BayFirst Financial Corp. Closes $94.6 Million Loan Sale to Banesco USA

Core Viewpoint - BayFirst Financial Corp. has successfully closed the sale of $94.6 million in loans to Banesco USA as part of a strategic review to derisk its SBA 7(a) balances and enhance long-term growth and shareholder value [2] Group 1: Loan Sale and Financial Impact - The loan sale to Banesco USA is part of a broader strategy to improve the company's financial ratios, with the total capital ratio increasing to 10.1% and the tier 1 leverage ratio improving to 6.8% on a proforma basis [2] - An additional $4.5 million in loan balances is expected to be sold to Banesco USA before the end of the year [2] Group 2: Community Banking Focus - The company emphasizes its commitment to community banking, aiming to serve individuals, families, and small businesses with stable financial products [3] - This relationship-driven approach is intended to strengthen the company's presence in the Tampa Bay region and create opportunities for deposit growth and fee income from services like treasury management [3] Group 3: Company Overview - BayFirst Financial Corp. is a registered bank holding company based in St. Petersburg, Florida, with total assets of $1.35 billion as of September 30, 2025 [4] - The company operates twelve full-service banking offices in the Tampa Bay-Sarasota region, offering a wide range of commercial and consumer banking services [4]