WOOSTER, Ohio, Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Main Street Financial Services Corp. (OTCQX:MSWV), (the “Company”), the holding company parent of Main Street Bank Corp. (the “Bank) has declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share of the Company’s common stock for the quarter ending December 31, 2025; an increase of 7 percent, or $0.01, when compared to the prior quarter. The quarterly cash dividend will be paid on February 6, 2026 to stockholders of record as of January 26, 2026. Chair, President and CEO Ma ...

Relaxed rules in the U.S. around banking mergers have reportedly caught the eye of activist investors.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.That’s according to a report Tuesday (Dec. 30) by The Wall Stree ...

Core Viewpoint - First Financial has received regulatory approval for its acquisition of BankFinancial, which is valued at approximately $142 million in an all-stock deal [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition agreement allows BankFinancial shareholders to receive 0.48 shares of First Financial for each share they hold [1]. - The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close by January 1, 2026, pending customary closing conditions and shareholder approval [2]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - This acquisition is aimed at expanding First Financial's presence in the Chicagoland area, where BankFinancial operates 18 financial centers [2]. - Upon completion, First Financial will take over BankFinancial's consumer and wealth management services, along with all its employees, and will add selected commercial credit lines to its existing operations [3]. Group 3: Recent Acquisitions - Last month, First Financial completed the acquisition of Westfield Bancorp and its subsidiary, Westfield Bank, in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $325 million [4]. - The retail locations and services of Westfield Bank will operate under First Financial's network until the conversion process is completed, which is anticipated by March 2026 [4].

Core Viewpoint - M&T Bank Corporation, valued at $30.1 billion, operates as a bank holding company providing a wide range of financial products and services through its various segments [1]. Company Overview - M&T Bank is classified as a "large-cap" stock, offering services such as commercial lending, consumer banking, wealth management, and investment services to a diverse clientele across the nation [2]. Stock Performance - M&T Bank's stock has decreased by 7.3% from its 52-week high of $211.23 and has seen a 1.7% decline over the past three months, underperforming compared to the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) [3][4]. - Year-to-date, M&T Bank shares have risen by 4.2%, which is lower than XLF's 10.7% increase, and over the past 52 weeks, the stock has declined by 7.3%, while XLF has returned 6.1% [4]. Financial Results - In Q3 2025, M&T Bank reported a net income of $792 million, or $4.82 per share, but the stock fell by 3.5% due to increased net charge-offs of $146 million compared to $108 million in Q2, indicating rising credit risk [5]. - Non-interest expenses rose due to $20 million in severance-related costs and an impairment related to a renewable energy tax credit investment [5]. Competitive Position - Rival Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has outperformed M&T Bank, with its stock gaining 27.4% year-to-date and 18.6% over the past 52 weeks [6]. - Despite M&T Bank's recent underperformance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a mean price target of $220.70, suggesting a 12.7% upside from current levels [6].

Core Viewpoint - Independent Bank is positioned as a more favorable investment compared to Peoples Bancorp based on various financial metrics and analyst recommendations [11] Profitability - Independent Bank has a net margin of 21.25%, return on equity of 14.76%, and return on assets of 1.28% - Peoples Bancorp has a net margin of 16.57%, return on equity of 9.45%, and return on assets of 1.15% [2] Institutional and Insider Ownership - 79.4% of Independent Bank shares are owned by institutional investors, while 60.7% of Peoples Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors - Company insiders own 5.7% of Independent Bank shares compared to 3.4% for Peoples Bancorp [3] Valuation and Earnings - Independent Bank's gross revenue is $222.04 million with a price/sales ratio of 2.93, net income of $66.79 million, earnings per share (EPS) of $3.26, and a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.65 - Peoples Bancorp has gross revenue of $447.86 million with a price/sales ratio of 2.34, net income of $117.21 million, EPS of $2.86, and a P/E ratio of 10.28 - Independent Bank is trading at a lower P/E ratio, indicating it is more affordable [5][6] Analyst Recommendations - Independent Bank has a consensus target price of $36.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.43%, while Peoples Bancorp has a target price of $33.13 with a potential upside of 12.63% - Analysts rate Independent Bank more favorably due to its higher potential upside [8] Dividends - Independent Bank pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share with a dividend yield of 3.3%, distributing 31.9% of its earnings as dividends - Peoples Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.64 per share with a dividend yield of 5.6%, distributing 57.3% of its earnings as dividends - Both companies have a history of increasing dividends, with Independent Bank increasing for 11 consecutive years and Peoples Bancorp for 10 consecutive years [9] Volatility & Risk - Independent Bank has a beta of 0.86, indicating it is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500 - Peoples Bancorp has a beta of 0.7, indicating it is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500 [10]

Core Points - Thomasville Bancshares, Inc. declared a cash dividend of $1.45 per share, to be paid on December 12, 2025, with a total annual dividend of $2.70, reflecting a 17% increase from the previous year's dividend of $2.30 [1][2] - The Chairman and CEO, Stephen H. Cheney, emphasized the bank's strong financial performance and the importance of community support in achieving success, noting that over the past 26 years, TNB has returned over $124 million in dividends to local shareholders [2][3] - Thomasville Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1995 and operates Thomasville National Bank, which has total assets exceeding $1.9 billion and is recognized as a top-performing community bank, ranking 4th nationally in American Banker's Top 200 Community Banks based on average return on shareholders' equity [3] Company Overview - Thomasville National Bank, along with its divisions St. Simons Bank & Trust and Tallahassee National Bank, provides full-service banking and commercial lending across South Georgia and North Florida [3] - The bank's trust and investment division, TNB Financial Services, manages client assets over $5 billion and offers a range of financial services including financial planning and brokerage [3] - The company is headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, and has over 800 local shareholders, emphasizing its commitment to the community [3]

