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Alerus (NASDAQ: ALRS) exits $33.6M nonperforming loan relationship, cutting NPAs

Filing Impact
(Very High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Alerus Financial Corporation closed the sale of three nonperforming construction, land and development loans with a total net book balance of $33.6 million as of March 31, 2026. These loans were the company’s largest nonperforming relationship and were on nonaccrual status.

The relationship represented 62.3% of total nonperforming loans and 62.1% of total nonperforming assets as of that date. Nonperforming assets to total loans were 1.34%, and would have been 0.51% if this relationship had already been removed.

The loans carried specific reserves of $3.1 million, and there were no historical charge-offs or charge-offs related to this transaction. The sale resulted in recognition of $1.6 million of nonaccrual interest income, which improves reported earnings without incremental credit loss.

Positive

  • Material reduction in problem assets: The sale of a $33.6 million nonperforming relationship that comprised over 60% of total nonperforming loans would have reduced nonperforming assets to total loans from 1.34% to 0.51% on a pro forma basis, significantly improving reported asset-quality ratios.
  • No charge-offs and added income: The loans had $3.1 million of specific reserves, but the sale generated no charge-offs and allowed recognition of $1.6 million of nonaccrual interest, supporting earnings while resolving a concentrated credit exposure.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

Sale removes a concentrated problem credit and improves reported asset quality.

Alerus Financial Corporation sold three nonperforming construction-related loans with a net book balance of $33.6 million as of March 31, 2026. This single relationship accounted for over 60% of both total nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets, so its removal meaningfully changes the bank’s credit profile.

Nonperforming assets to total loans were 1.34% and would decline to 0.51% on a pro forma basis assuming this sale at quarter-end. The loans carried $3.1 million of specific reserves and generated no charge-offs historically or in this transaction, while recognizing $1.6 million of nonaccrual interest income.

This combination of lower reported nonperforming levels, no realized credit losses, and incremental interest income is favorable for asset-quality metrics and near-term earnings. Future disclosures in periodic reports will show how remaining nonperforming exposures and new originations affect overall credit trends after this de-risking step.

Item 8.01 Other Events Other
Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Nonperforming loans sold $33.6 million net book balance Construction, land and development relationship as of March 31, 2026
Share of total nonperforming loans 62.3% Portion of total nonperforming loans as of March 31, 2026
Share of total nonperforming assets 62.1% Portion of total nonperforming assets as of March 31, 2026
Nonperforming assets to total loans (reported) 1.34% Ratio as of March 31, 2026 before removing relationship
Nonperforming assets to total loans (pro forma) 0.51% As if the transaction occurred on March 31, 2026
Specific reserves on loans $3.1 million Reserves allocated to the relationship as of March 31, 2026
Nonaccrual interest recognized $1.6 million Interest income recorded in conjunction with the sale
nonperforming loans financial
"sale of three non-performing loans representing a construction, land and development relationship"
Nonperforming loans are loans on which borrowers have stopped making the scheduled interest or principal payments for an extended period (commonly 90 days or more) or are otherwise in serious danger of default. Think of them as IOUs that aren’t being repaid: they tie up a lender’s money, reduce future interest income, and force the lender to hold extra reserves or take losses. For investors, a rising share of nonperforming loans signals weakening credit quality, higher potential losses, and greater risk to a bank’s profitability and capital.
nonaccrual financial
"The loans were on nonaccrual as of March 31, 2026"
A nonaccrual asset is a loan or investment that a lender stops counting as earning interest because the borrower is not making scheduled payments or the lender doubts future payments. Think of it like putting a subscription on hold when you stop receiving payments; it reduces reported income and signals a higher risk that the lender may not get repaid, which can affect a bank's profits and the value of its loan portfolio.
nonperforming assets financial
"Nonperforming assets to total loans as of March 31, 2026 were 1.34%"
Nonperforming assets are loans or investments that are not generating expected payments or returns because the borrower has fallen behind on payments or the investment has lost value. They matter to investors because a high level of nonperforming assets can indicate financial trouble for a bank or institution, potentially affecting its stability and profitability.
specific reserves financial
"the loans carried specific reserves totaling $3.1 million"
Specific reserves are money a company, especially a bank or lender, sets aside to cover losses on particular loans or assets that are known or highly likely to lose value. Think of it as putting aside funds for a specific broken item you plan to replace rather than a general rainy-day fund. For investors, these reserves reduce reported profits and capital available for other uses, and they signal how much risk management expects from identified problems.
allowance for credit losses financial
"our ability to successfully manage credit risk, including in the commercial real estate portfolio, and maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses"
Allowance for credit losses is a reserve set aside by a financial institution to cover potential losses from borrowers who may not repay their loans. It acts like a safety net, helping the institution prepare for loans that might turn sour. For investors, it signals how cautious the institution is about the quality of its loans and potential risks to its financial health.
nonaccrual interest financial
"Nonaccrual interest of $1.6 million was recorded in conjunction with the sale"
Nonaccrual interest is interest on a loan that a lender stops counting as income because the borrower is behind on payments or the loan’s repayment is doubtful. Think of it like turning off a parking meter: the bank no longer records the expected income until the borrower proves they can pay; any cash actually received is usually applied to reduce the loan balance instead of boosting reported earnings. Investors watch nonaccrual interest because rising amounts signal worsening loan quality, weaker future income, and higher credit risk.
false 0000903419 0000903419 2026-05-19 2026-05-19
 


