEBCAST DETAILS
BancShares will host a conference call to discuss the company's financial results on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 9 a.m. Eastern time.
The call may be accessed via webcast on the company's website at ir.firstcitizens.com or through the dial-in details below:
All other locations: 1-929-526-1599
Access code: 837161
Our earnings release, investor presentation, and financial supplement are available at ir.firstcitizens.com. In addition, these materials will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on a Form 8-K and will be available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. After the event, a replay of the call will be available via webcast at ir.firstcitizens.com.
ABOUT FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES
First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans, asset quality, future performance, and other strategic goals of BancShares. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "predicts," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "projects," "targets," "designed," "could," "may," "should," "will," "potential," "continue," "aims" or other similar words and expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on BancShares' current expectations and assumptions regarding BancShares' business, the economy, and other future conditions.
Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances and other factors that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could affect BancShares' future financial results and performance and could cause actual results, performance or achievements of BancShares to differ materially from any anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, general competitive, economic (including the imposition of tariffs, retaliatory tariff measures, or trade barriers on trading partners), political (including impacts of any
BancShares' 2025 Share Repurchase Plan announced in July 2025 ("2025 SRP") allows BancShares to repurchase shares of its Class A common stock through 2026. BancShares is not obligated under the 2025 SRP to repurchase any minimum or particular number of shares, and repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time (subject to the terms of any Rule 10b5-1 plan in effect) without prior notice. The authorization to repurchase Class A common stock will be utilized at management's discretion. The actual timing and amount of Class A common stock that may be repurchased under the 2025 SRP will depend on a number of factors, including the terms of any Rule 10b5-1 plan then in effect, price, general business and market conditions, regulatory requirements, and alternative investment opportunities or capital needs.
Except to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations, BancShares disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. Additional factors which could affect the forward-looking statements can be found in BancShares' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and its other filings with the SEC.
NON-GAAP MEASURES
Certain measures in this release, including those referenced as "adjusted" or "excluding PAA," are "non-GAAP," meaning they are numerical measures of BancShares' financial performance, financial position or cash flows that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
Contact: | Deanna Hart | Angela English |
Investor Relations | Corporate Communications | |
919-716-2137 | 803-931-1854 |
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SOURCE First Citizens BancShares, Inc.