Waterstone Financial, Inc. Announces Results of Operations for the Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025

WAUWATOSA, Wis., Oct. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF), holding company for WaterStone Bank, reported net income of $7.9 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to $4.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Net income totaled $7.7 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Net income per diluted share was $1.04 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to net income per diluted share of $0.72 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

“We sustained our improved 2025 performance, exceeding the prior year, as well as our 2025 second quarter results due primarily to improved net interest margin and continued strong asset quality metrics,” said William Bruss, Chief Executive Officer of Waterstone Financial, Inc. “With improved earnings in both our Community and Mortgage Banking segments, consolidated earnings totaled $0.45 per diluted share, which represents a 73.1% increase compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Community Banking segment achieved growth in net interest income of $2.4 million, or 19.3%, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024 primarily due to continued growth in yield on our loans held for investment, as well as a reduction of our cost of funds. Continued strong asset quality resulted in a release from our allowance for credit losses. The Mortgage Banking segment recorded a second straight quarter of pre-tax income due to continued focus on expense management and improved margins. We added $0.61 to book value per share during the quarter through strong earnings, an active share repurchase program, and improving valuations on our investment security portfolio, prior to declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share.”

Highlights of the Quarter Ended September 30, 2025

Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Consolidated)

  • Consolidated net income of Waterstone Financial, Inc. totaled $7.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to net income of $4.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Consolidated return on average assets (annualized) was 1.42% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and 0.83% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Consolidated return on average equity (annualized) was 9.14% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and 5.55% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Dividends declared during the quarter ended September 30, 2025 totaled $0.15 per common share.
  • During the quarter ended September 30, 2025, we repurchased approximately 270,000 shares at a cost (including the federal excise tax) of $3.8 million, or $14.15 per share. The share repurchases increased book value approximately $0.07 during the quarter ended September 30, 2025.
  • Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.27% at September 30, 2025, 0.37% at June 30, 2025, and 0.25% at September 30, 2024.
  • Past due loans as a percentage of total loans was 0.50% at September 30, 2025, 0.69% at June 30, 2025, and 0.63% at September 30, 2024.
  • Book value per share was $18.65 at September 30, 2025 and $17.53 at December 31, 2024.

Community Banking Segment

  • Pre-tax income totaled $8.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, which represents a $2.8 million, or 49.4%, increase compared to $5.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Net interest income totaled $14.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, which represents a $2.4 million, or 19.3%, increase compared to $12.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Average loans held for investment totaled $1.68 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2025, which represents a decrease of $6.2 million, or 0.4%, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in single-family mortgages offset by an increase multi-family mortgages. Average loans held for investment increased $15.0 million compared to $1.67 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. The increase was primarily due to an increase in multi-family mortgages.
  • Net interest margin increased 63 basis points to 2.76% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to 2.13% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, which was primarily driven by an increase in weighted average yield on loans receivable and held for sale and decreases in the cost of borrowings and weighted average cost of deposits. Net interest margin increased 16 basis points compared to 2.60% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, which was primarily driven by an increase in weighted average yield on loans receivable and held for sale and decreases in cost of borrowings and weighted average cost of deposits.
  • Past due loans at the community banking segment totaled $6.8 million at September 30, 2025, $8.9 million at June 30, 2025, and $8.0 million at September 30, 2024.
  • The segment had a negative provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $137,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to a negative provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $218,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The current quarter decrease was primarily due to decreases in single-family and commercial real estate qualitative risk factors, offset by an increase in the multi-family loan balances. The negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments was $139,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to a negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments of $84,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was due primarily to a decrease in the construction loans waiting to be funded.
  • The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP ratio, was 48.94% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, compared to 60.35% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Average core retail deposits (excluding brokered and escrow accounts) totaled $1.31 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2025, an increase of $65.4 million, or 5.2%, compared to $1.25 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 due primarily to increases in money market and certificated of deposits balances. Average deposits increased $1.3 million, or 0.4% annualized, compared to $1.31 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. The segment had an average of $61.8 million in brokered certificate of deposits during the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to $435,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Mortgage Banking Segment

  • Pre-tax income totaled $1.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, compared to $144,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Loan originations decreased $19.3 million, or 3.5%, to $539.4 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2025, compared to $558.7 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Origination volume relative to purchase activity accounted for 90.1% of originations for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to 88.9% of total originations for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Mortgage banking non-interest income decreased $401,000, or 1.9%, to $21.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, compared to $21.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Gross margin on loans sold totaled 3.87% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, compared to 3.83% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
  • Total compensation, payroll taxes and other employee benefits decreased $214,000, or 1.3%, to $15.7 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2025 compared to $15.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The decrease primarily related to decreased commission expense, manager pay expense, and salary expense offset by an increase in sign on incentives for new loan officers added.

