Business First Bancshares has recently released its 10-Q report. Business First Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for b1BANK, which provides banking products and services in Louisiana and Texas. Its business includes deposit accounts, commercial and consumer lending, wealth management, treasury services, and a range of other banking and payment services. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In Item 2, management said the discussion covers changes in financial condition from Dec. 31, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. The company described itself as a registered financial holding company operating through one reportable segment, community banking, with most revenue coming from interest income on loans and securities, customer service and loan fees, and interest expense tied to deposits and borrowings. It said its primary markets are Louisiana, the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and Houston, and that it operates banking centers and loan production offices across Louisiana and Texas.
As of June 30, 2026, Business First reported total assets of $8.9 billion, total loans of $6.7 billion, total deposits of $7.2 billion and shareholders’ equity of $1.0 billion. Those figures were up from Dec. 31, 2025 by $688.8 million in assets, $470.0 million in loans and $537.0 million in deposits. Net income available to common shareholders rose to $45.0 million for the first six months of 2026, up $5.1 million from the same period in 2025.
Net interest income for the first half of 2026 was $153.0 million, an increase of $20.0 million from the first half of 2025. Earnings per common share were $1.38 basic and $1.37 diluted, compared with $1.36 basic and $1.35 diluted a year earlier. Return on average assets was 1.02%, down from 1.04%, and return on average common equity was 9.80%, down from 10.68%.
Credit metrics showed an allowance for credit losses equal to 1.02% of total loans held for investment, up from 0.94% at Dec. 31, 2025. Nonperforming loans were 1.26% of total loans held for investment, compared with 1.24% at year-end. Capital ratios at June 30, 2026 were 10.11% for Tier 1 leverage, 10.38% for Common Equity Tier 1, 11.43% for Tier 1 risk-based capital and 13.77% for total risk-based capital, versus 10.08%, 9.94%, 11.00% and 12.93% at Dec. 31, 2025. Book value per common share increased to $28.79 from $27.95.
The quarter included three notable transactions. On Jan. 1, 2026, Business First completed its merger with Progressive Bancorp, issuing 3,192,367 shares of common stock to Progressive shareholders; Progressive had $773.8 million in assets, $597.2 million in loans and $684.9 million in deposits at Dec. 31, 2025. On April 2, 2026, the company completed an $85.0 million private placement of subordinated notes due 2036 at a 6.50% fixed-to-floating rate, using proceeds to redeem $66.9 million of outstanding subordinated notes and support b1BANK and growth. On June 29, 2026, it acquired American Planning Corporation for $6.8 million, including $2.6 million in cash and $4.3 million in subordinated debt, and recorded a $4.9 million customer intangible and $1.9 million of goodwill. Following these announcements, the company's shares moved -0.81%, and are now trading at a price of $31.68. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 10-Q report here.
