Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. Announces 2026 First Quarter Results

By PR Newswire | April 30, 2026, 7:00 AM

OPELOUSAS, La., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: "CLST") (the "Company"), the parent company for Catalyst Bank (the "Bank") (www.catalystbank.com), reported net income of $558,000, or $0.15 per diluted common share ("diluted EPS"), for the first quarter of 2026, compared to net income of $456,000, or $0.13 diluted EPS, for the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company's net income for the first quarter of 2026 included professional fees of $95,000 (pre-tax) related to our agreement to acquire Lakeside Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary, Lakeside Bank (collectively referred to as "Lakeside").

"Our team is fully engaged in preparing for our growth in Southwest Louisiana through the Lakeside acquisition," said Joe Zanco, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Bank. "At the same time, we remain focused on winning new business organically and expanding existing relationships. As a result of our team's efforts, we continue to see improvement in our financial performance."

Loans

Loans totaled $163.7 million at March 31, 2026, down $6.5 million, or 4%, from December 31, 2025. The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's loan portfolio as of the dates indicated.



























(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



Change

Real estate loans

























One- to four-family residential



$

78,093



$

80,123



$

(2,030)



(3)

%

Commercial real estate





33,673





32,872





801



2



Construction and land





19,761





18,806





955



5



Multi-family residential





4,781





5,309





(528)



(10)



Total real estate loans





136,308





137,110





(802)



(1)



Other loans

























Commercial and industrial





25,626





31,205





(5,579)



(18)

%

Consumer





1,743





1,895





(152)



(8)



Total other loans





27,369





33,100





(5,731)



(17)



Total loans



$

163,677



$

170,210



$

(6,533)



(4)



During the first quarter of 2026, a $5.9 million commercial and industrial loan relationship paid off after the sale of the borrower's business.

The following table presents certain major segments of our commercial real estate, construction and land, and commercial and industrial loan balances as of the dates indicated.



























(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



Change

Commercial real estate

























Retail



$

9,273



$

9,455



$

(182)



(2)

%

Hospitality





5,519





5,632





(113)



(2)



Health service facilities





4,911





3,300





1,611



49



Restaurants





1,047





1,071





(24)



(2)



Oilfield services





355





365





(10)



(3)



Other non-owner occupied





2,322





2,349





(27)



(1)



Other owner occupied





10,246





10,700





(454)



(4)



Total commercial real estate



$

33,673



$

32,872



$

801



2



Construction and land

























Multi-family residential



$

5,783



$

4,749



$

1,034



22

%

Health service facilities





9,698





10,547





(849)



(8)



Other commercial construction and land





2,436





2,112





324



15



Consumer residential construction and land





1,844





1,398





446



32



Total construction and land



$

19,761



$

18,806



$

955



5



Commercial and industrial

























Oilfield services



$

17,959



$

17,295



$

664



4

%

Industrial equipment





986





7,064





(6,078)



(86)



Professional services





3,250





3,531





(281)



(8)



Other commercial and industrial





3,431





3,315





116



3



Total commercial and industrial loans



$

25,626



$

31,205



$

(5,579)



(18)



A $1.6 million construction loan, included in the health service facilities category in the table above, converted to a commercial real estate loan during the first quarter of 2026. Multi-family residential construction loan growth was largely driven by new apartment homes in Lafayette Parish.

Credit Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses

At March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, non-performing assets ("NPAs") totaled $2.7 million. The ratio of NPAs to total assets was 0.94% and 0.95% at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. Non-performing loans ("NPLs") were 1.64% and 1.55% of total loans at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. During the first quarter of 2026, a $304,000 commercial real estate loan was placed on non-accrual status. At March 31, 2026, 82% of total NPLs were one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, compared to 95% at December 31, 2025.

At March 31, 2026, the allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $2.3 million, or 1.40% of total loans, compared to $2.4 million, or 1.39% of total loans, at December 31, 2025. The Company recorded a $70,000 reversal of provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2026, compared to a $96,000 provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2025. The reversal of expected credit losses recorded in the first quarter of 2026 was primarily driven by declines in commercial and industrial and residential loan balances. Net loan charge-offs totaled $37,000 during the first quarter of 2026, compared to net charge-offs of $42,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025. Net loan charge-offs in 2026 included a $28,000 charge-off of a commercial line of credit.