About Waterstone Financial, Inc.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank, a community-focused financial institution established in 1921. WaterStone Bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and operates 14 branch locations across southeastern Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is also the parent company of WaterStone Mortgage Corporation, a national lender licensed in 48 states.

With a long-standing commitment to innovation, integrity, and community service, Waterstone Financial, Inc. supports the financial and homeownership goals of customers nationwide. For more information about WaterStone Bank, go to wsbonline.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or “believes.” Any such statements are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws; the impact of technological advances; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; changes in the national and local economies; and other factors, including risk factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone’s subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone’s belief as of the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses non-GAAP financial information in its analysis of the Company’s performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure provides a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhances comparability of results of operations with prior periods. The Company’s management believes that investors may use this non-GAAP measure to analyze the Company’s financial performance without the impact of unusual items or events that may obscure trends in the Company’s underlying performance. This non-GAAP data should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and is not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in this measure and that different companies might calculate this measure differently.

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)
             
    For The Three Months
Ended September 30,
    For The Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
    2025     2024     2025     2024  
    (In Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Interest income:                                
Loans   $ 26,625     $ 26,590     $ 77,578     $ 76,675  
Mortgage-related securities     1,365       1,137       3,809       3,360  
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments     1,566       1,464       4,609       4,081  
Total interest income     29,556       29,191       85,996       84,116  
Interest expense:                                
Deposits     10,527       10,477       32,826       29,163  
Borrowings     4,290       7,197       12,147       21,620  
Total interest expense     14,817       17,674       44,973       50,783  
Net interest income     14,739       11,517       41,023       33,333  
Provision (credit) for credit losses     (269 )     (377 )     (836 )     (535 )
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses     15,008       11,894       41,859       33,868  
Noninterest income:                                
Service charges on loans and deposits     618       545       1,624       1,434  
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance     526       410       2,021       1,562  
Mortgage banking income     20,875       21,294       59,162       66,200  
Other     283       303       921       1,101  
Total noninterest income     22,302       22,552       63,728       70,297  
Noninterest expenses:                                
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits     20,534       21,017       58,702       62,655  
Occupancy, office furniture, and equipment     1,688       1,857       5,370       5,994  
Advertising     712       926       2,181       2,827  
Data processing     1,210       1,297       3,735       3,745  
Communications     249       232       741       698  
Professional fees     380       569       2,616       2,070  
Real estate owned     4             (14 )     14  
Loan processing expense     688       697       2,425       2,604  
Other     2,001       1,965       6,437       5,762  
Total noninterest expenses     27,466       28,560       82,193       86,369  
Income before income taxes     9,844       5,886       23,394       17,796  
Income tax expense     1,918       1,158       4,705       4,318  
Net income   $ 7,926     $ 4,728     $ 18,689     $ 13,478  
Income per share:                                
Basic   $ 0.45     $ 0.26     $ 1.04     $ 0.72  
Diluted   $ 0.45     $ 0.26     $ 1.04     $ 0.72  
Weighted average shares outstanding:                                
Basic     17,639       18,350       17,962       18,631  
Diluted     17,671       18,445       17,985       18,677  
                                 

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                 
      September 30,

2025
      December 31,

2024
 
      (Unaudited)          
Assets   (In Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Cash   $ 50,075     $ 35,182  
Federal funds sold     3,407       4,302  
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions and other short-term investments     286       277  
Cash and cash equivalents     53,768       39,761  
Securities available for sale (at fair value)     226,403       208,549  
Loans held for sale (at fair value)     135,676       135,909  
Loans receivable     1,714,836       1,680,576  
Less: Allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) – loans     17,670       18,247  
Loans receivable, net     1,697,166       1,662,329  
                 
Office properties and equipment, net     18,737       19,389  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock (at cost)     20,707       20,295  
Cash surrender value of life insurance     76,813       74,612  
Real estate owned, net     85       505  
Prepaid expenses and other assets     39,814       48,259  
Total assets   $ 2,269,169     $ 2,209,608  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                
Liabilities:                
Demand deposits   $ 176,568     $ 171,115  
Money market and savings deposits     306,778       283,243  
Time deposits     902,627       905,539  
Total deposits     1,385,973       1,359,897  
                 
Borrowings     469,061       446,519  
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes     26,993       5,630  
Other liabilities     41,647       58,427  
Total liabilities     1,923,674       1,870,473  
                 
