WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTBA; the “Company”), parent company of West Bank, today reported second quarter 2025 net income of $8.0 million, or $0.47 per diluted common share, compared to first quarter 2025 net income of $7.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share, and second quarter 2024 net income of $5.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share. For the first six months of 2025, net income was $15.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted commo ...

PALATINE, Ill., July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --CORNERSTONE BANCORP, INC.SECOND QUARTER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS (At or for period ended 6/30/2025)Income Statement Highlights Consolidated net income was $2.8 million in 2Q25, or $2.81 per diluted share, compared to $2.0 million in 2Q24, or $2.05 per diluted share. The net interest margin (NIM) was 3.65% for 2Q25, compared to 3.27% for 2Q24. Interest earned on the Bank's interest-bearing deposit accounts at correspondent banks was $964,000 for 2Q25 compared to $1.5 milli ...

Shares of Block Inc. (XYZ) jumped over 8.5% in extended trading on July 18, 2025, following news that the fintech company will join the S&P 500 index, replacing Hess. The addition becomes effective before the opening bell on July 23, according to a statement from S&P Dow Jones Indices.Recent Changes to the S&P 500This marks the second alteration to the benchmark index last week. Earlier, ad-tech firm The Trade Desk was added to the S&P 500, taking the place of software company Ansys. The latter was acquired ...

Group 1 - Block shares increased by over 10% in extended trading as the fintech company prepares to join the S&P 500, replacing Hess [1] - The addition of Block to the S&P 500 is part of a series of changes, including The Trade Desk replacing Ansys [2][3] - Block's inclusion reflects the growing tech presence in the S&P 500, highlighting the market cap gains of tech companies [4] Group 2 - Block, formerly known as Square, has diversified into crypto, lending, and other financial services since its founding in 2009 [4] - Despite a 14% decline in shares this year, Block maintains a market cap of approximately $45 billion, significantly above the median company in the S&P 500 [5]

Group 1 - Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. has been recognized as the Lending Partner of the Year by Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, highlighting its commitment to community support and housing stability [1] - The Bridging the Gap Gala, where the award will be presented, is scheduled for October 7th, 2025, emphasizing the company's active role in local community initiatives [1] - Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. operates Dime Community Bank, which has over $14 billion in assets and holds the number one deposit market share among community banks in Greater Long Island [2][3] Group 2 - Dime Community Bank is a New York State-chartered trust company, indicating its regulatory compliance and operational framework within the state [2] - The bank's significant asset base and market share position it favorably within the competitive landscape of community banking [2]

Company Overview - Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PGY) is a technology-based lending and financial services company that utilizes AI-powered technology for its lending process [1] - The company collaborates with 31 bank and non-bank partners to process applications, including those that are rejected by other institutions [1] Leadership and Expertise - The CIO and Founder of Sunshine Kapital, Stefan, has a BA in Finance and over twenty years of institutional experience in Research and Portfolio Management, focusing on distressed situations and value opportunities [1]

Company Overview - Guaranteed Rate Affinity is a leading mortgage provider that has funded over $100 billion in loans since its inception, emphasizing its strong market presence and innovative joint venture with Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and Anywhere Integrated Services [5][6] Leadership Appointment - Linda Vo has been appointed as Regional Manager in North Texas, reflecting the company's commitment to expanding its reach in a key growth market [1] - Vo brings over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, including roles in wholesale, loan origination, sales management, and corporate strategy, making her well-suited to lead growth and recruiting efforts [2] Strategic Focus - In her new role, Vo will empower loan officers to take ownership of their markets while scaling the company's presence and recruiting efforts throughout North Texas [3] - The company is undergoing strategic expansion and culture-focused leadership development, aiming to attract top talent that aligns with its values [4] Industry Impact - Guaranteed Rate Affinity provides unmatched support to brokers nationwide, ensuring fast pre-approvals, appraisals, and loan closings, which enhances the home buying experience in a competitive market [6]