Investment Securities

Total investment securities were $63.1 million, or 22% of total assets, at March 31, 2026, down $2.3 million, or 3%, compared to December 31, 2025. We did not purchase investment securities in the first quarter of 2026. During the fourth quarter of 2025, we purchased $7.4 million of government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities. The weighted average yield of the securities purchased during the fourth quarter of 2025 was 4.39% at March 31, 2026.

Deposits

Total deposits were $195.4 million at March 31, 2026, up $10.1 million, or 5%, from December 31, 2025. Total deposits averaged $198.2 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared to $181.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2025. The ratio of the Company's total loans to total deposits was 84% and 92% at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's deposits as of the dates indicated.



























(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



Change

Non-interest-bearing demand deposits



$

34,739



$

29,991



$

4,748



16

%

Interest-bearing demand deposits





33,249





32,851





398



1



Money market





9,296





10,235





(939)



(9)



Savings





60,525





53,831





6,694



12



Certificates of deposit





57,564





58,366





(802)



(1)



Total deposits



$

195,373



$

185,274



$

10,099



5



The increase in total average deposits for the first quarter compared to the prior quarter and total deposits at the end of each period shown in the table above was driven by a mix of public and non-public deposits.

Total public fund deposits were $29.8 million, or 15% of total deposits, at March 31, 2026, compared to $26.4 million, or 14% of total deposits, at December 31, 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, total public fund deposits averaged $35.6 million, compared to $24.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2025. The increases were largely due to seasonal fluctuations.

Capital and Share Repurchases

At March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, consolidated shareholders' equity totaled $82.2 million, or 28.5% of total assets, and $81.7 million, or 28.9% of total assets, respectively.

The Company repurchased 16,614 shares of its common stock at an average cost per share of $15.71 during the first quarter of 2026, compared to 54,693 shares at an average cost per share of $14.76 during the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company paused share repurchases temporarily during the first quarter of 2026 while conducting due diligence and negotiations related to our agreement to acquire Lakeside.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company announced our sixth share repurchase plan (the "November 2025 Repurchase Plan"). Under the November 2025 Repurchase Plan, the Company may purchase up to 205,000 shares, or approximately 5%, of the Company's outstanding common stock. At March 31, 2026, 172,297 shares of the Company's common stock were available for repurchase under the November 2025 Repurchase Plan. We expect to resume repurchases during the second quarter of 2026.

Since the announcement of our first share repurchase plan on January 26, 2023 and through March 31, 2026, the Company has repurchased a total of 1,231,703 shares of its common stock, or 23% of the common shares originally issued, at an average cost per share of $12.11. At March 31, 2026, the Company had common shares outstanding of 4,058,297.

Net Interest Income

The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2026 was 3.83%, down eight basis points compared to the prior quarter. For the first quarter of 2026, the average yield on interest-earning assets was 5.36%, down 17 basis points from the prior quarter, and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 2.35%, down 15 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2025. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2026 was $2.5 million, up $38,000, or 2%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Total interest income was up $22,000, or 1%, in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the prior quarter largely due to an increase in income on cash and due from banks, which was partially offset by a decline in interest income on loans. The change in interest income was largely the result of an increase in the volume of interest earning cash, which was mainly fueled by deposit growth during first quarter of 2026.

Total interest expense decreased $16,000, or 2%, in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the prior quarter. The decline in interest expense was mainly due to lower borrowings expense. We paid off a short-term Federal Home Loan Bank advance during the first quarter of 2026. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.30% during the first quarter of 2026, down 15 basis points from the prior quarter.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the Company's total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Taxable equivalent ("TE") yields have been calculated using a marginal tax rate of 21%. All average balances are based on daily balances.











































Three Months Ended





3/31/2026



12/31/2025

(Dollars in thousands)



Average

Balance



Interest



Average

Yield/

Rate
(TE)



Average

Balance



Interest



Average

Yield/

Rate
(TE)

INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS





































Loans receivable(1)



$

168,545



$

2,749



6.61

%



$

167,335



$

2,815



6.68

%

Investment securities(2)