Shareholders’ equity:                
Preferred stock            
Common stock     185       193  
Additional paid-in capital     80,521       91,214  
Retained earnings     287,868       277,196  
Unearned ESOP shares     (9,792 )     (10,682 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes     (13,287 )     (18,786 )
Total shareholders’ equity     345,495       339,135  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 2,269,169     $ 2,209,608  
                 
Share Information                
Shares outstanding     18,524       19,343  
Book value per share   $ 18.65     $ 17.53  
                 



WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited)
 
    At or For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,  
    2025     2025     2025     2024     2024  
    (Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Condensed Results of Operations:                                        
Net interest income   $ 14,739     $ 13,708     $ 12,576     $ 12,835     $ 11,517  
Provision (credit) for credit losses     (269 )     (9 )     (558 )     367       (377 )
Total noninterest income     22,302       24,329       17,097       19,005       22,552  
Total noninterest expense     27,466       28,377       26,350       25,267       28,560  
Income before income taxes     9,844       9,669       3,881       6,206       5,886  
Income tax expense     1,918       1,942       845       996       1,158  
Net income   $ 7,926     $ 7,727     $ 3,036     $ 5,210     $ 4,728  
Income per share – basic   $ 0.45     $ 0.43     $ 0.17     $ 0.28     $ 0.26  
Income per share – diluted   $ 0.45     $ 0.43     $ 0.17     $ 0.28     $ 0.26  
Dividends declared per common share   $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
                                         
Performance Ratios (annualized):                                        
Return on average assets – QTD     1.42 %     1.39 %     0.57 %     0.94 %     0.83 %
Return on average equity – QTD     9.14 %     9.04 %     3.61 %     6.05 %     5.55 %
Net interest margin – QTD     2.76 %     2.60 %     2.47 %     2.42 %     2.13 %
                                         
Return on average assets – YTD     1.13 %     0.99 %     0.57 %     0.84 %     0.81 %
Return on average equity – YTD     7.23 %     6.32 %     3.61 %     5.48 %     5.30 %
Net interest margin – YTD     2.61 %     2.54 %     2.47 %     2.17 %     2.09 %
                                         
Asset Quality Ratios:                                        
Past due loans to total loans     0.50 %     0.69 %     0.67 %     0.95 %     0.63 %
Nonaccrual loans to total loans     0.35 %     0.49 %     0.45 %     0.34 %     0.32 %
Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.27 %     0.37 %     0.35 %     0.28 %     0.25 %
Allowance for credit losses – loans to loans receivable     1.03 %     1.07 %     1.08 %     1.09 %     1.07 %
                                         

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY AVERAGE BALANCES AND YIELD/COSTS

(Unaudited)
 
    At or For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,  
    2025     2025     2025     2024     2024  
Average balances   (Dollars in Thousands)  
Interest-earning assets                                        
Loans receivable and held for sale   $ 1,809,600     $ 1,812,065     $ 1,768,617     $ 1,819,574     $ 1,870,627  
Mortgage related securities     178,063       173,220       170,947       168,521       170,221  
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments     131,165       131,710       123,004       124,658       115,270  
Total interest-earning assets     2,118,828       2,116,995       2,062,568       2,112,753       2,156,118  
Noninterest-earning assets     103,434       105,382       105,030       100,627       104,600  
Total assets   $ 2,222,262     $ 2,222,377     $ 2,167,598     $ 2,213,380     $ 2,260,718  
                                         
Interest-bearing liabilities                                        
Demand accounts   $ 90,015     $ 89,548     $ 87,393     $ 92,247     $ 89,334  
Money market, savings, and escrow accounts     334,300       320,908       300,686       306,478       304,116  
Certificates of deposit – retail     823,274       830,550       818,612       810,340       785,793  
Certificates of deposit – brokered     61,814       72,533       97,101       59,254       435  
Total interest-bearing deposits     1,309,403       1,313,539       1,303,792       1,268,319       1,179,678  
Borrowings     440,968       437,784       397,053       464,964       600,570  
Total interest-bearing liabilities     1,750,371       1,751,323       1,700,845       1,733,283       1,780,248  
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits     88,799       85,665       80,372       87,889       91,532  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities     39,136       42,669       44,905       49,645       49,787  
Total liabilities     1,878,306       1,879,657       1,826,122       1,870,817       1,921,567  
Equity     343,956       342,720       341,476       342,563       339,151  
Total liabilities and equity   $ 2,222,262     $ 2,222,377     $ 2,167,598     $ 2,213,380     $ 2,260,718  
                                         