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 19, 2026
 
Alerus Financial Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
Delaware
001-39036
45-0375407
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
401 Demers Avenue
Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (701) 795-3200
 
N/A
 
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading symbol
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
 
ALRS
 
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b–2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b–2 of this chapter).
 
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. ☐
 


 
 

 
 
Item 8.01.
Other Events.
 
On May 19, 2026, Alerus Financial Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the recent sale of three nonperforming loans. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits
 
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
       
 
99.1
 
Press Release of Alerus Financial Corporation, dated May 19, 2026
       
 
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document)
 
 

 
 
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 hereunto duly authorized.
 
Date: May 19, 2026
Alerus Financial Corporation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Katie A. Lorenson
 
 
Name:
Katie A. Lorenson
 
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 

Exhibit 99.1

 

a01.jpg

Alan A. Villalon, Chief Financial Officer

952.417.3733 (Office)

 

 

 

FOR RELEASE (5.19.26)

 

ALERUS FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES SALE

OF THREE NONPERFORMING LOANS

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (May 19, 2026) – Alerus Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: ALRS), or the Company, closed on a sale of three non-performing loans representing a construction, land and development relationship with a total net book balance of $33.6 million as of March 31, 2026. The loans were on nonaccrual as of March 31, 2026, and represented the largest non-performing relationship in the portfolio. As of March 31, 2026, this relationship represented 62.3% of total nonperforming loans and 62.1% of total nonperforming assets. Nonperforming assets to total loans as of March 31, 2026 were 1.34%. Adjusting nonperforming assets and total loans to remove this relationship, as if the transaction had occurred on March 31, 2026, would reduce nonperforming assets to total loans to 0.51% as of such date. As of March 31, 2026, the loans carried specific reserves totaling $3.1 million.

 

There were no historical charge offs on this relationship and there were no charge offs recognized as a result of the transaction. Nonaccrual interest of $1.6 million was recorded in conjunction with the sale.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer Katie O'Neill Lorenson said, “Strong credit outcomes start with strong credit culture. We emphasize early identification, transparent risk rating, and active portfolio management, so we can address emerging issues quickly and thoughtfully. The sale of this relationship, which represented the largest non-performing exposure at quarter-end, is a clear example of that discipline in action, and it was completed with no charge-offs and with significant nonaccrual interest recognized in connection with the transaction.”

 

About Alerus Financial Corporation

 

Alerus Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: ALRS) is a commercial wealth advisory services bank and national retirement and benefit services provider with corporate offices in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area. Through its subsidiary, Alerus Financial, National Association (the “Bank”), Alerus provides diversified and comprehensive financial solutions to business and consumer clients, including banking, wealth advisory services, and retirement and benefit plans and services. Alerus provides clients with a primary point of contact to help fully understand their unique needs and delivery channel preferences. Clients are provided with competitive products, valuable insight, and sound advice supported by digital solutions designed to meet their needs.

 

Alerus operates 26 banking and commercial wealth offices, with locations in Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota; the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area; Rochester, Minnesota; Southern Minnesota; Marshalltown, Iowa; Pewaukee, Wisconsin; and Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. The Alerus Retirement and Benefit business serves advisors, brokers, employers, and plan participants across the United States.

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning plans, estimates, calculations, forecasts and projections with respect to the anticipated future performance of Alerus Financial Corporation. These statements are often, but not always, identified by words such as “may”, “might”, “should”, “could”, “predict”, “potential”, “believe”, “expect”, “continue”, “will”, “anticipate”, “seek”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “projection”, “would”, “annualized”, “target” and “outlook”, or the negative version of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements the Company makes regarding our projected growth, anticipated future financial performance, financial condition, credit quality, management’s long-term performance goals, and the future plans and prospects of Alerus Financial Corporation.