67,529





522



3.13







65,352





511



3.17



Other interest earning assets





33,760





299



3.60







22,567





222



3.91



Total interest-earning assets



$

269,834



$

3,570



5.36





$

255,254



$

3,548



5.53



INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES





































Demand deposits, money market, and

savings accounts



$

107,158



$

494



1.87

%



$

93,710



$

467



1.98

%

Certificates of deposit





58,086





445



3.10







58,677





475



3.21



Total interest-bearing deposits





165,244





939



2.30







152,387





942



2.45



Borrowings





11,110





86



3.11







12,884





99



3.08



Total interest-bearing liabilities



$

176,354



$

1,025



2.35





$

165,271



$

1,041



2.50



Net interest-earning assets



$

93,480















$

89,983













Net interest income; average interest rate

spread









$

2,545



3.01

%









$

2,507



3.03

%

Net interest margin(3)















3.83

















3.91





(1) Includes non-accrual loans during the respective periods. Calculated net of deferred fees and discounts and loans in-process.

(2) Average investment securities does not include unrealized holding gains/losses on available-for-sale securities.

(3) Equals net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Taxable equivalent yields are calculated using a marginal tax rate of

      21%.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $352,000, down $10,000, or 3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, primarily due to a decline in income from service charges on deposit accounts.

Non-interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $2.3 million, up $61,000, or 3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. Professional fees for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $185,000, up $87,000, or 89%, from the prior quarter. The Company incurred $95,000 (pre-tax) of professional fees during the first quarter of 2026 related to our agreement to acquire Lakeside.

About Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLST) is a Louisiana corporation and registered bank holding company for Catalyst Bank, its wholly-owned subsidiary, with $288.5 million in assets at March 31, 2026. Catalyst Bank, formerly St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, has been in operation in the Acadiana region of south-central Louisiana since 1922. With a focus on fueling business and improving lives throughout the region, Catalyst Bank offers commercial and retail banking products through our six full-service branches located in Carencro, Eunice, Lafayette, Opelousas, and Port Barre. To learn more about Catalyst Bancorp and Catalyst Bank, visit www.catalystbank.com, or the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission, www.sec.gov.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release reflects industry conditions, Company performance and financial results and contains "forward-looking statements,' which may include forecasts of our financial results and condition, expectations for our operations and businesses, and our assumptions for those forecasts and expectations. Do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectation expressed in such forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are described under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Supervision and Regulation" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and in other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at the SEC's website and the Company's website, each of which are referenced above. To the extent that statements in this news release relate to future plans, objectives, financial results or performance by the Company, these statements are deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are generally identified by use of words such as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "will," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue" and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. 

Forward-looking statements represent management's beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters addressed; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that change over time and could cause actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. All information is as of the date of this news release. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

























(Unaudited)







(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



3/31/2025

ASSETS



















Non-interest-bearing cash



$

4,898



$

4,132



$

4,128

Interest-bearing cash and due from banks





33,635





21,073





36,190

Total cash and cash equivalents





38,533





25,205





40,318

Investment securities:



















Securities available-for-sale, at fair value





48,216





50,467





29,840

Securities held-to-maturity





14,914





14,917





13,445

Loans receivable, net of unearned income





163,677





170,210





166,077

Allowance for credit losses





(2,295)





(2,367)





(2,500)

Loans receivable, net





161,382





167,843





163,577

Accrued interest receivable





849





907





866

Foreclosed assets





34





34





77

Premises and equipment, net





5,749





5,850





6,049

Stock in correspondent banks, at cost





1,963





1,139





809

Bank-owned life insurance





15,117





14,983





14,607

Other assets





1,751





1,582





2,060

TOTAL ASSETS



$

288,508



$

282,927



$

271,648





















LIABILITIES



















Deposits:



















Non-interest-bearing



$

34,739



$

29,991



$

26,093

Interest-bearing





160,634





155,283





154,505

Total deposits





195,373





185,274





180,598

Borrowings





9,759





14,732





9,603

Other liabilities





1,167





1,196





856

TOTAL LIABILITIES





206,299





201,202





191,057





















SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



















Common stock





41





41





42

Additional paid-in capital





37,303





37,363





38,844

Unallocated common stock held by benefit plans





(5,129)





(5,182)





(5,649)

Retained earnings





52,470





51,912





50,446

Accumulated other comprehensive loss





(2,476)





(2,409)





(3,092)

