BayFirst Financial Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results, Announces Restructuring Plan Including Exit From SBA 7(a) Lending

Core Insights - BayFirst Financial Corp. reported a significant net loss of $18.9 million, or $4.66 per share, for Q3 2025, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million in Q2 2025, primarily due to higher provision expenses and one-time charges related to restructuring [1][8][29] Financial Performance - The net interest margin decreased to 3.61% in Q3 2025 from 4.06% in Q2 2025, but increased from 3.34% in Q3 2024 [7][10] - Net interest income from continuing operations was $11.3 million in Q3 2025, down from $12.3 million in Q2 2025, but up from $9.4 million in Q3 2024 [10][11] - Noninterest income was negative $1.0 million in Q3 2025, a significant decrease from $10.8 million in Q2 2025 and $12.3 million in Q3 2024 [14][17] Strategic Initiatives - The company is undergoing a strategic transformation, including exiting the SBA 7(a) lending business and selling a portion of its loan portfolio to Banesco USA for 97% of the retained loans' balances, resulting in a net loss of $5.1 million [3][29] - Management is focused on derisking the balance sheet and enhancing long-term growth and shareholder value, with plans to close the SBA loan sale in Q4 2025 [3][4] Asset Quality - The provision for credit losses in Q3 2025 was $10.9 million, up from $7.3 million in Q2 2025 and $3.1 million in Q3 2024 [24] - The allowance for credit losses on loans was 2.61% of total loans held for investment as of September 30, 2025, compared to 1.65% in Q2 2025 and 1.48% in Q3 2024 [25] Balance Sheet Highlights - Total assets increased by $2.1 million, or 0.2%, to $1.35 billion in Q3 2025, driven by an increase in cash and cash equivalents [20] - Loans held for investment decreased by $127.1 million, or 11.3%, during Q3 2025, primarily due to the transfer of loans to held for sale [21] - Total deposits increased by $7.7 million, or 0.7%, during Q3 2025, totaling $1.17 billion [22] Capital and Liquidity - The Tier 1 leverage ratio was 6.64% as of September 30, 2025, down from 8.11% in Q2 2025 [27] - The bank's liquidity position remains strong, with an on-balance sheet liquidity ratio of 11.31% as of September 30, 2025 [28]