 

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent known and unknown uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the strength of the local, state, national and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve and executive orders in response thereto); interest rate risk, including the effects of changes in interest rates; effects on the U.S. economy resulting from actions taken by the federal government, including the threat or implementation of tariffs, immigration enforcement, executive orders, and changes in foreign policy; disruptions to the global supply chain, including as a result of domestic or foreign policies; our ability to successfully manage credit risk, including in the commercial real estate portfolio, and maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses; business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry, nationally and within our market areas, including the level and impact of inflation rates and possible recession; our ability to raise additional capital to implement our business plan; credit risks and risks from concentrations (including by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral, and industry) within our loan portfolio; the concentration of large loans to certain borrowers (including commercial real estate loans); the level of nonperforming assets on our balance sheet; our ability to implement organic and acquisition growth strategies; the commencement, cost, and outcome of litigation and other legal proceedings and regulatory actions against us or to which the Company may become subject, including with respect to pending actions relating to the Company’s previous employee stock ownership program fiduciary services commenced by government and private parties; the impact of economic or market conditions on our fee-based services; our ability to continue to grow our retirement and benefit services business; our ability to continue to originate a sufficient volume of residential mortgages; the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our or our third-party vendors’ information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools or as a result of insider fraud; interruptions involving our information technology and telecommunications systems or third-party servicers; potential losses incurred in connection with mortgage loan repurchases; the composition of our executive management team and our ability to attract and retain key personnel; rapid and expensive technological changes implemented by us and other parties in the financial services industry, including third-party vendors, which may be more difficult to implement or more expensive than anticipated or which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers, including the development and implementation of tools incorporating artificial intelligence; increased competition in the financial services industry, including from non-banks such as credit unions, Fintech companies and digital asset service providers; our ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, including our need to access higher cost sources of funds such as fed funds purchased and short-term borrowings; the concentration of large deposits from certain clients, including those who have balances above current Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits; the effectiveness of our risk management framework; potential impairment to the goodwill the Company recorded in connection with our past acquisitions, including the acquisitions of Metro Phoenix Bank and HMNF; the extensive regulatory framework that applies to us; the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us and our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders; new or revised accounting standards, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; fluctuations in the values of the securities held in our securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; governmental monetary, trade and fiscal policies; risks related to climate change and the negative impact it may have on our customers and their businesses; severe weather and natural disasters, and widespread disease or pandemics; acts of war, military conflicts, or terrorism, including the wars in Iran and Ukraine, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and other international military conflicts, or other adverse external events and changes in foreign relations; the impact of the current partial shutdown of the federal government and possible future shutdowns; any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; our success at managing and responding to the risks involved in the foregoing items; and any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of the reports filed by Alerus Financial Corporation with the SEC.

 

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

 

FAQ

What transaction did Alerus Financial Corporation (ALRS) announce in this 8-K?

Alerus Financial Corporation announced it closed the sale of three nonperforming construction, land and development loans. These loans had a total net book balance of $33.6 million as of March 31, 2026, and represented the bank’s largest nonperforming credit relationship.

How did the sold loans affect Alerus Financial’s nonperforming asset ratios?

Before the sale, the relationship made up 62.3% of nonperforming loans and 62.1% of nonperforming assets. Nonperforming assets to total loans were 1.34%, which would have declined to 0.51% on a pro forma basis if the sale had occurred on March 31, 2026.

Did Alerus Financial Corporation record any charge-offs on the sold loans?

No charge-offs were recorded on the sold loans. The company reports there were no historical charge-offs on this relationship and no charge-offs recognized as a result of the transaction, despite the loans being nonperforming and on nonaccrual status.

What reserves and income were associated with the sold Alerus loans?

As of March 31, 2026, the loans carried $3.1 million in specific reserves. In connection with the sale, Alerus recorded $1.6 million of nonaccrual interest income, providing an earnings benefit while resolving a large nonperforming asset exposure.

How significant were these loans within Alerus Financial’s problem credit portfolio?

The sold relationship was highly concentrated within the problem portfolio. It represented 62.3% of total nonperforming loans and 62.1% of total nonperforming assets as of March 31, 2026, making it the largest single nonperforming exposure at quarter-end.

What does Alerus’s management say about its credit culture in relation to this sale?

President and CEO Katie O’Neill Lorenson highlighted a focus on strong credit culture, early issue identification, transparent risk ratings, and active portfolio management. She described the sale, completed without charge-offs and with significant nonaccrual interest recognition, as demonstrating that disciplined approach.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents