was the primary driver for the increase in employee benefits expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. Partially offsetting these increases between the comparative three month periods was a decline of $40,000 in occupancy expense.
An income tax provision of $563,000 was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to $371,000 recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The increase between the comparative three month periods was primarily due to more taxable income recorded in the 2026 period. Juniata qualifies for a federal tax credit for investments in low-income housing partnerships and the tax credit was $82,000 for both the three months ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025.
Financial Condition
Total assets as of March 31, 2026 were $901.9 million, an increase of $6.6 million compared to total assets of $895.3 million as of December 31, 2025. This increase was primarily due to an $8.7 million, or 1.5%, increase in total loans as of March 31, 2026 compared to December 31, 2025, with the increase partially funded by the $6.8 million, or 0.9%, increase in total deposits as well as cash flows from the reduction in the debt securities portfolio of $2.9 million, or 1.2%, as of March 31, 2026 compared to year-end 2025. Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements decreased by $3.4 million, or 6.8% as of March 31, 2026 compared to December 31, 2025, primarily due to a decrease in repurchase agreement account balances. At March 31, 2026, stockholders’ equity increased $2.7 million, or 4.7%, compared to year-end 2025 due to an increase in retained earnings and a decline in other comprehensive losses.
Juniata maintains a strong liquidity position and, as of March 31, 2026, had additional borrowing capacity with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh of $223.5 million and with the Federal Reserve’s Discount Window of $49.2 million. In addition, Juniata has internal authorization for brokered deposits of up to $118.3 million. Juniata had no brokered deposits outstanding as of March 31, 2026.
Subsequent Event
On April 21, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.22 per share to shareholders of record on May 18, 2026, payable on June 1, 2026.
Management considers subsequent events occurring after the statement of condition date for matters which may require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements. The review period for subsequent events extends up to and includes the filing date of a public company’s consolidated financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the financial information in this release is subject to change.
The Juniata Valley Bank, the principal subsidiary of Juniata Valley Financial Corp., is headquartered in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, with fourteen community offices located in Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Franklin, McKean and Potter Counties. More information regarding Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and The Juniata Valley Bank can be found online at www.JVBonline.com. Juniata Valley Financial Corp. trades through the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol JUVF.
Forward-Looking Information
*This press release may contain “forward looking” information as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Juniata’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Juniata’s financial performance. When words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “likely,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would,” “outlook,” the negative variations of those words or similar expressions are used in this release, Juniata is making forward-looking statements. Such information is based on Juniata’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of its business, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond the control of Juniata. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, events or results and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from this forward-looking information. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and many factors could affect future financial results. Juniata undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward looking information, whether because of new or updated information, future events, or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of certain risks and uncertainties affecting Juniata, please see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Forward-Looking Statements” set forth in the Juniata’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.