Columbia Financial, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025

Core Viewpoint - Columbia Financial, Inc. reported a net income of $8.9 million for Q1 2025, a significant recovery from a net loss of $1.2 million in Q1 2024, driven by increased net interest income and reduced expenses [1][3][10]. Financial Performance - Net income for Q1 2025 was $8.9 million, an increase of $10.1 million compared to a net loss of $1.2 million in Q1 2024 [3]. - Net interest income rose to $50.3 million, up $8.1 million or 19.3% from $42.2 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to increased interest income and decreased interest expense [4][7]. - The provision for credit losses decreased by $2.3 million to $2.9 million in Q1 2025, reflecting lower net charge-offs [9][20]. Balance Sheet Highlights - Total assets increased by $132.4 million, or 1.3%, to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2025, driven by increases in debt securities and loans receivable [13]. - Loans receivable, net, rose by $108.3 million, or 1.4%, to $8.0 billion, with notable growth in multifamily and commercial real estate loans [16]. - Total liabilities increased by $112.4 million, or 1.2%, to $9.5 billion, primarily due to a rise in total deposits [17]. Asset Quality - Non-performing loans totaled $24.9 million, or 0.31% of total gross loans, an increase from $21.7 million, or 0.28%, at the end of 2024 [19][43]. - The allowance for credit losses on loans was $62.0 million, or 0.78% of total gross loans, reflecting an increase from $60.0 million at the end of 2024 [20][43]. Operational Efficiency - Non-interest expense decreased by $1.8 million, or 4.0%, to $43.8 million, mainly due to reduced professional fees and federal deposit insurance premiums [11]. - The net interest margin improved by 36 basis points to 2.11% compared to 1.75% in Q1 2024, attributed to higher yields on interest-earning assets and lower costs of interest-bearing liabilities [7][8]. Deposits and Liquidity - Total deposits increased by $98.8 million, or 1.2%, to $8.2 billion, with growth in non-interest-bearing demand deposits and money market accounts [17][21]. - The company maintained strong liquidity with immediate access to approximately $2.8 billion of funding as of March 31, 2025 [21].