Summary of Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) M&A Conference Call Company and Industry - **Company**: Commerce Bancshares Inc. - **Acquired Company**: Finemark Holdings Inc. (holding company of Finemark National Bank and Trust) - **Industry**: Banking and Wealth Management Core Points and Arguments 1. **Acquisition Announcement**: Commerce Bancshares announced the acquisition of Finemark Holdings, a private bank with nearly $8 billion in assets under management and $4 billion in banking assets, aiming to expand its presence in high-growth markets like Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina [5][6][10]. 2. **Wealth Management Focus**: The acquisition aligns with Commerce's strategy to enhance its wealth management platform, as Finemark has a strong non-interest revenue model, with 43% of its total revenue coming from non-interest sources [8][9]. 3. **Credit Quality**: Finemark has a strong credit history with only 13 basis points of cumulative net charge-offs over the last ten years, indicating a conservative approach to lending [9]. 4. **Combined Assets**: Post-acquisition, the combined entities will manage over $84 billion in total wealth assets, making it the sixteenth largest bank-managed trust company in the U.S. [10]. 5. **Leadership Transition**: Joseph Caddy, Chairman and CEO of Finemark, will become Chairman of Commerce Trust, ensuring continuity and leveraging his leadership experience [10]. 6. **Financial Metrics**: The deal is structured as a 100% stock transaction valued at approximately $585 million, with an EPS accretion of 6% expected once cost savings are realized [12][13]. 7. **Cost Savings and Integration**: Expected pre-tax cost savings of $15 million represent 15% of Finemark's non-interest expenses, with a focus on low integration risk due to similar business models [14][15]. 8. **Future Growth Potential**: The acquisition is expected to enhance Commerce's ability to drive sustainable growth, particularly in wealth management and private banking [18]. Additional Important Content 1. **Long-term Relationship**: The relationship with Finemark has been built over five years, indicating a strategic and measured approach to the acquisition [23][24]. 2. **Market Expansion**: The acquisition allows Commerce to solidify its presence in Florida and expand into Arizona and South Carolina, which are identified as attractive growth markets [8][51]. 3. **Asset Sensitivity**: The loan portfolio composition is expected to be similar to Commerce's, with asset repricing anticipated to enhance margins [25][26]. 4. **M&A Strategy**: While this is the first bank deal since 2013, Commerce maintains that M&A is part of its long-term strategy, focusing on commercial and wealth-focused banks [30][32]. 5. **Dividend and Buyback Plans**: Commerce plans to maintain its dividend policy and may resume stock buybacks in the second half of the year, despite the acquisition [54][55]. This summary encapsulates the key points from the conference call regarding the acquisition of Finemark Holdings by Commerce Bancshares, highlighting the strategic rationale, financial implications, and future growth opportunities.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted net investment income of $0.58 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 13.5%, and adjusted net income of $0.36 per share, with an annualized return on equity of 8.3% for Q1 2025 [8][32] - Total investments decreased to $3.4 billion from $3.5 billion in the prior quarter due to net repayment activity [32] - The weighted average yield on debt and income-producing securities decreased slightly from 12.5% to 12.3% quarter over quarter [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1, the company provided total commitments of $154 million and total funding of $137 million across six new portfolio companies and upsizes to four existing investments [16] - The company experienced $270 million of repayments from seven full and four partial investment realizations, resulting in $133 million of net repayment activity [16] - 89% of total funding this quarter was into new investments, with 11% supporting upsizes to existing portfolio companies [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. direct lending market has seen an imbalance with the supply of capital outpacing demand, primarily due to the growth of retail investor-oriented perpetual non-traded BDC structures [14] - The company anticipates that current uncertainty and volatility will moderate the supply and demand imbalance by slowing inflows into non-traded vehicles [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a disciplined capital allocation strategy, with portfolio yields significantly higher than the sector average, at a weighted average yield of 12.5% compared to 11.6% for peers [11] - The company is well-positioned with significant liquidity and capital to invest in what is expected to be a more interesting investment environment [12] - The company plans to maintain a conservative approach to new investments, focusing on risk-adjusted returns and avoiding participation in deals that do not align with shareholder interests [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes the business remains well protected on the asset side with limited direct exposure to tariffs and is positioned well on the liability side [7] - The company anticipates a quarterly earnings power of approximately $0.50 per share, with potential upside if activity-based fees return to historical averages [10] - Management expressed confidence in the portfolio's credit quality, with non-accruals representing only 1.2% of the portfolio at fair value [26] Other Important Information - The board approved a base quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.06 per share [12][13] - The company completed two capital market transactions in Q1, including a $300 million issuance of long five-year notes [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of downward pressure on spreads due to non-traded BDC fundraising - Management noted that retail flows have likely slowed due to market volatility, and the company has a resilient business model that is not solely dependent on sponsor deals [42][44] Question: Outlook for M&A activity - Management is negative on the return of M&A activity in the near term, citing overvaluation of assets and the need for time and growth [51][52] Question: Pricing risk in a volatile environment - Management indicated that the private markets are not effectively pricing risk, but the company uses a fundamental approach to assess asset value and required returns [59] Question: Deployment opportunities in lane two and lane three investments - Management is starting to see more opportunities in these areas but anticipates that more stress is needed across sectors for significant deployment [80] Question: Frequency of capital raises with the ATM program - Management confirmed that there will be no change in the frequency of capital raises, emphasizing that any issuance must be accretive to shareholders [84]

Investor Presentation April 2025 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may also make forward-looking statements in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in our annual reports to sharehol ...