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





82,209





81,725





80,591

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



$

288,508



$

282,927



$

271,648





CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

























Three Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



3/31/2025

INTEREST INCOME



















Loans receivable, including fees



$

2,749



$

2,815



$

2,738

Investment securities





522





511





275

Cash and due from banks





290





215





341

Other





9





7





20

Total interest income





3,570





3,548





3,374

INTEREST EXPENSE



















Deposits





939





942





941

Borrowings





86





99





68

Total interest expense





1,025





1,041





1,009

Net interest income





2,545





2,507





2,365

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses





(70)





96





-

Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit

losses





2,615





2,411





2,365

NON-INTEREST INCOME



















Service charges on deposit accounts





202





210





197

Bank-owned life insurance





134





134





118

Other





16





18





22

Total non-interest income





352





362





337

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE



















Salaries and employee benefits





1,321





1,334





1,245

Occupancy and equipment





209





196





199

Data processing and communication





180





181





182

Professional fees





185





98





101

Directors' fees





121





123





114

Foreclosed assets, net





-





17





(127)

Advertising and marketing





33





37





39

Other





234





236





229

Total non-interest expense





2,283





2,222





1,982

Income before income tax expense





684





551





720

Income tax expense





126





95





134

NET INCOME



$

558



$

456



$

586





















Earnings per share:



















Basic



$

0.16



$

0.13



$

0.16

Diluted





0.15





0.13





0.16





CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited)































Three Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



3/31/2025

EARNINGS DATA

























Total interest income



$

3,570





$

3,548





$

3,374



Total interest expense





1,025







1,041







1,009



Net interest income





2,545







2,507







2,365



Provision for (reversal of) credit losses





(70)







96







-



Total non-interest income





352







362







337



Total non-interest expense





2,283







2,222







1,982



Income tax expense





126







95







134



Net income



$

558





$

456





$

586





























AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET DATA

























Total loans



$

168,545





$

167,335





$

166,145



Total interest-earning assets





269,834







255,254







246,690



Total assets





292,752







277,546







268,232



Total interest-bearing deposits





165,244







152,387







149,979



Total interest-bearing liabilities





176,354







165,271







159,552



Total deposits





198,160







181,537







177,106



Total shareholders' equity





82,141







81,739







80,426





























SELECTED RATIOS

























Return on average assets





0.77

%





0.65

%





0.89

%

Return on average equity





2.76







2.22







2.96



Efficiency ratio





78.79







77.40







73.34



Net interest margin(TE)





3.83







3.91







3.89



Average equity to average assets





28.06







29.45







29.98



Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio(1)





44.29







42.45







46.95



Tier 1 leverage capital ratio(1)





26.22







27.36







29.45



Total risk-based capital ratio(1)





45.55







43.71







48.20





























NON-FINANCIAL DATA

























Total employees (full-time equivalent)





49







49







49



Common shares issued and outstanding, end of

period





4,058,297







4,074,911







4,205,201





(1) Capital ratios are preliminary end-of-period ratios for the Bank only and are subject to change.

 

CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(continued)































Three Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands)



3/31/2026



12/31/2025



3/31/2025

ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

























Loans:

























Beginning balance



$

2,367





$

2,397





$

2,522



Provision for (reversal of) credit losses





(35)







12







17



Charge-offs





(49)







(60)







(53)



Recoveries





12







18







14



Net charge-offs





(37)







(42)







(39)



Ending balance



$

2,295





$

2,367





$

2,500





























Unfunded commitments:

























Beginning balance



$

211





$

127





$

121



Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on

unfunded commitments





(35)







84







(17)



Ending balance



$

176





$

211





$

104





























Total provision for (reversal of) credit losses



$

(70)





$

96





$

-





























CREDIT QUALITY(1)

























Non-accruing loans



$

2,432





$

2,248





$

1,554



Accruing loans 90 days or more past due





246







395







91



Total non-performing loans





2,678







2,643







1,645



Foreclosed assets





34







34







77



Total non-performing assets



$

2,712





$

2,677





$

1,722





























Total non-performing loans to total loans





1.64

%





1.55

%





0.99

%

Total non-performing assets to total assets





0.94







0.95







0.63





(1) Credit quality data and ratios are as of the end of each period presented.

 

For more information:

Joe Zanco, President and CEO

(337) 948-3033

Cision
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