First Merchants (FRME) Q3 EPS rises 11% year over year to $1.09
First Merchants reported Q3 2026 diluted EPS of $1.09 and a 3.44% net interest margin. The information was published by GlobeNewswire.
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what happened
First Merchants Corporation reported third-quarter 2026 results. Diluted earnings per share came in at $1.09, up 11% from a year earlier. The tax-equivalent net interest margin rose to 3.44%, an increase of 6 basis points from the previous quarter. The data was published by GlobeNewswire.
Deposits grew by $176 million over the quarter to $16.9 billion, while loans increased by $70 million. Net charge-offs totaled $29.4 million and were linked to two credits that the bank had already reserved for in the prior quarter. The provision was $3.3 million, the allowance stood at 1.38% of loans, and the loan-to-deposit ratio was 92.2%. The CET1 capital ratio was 11.22%.
why it matters
The report suggests the bank's margins are improving and asset quality is holding steady, although charge-offs remain elevated. For the US regional banking sector, the key questions are whether margin gains and low credit costs persist and whether new problem loans emerge.
market impact
US banks: higher margins and deposit growth support the regional banking sector
tags
instruments
sources
- First Merchants Corporation (FRME) Q3 EPS $1.09, NIM 3.44% — globenewswire.com, 21 October 2026 at 20:05 UTC
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