Core Points - Civista Bancshares, Inc. has successfully completed its merger with The Farmers Savings Bank, marking a strategic expansion into Medina and Lorain Counties in Ohio [1][2][3] - The merger adds approximately $236 million in low-cost deposits and two new branches to Civista's portfolio, resulting in a combined total of approximately $4.4 billion in assets, $3.2 billion in net loans, and $3.5 billion in total deposits [2][3] Company Overview - Civista Bancshares, Inc. is a $4.4 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio, with its primary subsidiary, Civista Bank, providing full-service banking, commercial lending, mortgage, and wealth management services [4] - Civista Bank operates 44 locations across Ohio, Southeastern Indiana, and Northern Kentucky, and offers commercial equipment leasing services nationwide [4] Leadership Statements - Dennis G. Shaffer, President and CEO of Civista Bancshares, emphasized the merger as a significant step in delivering exceptional community banking services and enhancing commercial lending capabilities [3] - Tom Lee, President and CEO of The Farmers Savings Bank, noted that joining Civista allows for continued community-focused banking while gaining access to expanded resources and expertise [3]

Core Insights - Small-cap stocks present lucrative investment opportunities due to frequent mispricings resulting from limited analyst coverage [1] - The article identifies three small-cap stocks to avoid and suggests alternatives for investment [2] Company Summaries Valley National Bank (VLY) - Market Cap: $6.13 billion, providing commercial, consumer, and wealth management banking services [3] - Currently trading at $10.78 per share, which is 0.8x forward price-to-book (P/B) ratio [5] BankUnited (BKU) - Market Cap: $3.04 billion, offering commercial lending, deposit services, and treasury solutions primarily in Florida and New York [6] - Trading at $39.96 per share, equivalent to 1x forward P/B ratio [8] Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Market Cap: $1.18 billion, one of the largest publicly traded business development companies in the U.S., providing debt and equity financing to middle-market companies [9] Concerns Regarding Valley National Bank (VLY) - The article suggests there are better investment opportunities than VLY [5] Concerns Regarding BankUnited (BKU) - The article indicates caution is warranted regarding BKU, although specific reasons are not detailed [8] Concerns Regarding Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Sales stagnation over the last two years indicates a need for new growth strategies [11] - Net interest margin of 2.9% is low, necessitating increased loan originations to maintain profitability [11] - Earnings per share have decreased by 17% annually over the last two years, with flat revenue indicating reduced profitability per sale [11] Additional Financial Metrics for Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Net interest income growth of 5.5% over five years is below typical banking firms [12] - A net interest margin of 2.8% is significantly lower than other banks, suggesting unprofitable loans [12] - An expected worsening of the efficiency ratio by 17.5 percentage points in the coming year [12] Sales Performance of Prospect Capital (PSEC) - Annual sales have declined by 8.1% over the past two years, indicating market disconnect [13] - Earnings per share fell by 66.3% annually despite revenue growth, highlighting profitability issues [13] - Tangible book value per share has decreased by 4.3% annually over the last five years due to loan losses and capital returns [13]

Core Insights - Main Street Financial Services Corp. reported a net income of $4.5 million for Q3 2025, a 31.7% increase from $3.4 million in Q3 2024, translating to earnings of $0.58 per share compared to $0.44 per share in the previous year [2][6][24] - The company demonstrated improved operational efficiency with a return on average assets rising to 1.16% from 0.89% and return on average equity increasing to 14.06% from 11.17% [2][19] - The efficiency ratio improved to 56.91%, down from 66.01% in Q3 2024, indicating that revenue growth outpaced expense levels [2][19] Financial Performance - Net interest income for Q3 2025 was $12.7 million, a 19.8% increase from $10.6 million in Q3 2024, with a net interest margin of 3.73%, up 45 basis points from 3.28% [4][24] - Loan yields increased to 6.56%, up 39 basis points from 6.17% in the same quarter last year [4] - Noninterest income decreased to $1.3 million, down 18.5% from $1.6 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to a prior year gain on the sale of investment securities [6][24] Asset Quality and Growth - Total assets reached $1.47 billion as of September 30, 2025, with net loan balances of $1.19 billion, reflecting a loan growth of $29.5 million or 10.2% annualized [10][14] - The allowance for credit losses was $12.7 million, representing 1.06% of total loans, slightly up from 1.05% at the end of 2024 [11] - Nonperforming loans decreased to $5.0 million from $6.1 million at the end of 2024, with a past due loan ratio of 0.63% [12] Capital and Equity - Total stockholders' equity increased to $123.6 million, up $13.0 million from December 31, 2024, driven by net income and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income [15] - The company declared a cash dividend of $0.14 per share on October 10, 2025 [6] Strategic Developments - The company opened a new full-service branch in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in August 2025, expanding its market presence [6] - The merger with Wayne Savings Bancshares, completed on May 31, 2024, has been a significant factor in the company's operational improvements and financial performance [17][18]

Core Viewpoint - Civista Bancshares, Inc. has announced a quarterly dividend of 17 cents per common share, maintaining the same rate as the previous quarter, with a total payout of approximately $3.3 million, resulting in an annualized yield of 3.35% based on the stock price of $20.31 as of September 30, 2025 [1][2]. Company Overview - Civista Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company with assets totaling $4.2 billion, headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Its primary subsidiary, Civista Bank, offers a range of services including full-service banking, commercial lending, mortgage, and wealth management, operating 42 locations across Ohio, Southeastern Indiana, and Northern Kentucky [2]. Additional Information - Civista Bancshares' common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "CIVB" [2].