Average Yield/Costs (annualized)                                        
Loans receivable and held for sale     5.84 %     5.73 %     5.75 %     5.75 %     5.65 %
Mortgage related securities     3.04 %     2.90 %     2.83 %     2.67 %     2.66 %
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments     4.74 %     4.74 %     4.90 %     4.85 %     5.05 %
Total interest-earning assets     5.53 %     5.43 %     5.46 %     5.46 %     5.39 %
                                         
Demand accounts     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %
Money market and savings accounts     2.04 %     2.07 %     2.10 %     2.00 %     1.94 %
Certificates of deposit – retail     3.92 %     4.11 %     4.33 %     4.53 %     4.54 %
Certificates of deposit – brokered     4.11 %     4.35 %     4.18 %     4.18 %     0.00 %
Total interest-bearing deposits     3.19 %     3.35 %     3.52 %     3.58 %     3.53 %
Borrowings     3.86 %     3.67 %     3.93 %     4.11 %     4.77 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities     3.36 %     3.43 %     3.62 %     3.72 %     3.95 %
                                         

COMMUNITY BANKING SEGMENT

SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited)
 
    At or For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,  
    2025     2025     2025     2024     2024  
    (Dollars in Thousands)  
Condensed Results of Operations:                                        
Net interest income   $ 14,617     $ 13,640     $ 12,403     $ 12,886     $ 12,250  
Provision (credit) for credit losses     (276 )     (19 )     (518 )     331       (302 )
Total noninterest income     1,359       1,686       1,348       1,595       1,227  
Noninterest expenses:                                        
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits     5,036       5,027       5,212       4,883       5,326  
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment     907       920       1,076       825       904  
Advertising     213       219       171       204       311  
Data processing     733       806       712       691       720  
Communications     108       99       100       89       80  
Professional fees     200       196       347       196       190  
Real estate owned     4       (8 )     (10 )     12        
Loan processing expense                              
Other     617       466       596       563       602  
Total noninterest expense     7,818       7,725       8,204       7,463       8,133  
Income before income taxes     8,434       7,620       6,065       6,687       5,646  
Income tax expense     1,518       1,400       1,427       1,399       941  
Net income   $ 6,916     $ 6,220     $ 4,638     $ 5,288     $ 4,705  
                                         
Efficiency ratio – QTD (non-GAAP)     48.94 %     50.40 %     59.66 %     51.54 %     60.35 %
Efficiency ratio – YTD (non-GAAP)     52.71 %     54.78 %     59.66 %     59.58 %     62.58 %
                                         

MORTGAGE BANKING SEGMENT

SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited)
 
    At or For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,  
    2025     2025     2025     2024     2024  
    (Dollars in Thousands)  
Condensed Results of Operations:                                        
Net interest loss   $ 103     $ 53     $ 152     $ (92 )   $ (760 )
Provision for credit losses     7       10       (40 )     36       (75 )
Total noninterest income     20,985       22,643       15,731       17,455       21,386  
Noninterest expenses:                                        
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits     15,716       16,312       12,054       13,781       15,930  
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment     781       833       853       754       953  
Advertising     499       527       552       523       615  
Data processing     475       507       498       542       570  
Communications     141       158       135       135       152  
Professional fees     180       303       1,373       917       379  
Real estate owned                              
Loan processing expense     688       817       920       486       697  
Other     1,271       1,230       1,751       814       1,261  
Total noninterest expense     19,751       20,687       18,136       17,952       20,557  
(Loss) income before income taxes (benefit) expense     1,330       1,999       (2,213 )     (625 )     144  
Income tax (benefit) expense)     382       531       (588 )     (428 )     194  
Net (loss) income   $ 948     $ 1,468     $ (1,625 )   $ (197 )   $ (50 )
                                         
Efficiency ratio – QTD (non-GAAP)     93.66 %     91.15 %     114.18 %     103.39 %     99.67 %
Efficiency ratio – YTD (non-GAAP)     98.17 %     100.63 %     114.18 %     97.74 %     96.23 %
                                         
Loan originations   $ 539,404     $ 588,838     $ 387,729     $ 470,650     $ 558,729  
Purchase     90.1 %     91.7 %     87.5 %     82.1 %     88.9 %
Refinance     9.9 %     8.3 %     12.5 %     17.9 %     11.1 %
Gross margin on loans sold(1)     3.87 %     3.84 %     3.98 %     3.74 %     3.83 %
                                         

(1) Gross margin on loans sold equals mortgage banking income (excluding the change in interest rate lock value) divided by total loan originations.

Contact: Mark R. Gerke
Chief Financial Officer
414-459-4012
[email protected]