First Merchants Bank Q1 2026 Earnings: Strong Growth & Integration

First Merchants Banks Q1 2026 earnings show a net income of $27.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share. Adjusted for one-offs, earnings per share hit $1.03, up 9.6% from last year. The bank closed the First Savings deal, adding 127 banking centers with $21.1 billion in assets, $15.3 billion in loans, and $16.5 billion in deposits. Adjusted return on assets remained strong at 1.25%. The bank took hits from acquisition costs and a charge on shifting low-rate mortgages to held-for-sale. Organic loan growth was flat, but core deposits climbed in commercial and consumer areas. Net interest margin rose to 3.35%, boosted by deposit rate cuts and higher non-interest-bearing deposits. Fee income grew, and the bank is pleased with the economy fueling client wins. Asset quality held steady, with manageable non-accruals tied to specific real estate deals. Charge-offs were $10.3 million, provision $4.9 million, and coverage at 1.39%. The First Savings integration is on track for May 15th, with low staff turnover and growing core deposits there. Looking ahead, the bank expects mid-single-digit loan growth for 2026, margin expansion from better day counts, and ongoing share buybacks totaling $27.6 million year-to-date. This positions them strong for organic builds and value creation in high-growth Indiana spots. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6d77c51eb1c169ca